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This is the audio from the December 14, 2025 sermon, “Exceedingly Great Joy: Let It SHINE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Philippians 3:1-11

• Secure:  Philippians 3:1

  • A joy that is sure comes from being secure in the knowledge of what God has done through the sending of Jesus to live, die, and be raised from the dead.  Our joy can be secure when it is dependent on the work of God in our life rather than needing the circumstances of life line up to our liking. 

• Unusual:  Philippians 3:2-7

  • A joy that is sure will be a joy that is unusual in both the way we obtain it and the way it is sustained.  Paul made it abundantly clear in his writings that while there was much from a human perspective that could bring temporary joy, his joy came from a supernatural source and that we too could know a sure joy when we turn to Jesus.

• Righteous:  Philippians 3:8-9

  • A joy that is sure will be a joy that is righteous in all ways, even thought that righteousness does not come from us.  If we examine ourselves honestly, it shouldn’t take long to realize the truth of God’s Word when it declares that “there is no one righteous, no not one”!  We have a sure joy when we realize that our righteousness comes not by the law but through a faith in Christ.

• Eternal:  Philippians 3:10-11

  • A joy that is sure is made both possible and lasting as a joy which is eternal.  While it is appealing to nearly everyone to think about knowing the power of the resurrection, Paul tells us that we discover such power when we are willing to join in the suffering of Jesus and choose to be united with Him in His death.  Just as the death of Jesus was followed by a resurrection to life eternal, so our being united with Christ in His death will result in eternal joy as we experience a resurrection from death into life.

Today, how will you live with a joy that is SURE?