Author: Kay Stonecypher

Advent Joy: Finding Meaning Beyond Pleasure

Written by Kay Stonecypher on December 17, 2025. Posted in Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Advent Joy: Finding Meaning Beyond Pleasure

In the third week of Advent, we had a sermon on “Finding Joy in Life,” where we explored the difference between fleeting pleasure and lasting joy. Centered on the birth of Jesus in Luke 2, this teaching reminded us that joy is not about escaping pain, but about discovering deep meaning and freedom through God’s grace.

This Week’s Sermon: Finding Joy in Life

Key Takeaways

Pleasure can distract us from pain, but it can never give lasting meaning.
Biblical joy flows from gratitude for God’s grace, not from circumstances.
Jesus entered a world of despair to bring joy rooted in freedom and hope.
Joy is not something we manufacture—it is a gift God gives.
The Eucharist is a table of joy, reminding us that death is not the end of the story.

Sermon Highlights: When Pleasure Isn’t Enough

We live in a culture that tells us pain should be avoided at all costs. If something hurts—emotionally, physically, spiritually—we are encouraged to cover it up, distract ourselves, or numb it. Entertainment, shopping, food, work, substances, and constant stimulation promise relief, at least for a moment.

But many of us know the truth: even with endless opportunities for pleasure, exhaustion and emptiness still linger.

This week at The Journey, during the third week of Advent, we paused to talk about joy—not the kind that comes from comfort or distraction, but the kind that brings meaning, freedom, and deep gratitude, even in the midst of hardship. How do we find this joy in life?

The Big Idea: Finding Joy in Life Is Not the Same as Seeking Pleasure

The heart of the teaching centered on a crucial distinction: pleasure and joy are not the same thing.

Pleasure is often immediate, enjoyable, and temporary. It can soothe discomfort for a while, but it fades—and usually demands more the next time. Joy, on the other hand, is deeper. It isn’t dependent on circumstances, and it doesn’t disappear when life is hard.

True joy is rooted in gratitude for God’s grace—the profound awareness that God has met us with love, purpose, and freedom.

Key Scriptures from the Teaching

Luke 2:1–11 – The birth of Jesus is announced as “good news of great joy,” spoken into a world filled with fear, oppression, and despair.
Luke 1–2 (encouraged reading) – The larger story of humanity finding joy when God entered human suffering to bring hope and meaning.
The language of joy (Greek: chara) – Closely related to charis (grace), showing that joy flows from receiving God’s undeserved love.

1. Why We Chase Pleasure When Life Hurts

The teaching named something many of us experience but rarely say out loud: when pain goes unresolved, we often turn to pleasure to cope. Whether it’s overworking, over-consuming, scrolling endlessly, drinking more than we intend, shopping impulsively, or constantly staying entertained—these habits can become ways of avoiding deeper struggles.

“Pleasure may distract us from pain, but only joy gives our lives meaning.”

Pleasure isn’t inherently bad. In fact, many good things in life are pleasurable. But when pleasure becomes our primary strategy for dealing with pain, it loses its power and leaves us feeling even more empty.

As Viktor Frankl famously wrote, “When people lack meaning, they often distract themselves with pleasure.” Joy, however, grows when we stop running from pain and allow God to meet us there.

2. Joy Arrives in the Middle of Despair

The world Jesus entered was not peaceful or comfortable. Israel lived under Roman occupation—marked by poverty, violence, public executions, and relentless fear. There was no easy pleasure to numb the pain.

And it was into that reality that the angels proclaimed:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Joy did not arrive because circumstances improved. Joy arrived because God came near.

Jesus’ birth was the beginning of a great reversal—heaven and earth brought together. God stepped into human suffering, not to explain it away, but to redeem it.

3. What Joy Really Is

Biblical joy is not pretending everything is fine. It is not denying pain or avoiding grief. Instead, finding joy in life comes from knowing:

You are created and loved by God
You are not separated from Him
Your life has meaning beyond your circumstances
Death and despair do not get the final word

Joy is freedom. Like grace, it is given—not earned, not chased, not manufactured.

“Joy is gratitude for God’s grace—and it is given freely.”

4. The Eucharist: A Table Where Joy Is Found

At first glance, communion (or Eucharist) may seem like a somber act—remembering suffering, death, and brokenness. But this teaching reframed the table as something far more powerful.

The Eucharist is a table of joy.

By remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection, we proclaim that pain is not the end of the story. The bread and cup point us toward resurrection, renewal, and the promise that God is making all things new.

Each time we come to the table, we are reminded that despair gives way to joy, and death gives way to life.

Practicing This Week: Finding Joy in Life Every Day

This Advent season, we were invited to gently examine our habits and ask deeper questions:

Where am I using pleasure to avoid pain instead of facing it with God?
What might it look like to simplify—just a little—in order to make room for joy?
How can I practice gratitude for God’s grace this week?
Where is God inviting me to experience meaning instead of distraction?

These are not rules or guilt-driven resolutions. They are invitations into freedom.

Questions for Reflection

Where do you notice yourself reaching for pleasure when life feels hard?
What pain or fear might God be inviting you to face with Him instead of avoiding?
How would you describe finding joy in life as something deeper than happiness?
In what ways does the story of Jesus’ birth reshape how you understand joy?
What would it look like to approach the Eucharist as a table of joy?

Joy does not come from having an easy life. It comes from knowing that God has entered our hard lives with us. This Advent, we remember that Jesus came not to remove all pain, but to give us meaning, freedom, and hope within it. You are not alone. Heaven has come near—and joy is still being offered.

Free Meal in Westminster Colorado | SEVENS Ministry at The Journey

Written by Kay Stonecypher on December 12, 2025. Posted in Latest Events, Resources. No Comments on Free Meal in Westminster Colorado | SEVENS Ministry at The Journey

Providing a free meal in Westminster Colorado is more than an idea for us at The Journey—it’s a calling we live out each month through our SEVENS ministry. We believe people should practice faith in practical, tangible ways, especially alongside those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in our community.

SEVENS takes place on the second Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Each month, volunteers from The Journey come together to prepare and serve a hot, homecooked meal—not just food, but dignity, hospitality, and care.

Free Meal in Westminster, Colorado: December’s SEVENS Dinner

On December 11, our SEVENS volunteers served a comforting winter meal that included meatloaf, mashed potatoes, rolls, fruit, and cookies. It was the kind of meal many of us associate with home—warm, filling, and made with intention. These meals are more than filling; they’re an expression of welcome and worth.

Serving a Free Meal in Westminster Through Volunteers

People who are willing to show up and serve make SEVENS possible. In December, 10 volunteers cooked or purchased meal items and transported the food. They also set up the space, served guests, and cleaned up afterward. It was an evening of work, connection, and shared purpose.

Scripture reminds us that serving others is central to following Jesus. In Matthew 25:35, Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.” SEVENS is one small way we respond to that invitation.

Why We Do This

The Bible consistently calls God’s people to care for those in need. Proverbs 19:17 tells us, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” This isn’t about charity from a distance—it’s about relationship, compassion, and shared humanity.

Those who attend the SEVENS meals as guests are our neighbors. Our team welcomes, greets, and serves each guest with respect. As Isaiah 58:10 reminds us, when we “spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry,” light breaks into places of darkness—for them and for us.

Join Us

SEVENS happens every month, and there is always room for more hands and hearts. Whether you enjoy cooking, serving, or simply being present with people, this ministry offers meaningful ways to participate. It is a wonderful way to live out God’s love in our community.

SEVENS provides a free meal in Westminster, Colorado. We welcome every guest into a space of dignity and hope. If you’d like to join an upcoming SEVENS meal, we’d love to have you with us. Together, we bless others—one warm meal at a time.

Inner Peace in Real Life: Why Peace Begins Inside Us

Written by Kay Stonecypher on December 7, 2025. Posted in Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Inner Peace in Real Life: Why Peace Begins Inside Us

This week’s teaching explored the Advent theme of inner peace through Isaiah’s prophecy and the birth of Jesus. We learned that while we long for peace in the world, true peace always begins with God’s presence transforming us from the inside out. When we experience inner peace with God, we become people who carry peace into our homes, relationships, and communities.

This Week’s Sermon: Finding Inner Peace

Key Takeaways

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would bring peace—not only to the world one day, but to us personally right now.
Lasting peace cannot come from human systems or governments; it comes from walking in the light of God.
We become peacemakers in our families and communities only after we cultivate inner peace with God.
Jesus’ birth is the arrival of peace on earth—peace given to those who rest in God’s love.
Advent invites us to choose practices that move us out of self-pity and into God-shaped peace.

Sermon Highlights: A World Hungry for Peace

We don’t need anyone to tell us that the world is chaotic. Global conflict, political tension, fractured relationships, and the everyday stress we carry can make peace feel almost impossible. Many of us try to find peace by fixing what’s happening “out there”—in the news, in society, or in situations far beyond our control.

But this week at The Journey, we were invited to zoom in. Instead of starting with the world’s turmoil, Pastor Michael encouraged us to explore where peace truly begins: in our own hearts, with God’s presence anchoring us from the inside out.

This is the second week of Advent—the week of peace—and Isaiah’s ancient words still speak straight into our modern anxiety.

The Big Idea: Inner Peace Begins With God, Not With Us

The heart of this week’s message was simple and freeing:
Jesus is the source of peace, and the peace He brings starts internally long before it shows up externally.

Isaiah told the people of Israel—exhausted, scattered, and hopeless—that a Messiah was coming who would bring lasting peace. And when Jesus arrived 700 years later, the angels declared, “On earth, peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

The message for us is the same:
We cannot be peacemakers anywhere else until we are at peace with God inside ourselves.

When we walk “in the light of the Lord,” as Isaiah puts it, we stop trying to muscle our way into peace and start receiving it as a gift that reshapes our inner life, our homes, and eventually the world around us.

Key Scriptures

Isaiah 2:1–5 — Isaiah describes a future where God’s presence brings stability and peace, and he calls the people to “walk in the light of the Lord.” Pastor Michael used this to show that peace begins with returning to God rather than fixing external circumstances.
Isaiah 40 — A reminder that God brings comfort and hope in dark times; highlighted as a chapter worth soaking in during Advent.
Luke 2:8–14 — The angels announce that Christ’s birth brings peace to those who rest in God’s favor.
Matthew 5 (Sermon on the Mount) — Jesus blesses the “peacemakers,” calling us not only to receive peace but to create peace around us.
Colossians 3:15 — “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” This was emphasized during communion as a picture of letting God’s peace govern our inner life.

1. A Hopeful Promise in a Hopeless Time

Isaiah spoke into one of Israel’s darkest seasons—a time of oppression, fear, and national turmoil. Instead of offering quick fixes, he gave them a vision of God as a towering mountain: stable, solid, and drawing people from every nation.

That image still matters today. We often feel hopeless when we focus on our own hurt, our own story, or our own unmet expectations. Like Israel, we drift into self-pity instead of self-reflection. Isaiah’s invitation to look up—to God’s mountain—redirects us toward hope and steadiness that doesn’t depend on circumstances.

2. Human Efforts Will Always Fall Short

Pastor Michael contrasted Isaiah’s vision with modern attempts at peace, like the United Nations monument depicting a man turning a sword into a shovel. Despite noble intentions, the world has seen nearly 500 armed conflicts since the UN was formed.

Why? Because, as Isaiah reminds us, fragile and broken humanity cannot fix itself. Governments, systems, and institutions—even the good ones—can’t bring the lasting peace our souls crave.

But Jesus can. And He does.

3. The Messiah Brings Peace at Every Level

The angels’ announcement in Luke 2 wasn’t just poetic—it was deeply personal: “Peace to those on whom His favor rests.” That peace starts in the heart, then moves outward.

“You cannot be a peacemaker anywhere else until you are fundamentally at peace internally with God.”

Pastor Michael described four “layers” where peace shows up:

The World – big, overwhelming, mostly outside our control.
Our Community – workplaces, schools, neighbors.
Our Homes – families, holiday gatherings, places where old wounds live.
Our Inner Life – the place where peace actually begins.

We often obsess over the top layer (the world) because it feels easier than dealing with the places where we actually hold influence. But Jesus calls us to start small, where peace is real, personal, and transformative.

4. Becoming Peacemakers Starts With Inner Peace

Once we receive peace from God, we’re invited to participate in His work as peacemakers. But this requires intentional inner work. Pastor Michael named several shifts that help us live as people of peace:

Moving from needing approval to resting in God’s love.
Choosing self-reflection instead of self-pity.
Exercising self-control instead of living on emotional autopilot.
Practicing gratitude instead of entitlement.
Lowering expectations of others instead of demanding perfection.
Calming our spirit in emotional moments—especially during the holidays.

This isn’t behavior modification. It’s the fruit of God’s Spirit shaping us as people who can carry peace into places that desperately need it.

“When you are at peace internally, you become a peacemaker externally.”

Practicing This Week: Starting Within, Spreading Outward

Try one or two of these simple, grace-filled practices:

Sit quietly with God for five minutes each morning, asking for inner peace before the day begins.
Read Isaiah 40 or Matthew 5–7 sometime this week and let the words wash over you.
Identify one relationship—in your home or family—where you could bring peace through a gentle conversation, lowered expectations, or a soft response.
Pause when anxiety rises and pray, “Jesus, let Your peace rule in my heart.”
Practice gratitude by naming three blessings each day, especially when you feel pulled toward frustration or self-pity.

Questions for Reflection

Where in your inner life do you most need God’s peace right now?
What situations or relationships pull you into turmoil or self-pity?
How might walking “in the light of the Lord” look in your daily routines this Advent?
Is there one person in your home or extended family to whom you could bring peace this season?
What would it look like to let the peace of Christ “rule” in your heart this week?

As we move deeper into Advent, remember that Jesus doesn’t ask us to manufacture peace. He gives it. The Messiah came so that even in turmoil, we could rest in His presence and carry His peace into our families and communities. You’re not walking this path alone—we journey together, held by a God who loves you deeply.

Advent Hope for Difficult People: Trusting the Farmer

Written by Kay Stonecypher on November 30, 2025. Posted in Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Advent Hope for Difficult People: Trusting the Farmer

This week’s sermon used the parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13) and the story of Gaius from The Chosen to challenge our tendency to sort people into “good” and “bad” buckets. John invited us to trust God’s timing, focus on our own spiritual growth, and practice seeing others as God sees them—wheat that is being grown, not weeds to be uprooted.

This Week’s Sermon: Letting Go of Judgment

Key Takeaways

We are not reliable judges of who is “good” or “bad”; only God sees the whole story.
The kingdom of God often allows good and evil to grow together until the harvest—rushing to remove evil causes more harm than good.
Our primary job is to grow: cultivate love, joy, peace, and the fruit God has planted in us.
When judgment rises, use simple practices (visualization, lists, community) to reorient toward compassion and growth.
Advent reframes waiting: we live in hopeful patience, trusting the Farmer who will one day make all things right.

Sermon Highlights: When Wheat and Weeds Grow Together

We all have a “Gaius” in our life: someone whose name pops into our head when we think of pain, offense, or ongoing conflict. Maybe they wronged you years ago. Maybe they keep making life harder. It’s tempting to mark them as “bad,” file them away, and stop loving them. That impulse—easy and secretly satisfying—was the heart of this week’s teaching.

At The Journey this Sunday (the first week of Advent), we listened to Jesus’ parable about wheat and weeds and watched how Jesus treated even the worst-seeming people with kindness. Instead of sharpening our stones, we were invited to take a different path.

The Big Idea: You’re not built to be the world’s judge. Your job is to grow.

Jesus’ parable (Matthew 13) shows that weeds—poisonous darnel—and wheat are sometimes indistinguishable until harvest. Trying to uproot “weeds” too early destroys wheat. God, the Farmer, sees the whole field; we see only a few rows. Trust him. Tend your own growth. Love without exception.

Key Scriptures

Matthew 13:24–30 (Parable of the Wheat and Weeds) — Used to show the kingdom’s surprising patience: God allows good and evil to grow together until the harvest so that the wheat won’t be destroyed by premature judgment.
Ephesians 6:12 — Quoted to remind us that our struggle is not against people (“flesh and blood”) but against the spiritual forces of evil; people are not the enemy.
Reference to Jesus’ encounters (Gospel narrative) — Illustrated how Jesus treats even the oppressive and violent (a Roman centurion like “Gaius”) with compassion, offering a model for us.

1. You’re a Bad Judge — And That’s Okay to Admit

We are often terrible at judging character. Even someone as obvious as Gaius the centurion carried hidden motives, pain, and complexity. We only see slices of people’s stories, and arrogance in judgment harms both others and ourselves.

Real life tie-in: At work or in family conflict, the urge to label someone simplifies complexity—but it also cuts off opportunities for reconciliation and growth.

2. The Farmer’s Wisdom: Let Them Grow Until the Harvest

Jesus’ farmer doesn’t rush to pull the weeds because doing so risks uprooting wheat. The harvest will reveal who is what. This requires patience and trust in God’s timing—hard things in an instant-gratification culture.

“Trust the Farmer: God sees the whole field even when we can only see a few rows.”

Real life tie-in: Instead of launching social or relational “revolutions” against people we dislike, we can steward patience, pray, and trust that God knows the full story.

3. Our Job Is to Grow Fruit, Not Sort People

We are called to produce love, joy, and peace—fruit that serves others. When we focus on our own growth, we become people who attract God’s work and model kingdom living.

“You are not the world’s judge—your job is to grow, to bear love, joy, and peace.”

Real life tie-in: Join small groups, find mentors, and practice spiritual disciplines that help you grow—because transformation is communal, not solitary.

4. Practical Tools

A visualization exercise: picture yourself and those you judge as wheat growing together in God’s field, surrounded by the weeds (evil) that entangle all of you. Make a list of people you’ve judged and remember those who surprised you later. These practices shift perspective from condemnation to compassion.

Practicing This Week: Stop Playing Judge

Visualization: When you’re tempted to judge, imagine that person and yourself as wheat plants growing together in God’s field.
Make a “Judgment List”: Write the names you’ve put in the “bad” bucket; beside each, note one fact you don’t know about them (or one way God might be working).
Grow intentionally: Connect with someone you admire spiritually and ask for their guidance.
Small mercy: If safe and appropriate, reach out to one person you’ve labeled and offer a small act of kindness—a message, prayer, or listening ear.
Practice presence in communion: Remember Jesus’ presence in the bread and cup as a sign that God is actively growing us.

Questions for Reflection

Who is a “Gaius” in your life, and what story about them have you stopped seeking to understand?
When have you been surprised by someone you’d earlier judged? What changed?
Where are the weeds (patterns of evil or hurt) entangling your own roots?
What would it look like to trust the Farmer in one specific relationship this week?
Who can you invite into your growth—someone to pray with or learn from?

Advent reminds us we live between Christ’s first coming and the final harvest. In that between-time, God is patient, persistent, and at work in every life—even those we find hardest to love. We don’t need to be judges; we get to be growers. Trust the Farmer. And remember: God is working with you, and you don’t have to carry the sorting—only the growth.