Joy

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CHAPEL FAMILY DRIVE-THRU PICNIC

Advent Family Activity

As we have been learning and experiencing, Advent is a season of waiting. Advent is a journey. At our outdoor service this past Sunday, Nina Simone continued to remind us that the Advent Season is a trip we are taking together. A journey that prepares us for the coming of Christ. Do you remember the sign language for Advent? (Answer: Two thumbs up moving toward your chest, which can be translated three ways.) It can mean COME! It can mean COME HERE! And it can mean COME AGAIN! But even as we celebrate Jesus’ coming, and as we wait for him to come again, we learn in our waiting about HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE (the four candles of Advent). We’re going through Advent, Are we there yet? No! First we need HOPE… Then we need PEACE… Next we need JOY… Joy is our third candle, our third lesson of Advent. This week we learned that Joy is very different than Happiness. Can you remember the difference? Joy is seeing God’s promises no matter what happens… and finding joy in those promises even when tough things are happening. Happiness tends to disappear when something goes wrong, or when something goes away. One of the great Christmas carols of the season says, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” That ultimately we can find Joy in the Christmas season because we are reminded that God kept his promise to send us a savior, Jesus, God himself, to come and rescue us form our sin. God always keeps his promises, and we find joy as we see his promises all around us. So, as we experience Joy together in this Advent season, let us see God’s promises together. 1. How would yo describe the difference between happiness and joy? Can you think of someone who has been an example of Joy even during hard seasons in their life? 2. How have you seen God keep his promises? 3. What promises of God do you think about often? Can you think of the promises God has made to you and to those who follow him? 4. Sing “Joy to the World” Together. What is your favorite line in the song? 5. Pray together. Take time to thank God for keeping his promises and then ask him to open your eyes to what he is doing in your life right now. 6. Memorize Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”