Watch the video above and talk about it with your family. Learn more.

Joy is a word we sing in our Christmas songs and see written on ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree. But why be joyful?

Have you ever heard about the Grinch who stole Christmas? He was only focused on the things he didn’t have, and that made him mean and cranky all the time. He had no joy!

Joy Is Being ___________ with What You Have

Christmas time is a great time for JOY! It’s a time to remember what you have and thank God for giving it to you.

So, here are four things we can all be joyful about:

#1. We Have _________!

Are you breathing right now? Are you blinking? Are you thinking? That means you’re alive! Be joyful! When’s the last time you just stopped to say thank you to God for life? He gives you oxygen to breathe every day, and he keeps your heart beating.

Psalm 36:9 (NCV) You are the giver of life. Your light lets us enjoy life.

#2. We Have ___________!

What’s your favorite gift you’ve ever gotten at Christmas? Did you ever think about why you even get gifts? After all, it’s Jesus’ birthday… not yours! We get gifts because God loves to give good things to his children. So even on HIS birthday, WE get gifts! So be joyful! Even if you don’t have everything you want, you should stop to think about the good stuff that you do have.

James 1:17 (NIV) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…

#3. We Have __________ Who Love Us!

Did you know that people matter even more than stuff? Every kid has family and friends who love and care for them. Moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends and more. Make your own list of the people who love you. Now, look at that big list. That should make you joyful! Get a picture of some of those people in your mind right now. Are you smiling? You should be! Those people are God’s gift to you.

#4. We Have __________!

Now kids, don’t forget this last thing. The greatest gift at Christmas time is Jesus himself. He’s our real source for joy. Jesus came to set us free from sin so we can live in heaven some day. That’s what the angel said to the shepherds in the Christmas story.

Luke 2:10-11 “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

That’s why joy is such an important word at Christmas time. So, every time you see it on a card or in the store, thank God for life, stuff, people, and Jesus. And shout for joy!

Answers: Happy, Life, Stuff, People, Jesus

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Key Points:

  • Joy is being happy with what you have!
  • We have life!
  • We have stuff!
  • We have people who love us!
  • We have Jesus!

Memory Verse:

Luke 2:10-11 “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

See Also: Christmas

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. What do you look most forward to at Christmas?
  3. What is joy? Why is it important?
  4. Why should Jesus be the most important person in your life?
  5. Read Philippians 4:4-5.  What does it mean to have the joy of the Lord? How can you share that joy with others?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

This is part of the True Christmas series.

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