Advent - Week 3 - Joy

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Week 3 
This week we light the third candle on the Advent wreath.
“We light this candle in great joy; Jesus is our joy!”
Questions:
What is joy?
What do you think of when you consider what it might mean to be full of joy?
What are some of the characteristics of joy?
Scripture:
Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Discussion:
Is there joy in expectation?
What goes through your own head and heart when you are anticipating something?
Consider these two lines…
“Shout aloud and sing for joy.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”When do you find it most difficult to sing for joy and rejoice?
For what in your life can you sing for joy or rejoice now?
Activity:
Sometime before Sunday, consider the things that bring you joy. 
Why do those things bring you joy? 
Think about some ways in which you might be an agent of joy in your house, your school, your place of employment.

Find a service project you can participate in that will bring joy into the lives of others.

Sign up to participate in Christmas Benevolence.  It is still not too late.

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