Joy

This devotion highlights joy in the second week of Advent. Middle Schoolers can think of how we can have joy regardless of circumstances.

There are many ways that we can incorporate play in working with youth. Games and structured exercises can help communicate Biblical truths and promote spiritual growth. Kristen helps us to think critically about the value and use of play in your youth ministry.

In each of this five-part Bible study series on play, participants will grow in God’s Word around the topic of play and gain a foundation for how God views play. Participants and leaders will also identify the essence of play and develop a stronger sense of their own unique needs and experiences associated with play and connecting with God through play.

Play connects us to God in a unique way. In an introduction on play that ties to a Bible study to be released later this month, Heidi helps us think about how play can be a way God can draw us closer to Him.

We will have times we are anxious, times we are afraid, times we covet, times we feel ungrateful and times we feel left out. God brings grace into our lives for those times and that grace just brings more joy. We will never miss out on God’s grace, and that’s the most joyous place to be.

In the midst of such strife sometimes it can feel as if there will be no end to the strife. But God has not forgotten us.

In the resurrection, Jesus defeats sin, death, and the power of the devil. He forges a way for us to be reunited with God our Father.

When life feels in ruins or just really mundane, we can sing and say and shout Joy because God never fails to show up with joy. Jesus is our comfort when the anxiety or sadness of FOMO creeps in.