RELIGIOUS VIRTUE GROUP

Because I value my relationship with God, I choose to know His character and respond to Him in my worship and life.

How To Be Like Jesus

Joy

God brings joy and makes me want to praise Him. He created and saved me and gives me blessings every day.

Definition

Joy related virtues: Happiness, praise.

Joy means: Being at peace during troublesome times.
Satisfaction in getting people to know Jesus.
Doing things to make other people happy.
Expressing thankfulness, happiness to God and others.
Giving thanks to God because He has done so much for us.
The joy of Jesus was the absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice of Himself to His Father, the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do.
Being rightly related to God.

See flipchart

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, SDAH 12
Wake the Song, SDAH 31
Leaning on the Everlasting Love, SDAH 469
Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him in the Morning...

Praise Him, Praise Him All Ye Little Children, God is Love
Jesus is the Joy of Living
He Keeps Me Singing
Heaven Came Down & Glory Filled My Soul
Happiness is the Lord
Give Them All to Jesus
The Joy of the Lord
I’ve Got Joy Like a River
The Trees of the Field
Rejoice in the Lord Always
In my Heart There Rings a Melody
I’ve Discovered the Way of Gladness

Student Life Applications

1. Students looking happy, enthusiastic and joyful as they do any of the following:
a. at graduation with hands lifted up to heaven
b. reciting Scripture text while one holds up the printed reference
c. singing in church choir
d. playing guitar in church choir
e. playing any instrument ( piano, bamboo flute, keyboard, trumpet, pan pipe).
f. walking to his church
g. reading his Bible
h. receiving affirmation in local custom after baptism
i. excited and obviously awed at his observation of nature (at a butterfly on a flower, or the clouds on the sky, or a flock of birds at the beach, etc.)
j. shaking hands with the pastor after church
k. receiving the gift of new Bible
l. singing with their songbooks open in church

Bible, E.G. White

Psalm 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O God.
Nehemiah 8:10 For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Luke 15:10 There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Psalm 86:12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart . . . .
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because . . . your works are wonderful
II Chronicles 5:13 The temple choir at Solomon’s dedication
Matthew 21:9 Rejoicing and praising God at the Triumphal Entry... Palm Sunday
Revelation 19:1-7 Redeemed rejoicing in the New Jerusalem

“Happiness that is sought from selfish motives, outside of the path of duty, is ill-balanced, fitful, and transitory; but there is joy and satisfaction in the service of God . . .” SC 124

“If we are indeed partakers of the divine nature, His praise will be continually in our hearts and upon our lips.” SL 95
“Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise.” Ed 161
"The Lord would have all His sons and daugthers happy, peaceful, and obedient." SC 124

Reinforcing Stories

Living Illustrations by J. B. Fowler, Jr. p. 109
Living Illustrations by J. B. Fowler, Jr. p. 108
The Children's Hour, by Arthur S. Maxwell, pg. 89

Student Activities

Choose how you can express your praise to God. Consider the following.
1) Pick a theme of something for which to praise God and look for song, stories and testimonies to support it. Make a program and present your praise.
2) Write a poem or song praising God for something He has done for you.
3) Make a skit contrasting those who are full of praise and those who are not.
4) Make a compilation of Bible texts or Christian qotes about praise.
5) Draw a picture of things for which to praise God.
6) Choose 10 praise songs and list the different reasons for praise.
7) Discuss how praise can help us avoid discouragement and self pity.
8) Discuss the importance to expressing our praise of God to other people.
9) Draw a picture of people praising God
10) Write about the time something special happened to you and why you wanted to praise God.
11) List the things you can see in the classroom for which you can praise God

Links to the Curriculum

Resources

Primary:
Tell or write two ways that show that God is joyful.
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show joy.
Tell or write about when you showed joy like God would do.
Tell two ways that you can show joy.
What is the opposite of joy? Who makes us act that way?
How do you think God feels when He sees people who are joyful?
How do you feel when you show joy?
What makes you want to show joy?
Finish the sentence: We can show joy when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I am joyful?
What difference does it make whether I show joy or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not choose to be joyful?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t choose to show joy?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not choose to be joyful?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to show joy. Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to be joyful better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might be joyful without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could be joyful in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at being joyful? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at showing joy? What makes them better at it?
How often do you show joy? Think of the last three times and tell me.

High school:
Would you practice joy if no one was checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to joy and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Are you proud to be joyful and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against joy would you speak up to give the other side?
Can you say that showing joy has become a habit? How often are you that way?
What effect do you think joy will have on your future?
Do you see your family practicing joy? How about your church, city, or nation? Does it make much difference if they do?
What do you think should be done to promote joy in your family, friends, church, city, and nation?