The Joy of Christmas

Look at this beautiful Christmas gift. (Pass the gift around.) Are there gifts under the tree at your house? Have you looked to see how many of the gifts have your name on them? (Pause for responses.)

There’s a story about a young boy who checked the presents under the tree every day. He loved looking through them, arranging them, and counting them. One day, he discovered that his sister had more gifts than he did. He ran to his mother very upset.

"Katie has more presents under the Christmas tree than I do!" he cried. 

His mom explained that getting gifts under the tree isn’t what Christmas is really all about because Jesus is our greatest gift. 

• Have you ever felt the way this boy did? Explain.

• How did that experience affect your joy in that moment? 

Christmas should be a time of joy. Today, we’ll learn our true joy is in Jesus’ birth, not the presents we get. In fact, God tells us that giving is even better than receiving.

In the Bible, John the Baptist was sent to prepare people for the coming of Jesus. He told them to repent of their sins and prepare their hearts for the coming of our Savior.

"What should we do?" they asked.

John replied, "If you have two coats, give one of them to the one who has none. If you have food, share it with those who have none."

This message is for us, too. If we want to experience the real joy that Jesus wants for us, then we must learn to share. By sharing what God has so generously given to us, we will receive an even greater gift -- the gift of joy.

• What is one way you can give others joy during Christmas? 

Dear God, help us to learn that it is through remembering Jesus’ birth and  giving to others that we receive true joy at Christmas. In Jesus’ name, amen.