Lesson Continued...

• Ask: What if I told you that an apple came from an orange tree? What would you say? (Provide time for their responses.) It would be impossible for an orange tree to produce an apple! Only apple trees produce apples and only orange trees can produce oranges. God made different kinds of plants and trees to produce certain fruits and only those fruits.

• State: In the Bible, God teaches us that people produce fruit as well. Before we know God, what kind of fruit do you think we produce? We are only able to produce bad fruit. We constantly produce fruit like anger, hatred, jealousy, and greediness. After we become followers of God, He gives us His Spirit. Because we have His Spirit living inside of us, we are able to produce good fruit, fruit that comes directly from Him. Sometimes we will still continue to produce bad fruit because it is impossible for us not to sin, but just as sunshine, rain, and good soil cause an apple tree to produce apples, as we seek to know God, learn from Him, and listen to Him, the fruit of the Spirit is produced in us.

• State: First, I want us to look at Galatians chapter 5, verses 22-26. Would two of you like to read this for us? (Give them each a couple of verses to read. This depends on the age range and reading abilities of your particular group of children. Adjust the lesson accordingly. Take time to explain this verse a little so they are able to understand exactly what it means.)

• State: After we believe and trust in Jesus Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. It is the Spirit who produces this fruit in us as we abide in Him, and apart from Him, these things would be impossible for us to have in their purest form. This does not mean it is always easy to show these characteristics in our lives, but it does mean we are now able to respond in love or self-control or patience in difficult situations because we have the Spirit within us.

• State: So today we are going to learn about joy.

• State: Where can we look to discover what joy truly is? (God’s Word!). There are many verses that talk about joy in the Bible. Since His Word is our truth, it is the first place we should turn to learn more about this fruit of the Spirit.

• State: Let’s turn together to Psalm 43:4. (Help the children find this verse.) Would someone like to read this for us? “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.” What can we discover about joy from this verse? (God is our joy!). Not only did the psalmist say that God is his joy, but his exceeding joy, joy that goes above and beyond even regular joy!

• State: Now let’s turn to Psalm 119:111. Would someone like to read this verse for us? “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” The psalmist is talking about God’s Word. He is saying that God’s Word is his forever, and it is joy of his heart. Why do you think God’s Word is the joy of his heart? (Discuss.) As we read God’s Word, we discover more and more of who He is.  We learn about His promises to us and all that He has done. We can experience joy when we read and know God’s Word, just like the writer of this psalm!

• State: We know that we can have joy through the Holy Spirit producing His fruit within us. We also know that God is our joy and that we experience joy through His Word. James tells believers to consider it joy when they go through difficult times in their lives. How is it possible to have joy, to praise God, in difficult times? (Allow them time to think and offer explanations.) Joy is very different from happiness. Happiness cannot be present when someone is sad. But joy can always be present, even at the same time as sadness.

• State: Now let’s look at another verse to find out how joy can be present at the same time as sadness! Turn to Proverbs chapter ten verse 28 (help them find the passage). Would anyone like to read this verse for us? “The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked brings will perish.” If we are Christians, we have something the rest of the world does not: the hope of eternal life with God. After we die, we know we will live forever with God. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more sorrow. When we understand that we have this to look forward to, it gives us joy! We know that the hard times we experience on earth will not last forever because of Christ. Knowing this truth allows us to have joy even in the midst of sadness and sorrow.

Directions

1. Give each child a paper plate and have them cut it directly in half. They can tape/glue/staple it together to form a "watermelon" with a pouch. 
2. Have them decorate each side to look like a watermelon and put the word "JOY" on the front. 
3. Now have them cut circles shaped like seeds out of construction paper and on each one have them write a fruit of the spirit. They can put their "seeds" in the watermelon. 

Directions

• Line the kids up and give them two chances to toss a football into the bowling pins knocking down as many as they can. The kid that knocks the most down wins! If there is a tie, those kids will participate in a knockout, tie-breaker round. 

Directions

This game is just hot potato except use a small ball to represent a "fruit" of the spirit.

Have the kids sit in a circle and pass the ball around while the music is playing. When the music stops whoever holds the ball is out.  Remind the kids that we are practicing showing our fruits of the spirit... so no pouting, getting mad, or upset if you get out!