What a great question to ask your kids about Sunday’s sermon. And Joe Holland has put together few other suggestions on how to engage children in regards to weekly preaching. You can find his thoughts here.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. Let your bigheartedness be known to everyone. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Our rejoicing is in Christ. It’s one of the things that he works into us (“God works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure”). Since we are in union with Christ and we have hope in him, we have constant cause for happy hearts. And as we are happy inside because of Christ, we will be bighearted on the outside towards others (and again, because of Christ).

This word “bighearted” is often translated “reasonableness.” But here’s a little perspective from a definitions guy: “For bigheartedness one may substitute any of the following: forbearance, yieldedness, geniality, kindness, gentleness, sweet reasonableness, considerateness, charitableness, mildness, magnanimity, generosity. All of these qualities are combined in the adjective-noun that is used in the original” (that’s from Bible scholar William Hendrickson).

So there you have it. Celebrate in your heart all day long, because you are in Christ! your citizenship is in heaven. You eagerly await a Savior.

And celebrate outwards towards others. Be bighearted. Let your happy heart spill over into someone’s dismal day. Remember, the Lord is at hand.

Best of all, read all of Philippians 4 and consider the Savior who brings hope and happiness.