Joseph Forgives His FamilyBible StoryGenesis 42:1-8; 43:16; 45; 46:5-7
Teacher ChallengeJoseph looked up to see his brothers bowing low. Howlife had changed! Now second in command over theworld’s most powerful nation, he listened as men whohad shown him no mercy begged to buy the food he controlled!
Joseph had every legal right to have them killed, imprisoned—or sold as slaves! He had no obligationto sell them food—the power was all on Joseph’s side. But he chose not to use it.
� Who is someone you find it difficult to forgive?
� Talk to God about the people in your life who are difficult to forgive. Ask Him to help you see thesepeople through His eyes.
Like Joseph, it’s not our job to balance the scales or right the wrongs we’ve suffered. Forgiveness is therule of God’s Kingdom! No matter how much someone else deserves to pay, Jesus paid it all. He forgaveus—so that we might live out His amazing forgiveness to even the people who hurt us.
Teacher’s Planning1. Choose which centers you
will provide and the order in which children will par-ticipate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9.
2. Plan who will lead each cen-ter, making sure to have oneadult for approximately everysix children. For staffing tipsand ideas, see page 12.
PrepareCreate an obstacle course using classroom items.(Optional: Incorporate a crawl-through tunnel into theobstacle course.)
DoChildren take turns moving through the course. Repeat the activity, with children moving in a varietyof ways (walking, tiptoeing, taking giant steps, hopping, etc.) through the course.
Talk About� In today’s Bible story, Joseph’s brothers went on a
long journey to Egypt. They walked for many days.They went to Egypt to buy grain. Grains are littleseeds used to make foods like breads and cereals.Let’s pretend we’re going on a journey to Egypt.
� John, you let Grace go ahead of you in line. Youshowed God’s love by being kind! What are someother ways you can show love today?
� The Bible says, “Love one another.” God will helpus show His love to our friends and family. Pray briefly, Dear God, please help us to show Your lovetoday and every day.
For Younger ChildrenSome children may hesitate to walk through the course by themselves. Offer to hold a hesitant child’shand and walk with that child.
For Older ChildrenChildren rearrange the obstacle course between rounds.
God’s Word and MeGod helps me show His love to others.
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Play to LearnArt Center: Sharing Supplies
CollectBible, construction paper, a variety of art supplies(chalk, markers, glitter pens, etc.).
DoChildren share art supplies as they draw pictures oftheir own choosing. Comment on children’s sharingactions as they draw.
Talk About� The Bible says, “Love one another.” God loves
us. We can show God’s love to others. God willhelp us show His love. One way we can showGod’s love to others is to share. Let’s show loveto each other as we share our art supplies!
� Thank you, Brandon, for letting Sophia usethe green glitter pen first. You showed God’slove by being kind to her!
� Taylor, who lives with you in your house? Howcan you show love to your brother today? Let-ting him choose what game to play is a goodway to show love to your brother!
� Pray briefly, Dear God, please help me showYour love to everyone!
For Younger ChildrenLimit the choice of art supplies you provide.
For Older ChildrenChildren draw pictures of themselves showing God’s love to family or friends.
Lesson 43Play to LearnConstruction Center: Block Beds
CollectBible, blocks, several blankets or towels, toy people.
DoChildren use blocks and blankets or towels to makebeds. Children pretend toy people are sick. Children puttoy people in beds and pretend to bring them food and water.
Talk About� The Bible says, “Love one another.” God loves
us and wants us to show love to others. Godwill help us show His love. One way we showlove to others is when we care for people whoare sick. Let’s build beds and act out caringfor sick people.
� Brianna, who lives in your house? What canyou do to show love to your mom? Makingyour mom a card will show love to your mom.
� Christian, how can you show love to your dad?Helping your dad take out the trash is a wayto show love to your dad!
� Pray briefly, Dear God, we love You. Please helpus show Your love to others.
For Younger ChildrenMake several beds ahead of time for children to place dolls in.
For Older ChildrenChildren use blocks to build rooms in their house and talk about how they can show love to others ineach room.
God’s Word“Love one another.” John 13:34
God’s Word and MeGod helps me show His love to others.
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Play to LearnDramatic Play Center: Food, Please!
CollectBible, toy dishes, toy food; optional—child-sizedapron.
DoChildren pretend to be a family. One or more chil-dren pretend to be mom, dad, or grandma and pretend tocook a meal. (Optional: Cook wears child-sized apron.) Other children pretend to be other family members. Children pretend to eat meal together.
Talk About� In today’s Bible story, Joseph’s brothers
walked a long, long way. They walked toEgypt because they needed to get food.They asked Joseph for food. Josephshowed love to his brothers by givingthem food. We can show love to eachother. Let’s pretend to cook food foreach other!
� Dylan, thank you for waiting your turnto be the cook. Who do you want to be?You can be the dad. What are you goingto cook for your children? Giving food to others is a way to show love!
� Lauren, what are some other ways to bekind and show love to the people in ourfamilies? When you kick a ball to yourbrother you are showing love. God helpsus to show love to others.
For Younger ChildrenYounger children often play alone, rather than in a group. Provide several plastic mixing bowls andspoons. Children place toy food in bowls and pretend to cook a meal.
For Older ChildrenPlace a small amount of frosting or cream cheese in a small bowl. Children use plastic knives tospread frosting or cream cheese on graham crackers. Children pretend to be a family and servesnacks to each other. (Check children’s registration cards for food allergies.)
God’s Word and MeGod helps me show His love to others.
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Listen to LearnGenesis 42:1-8; 43:16; 45: 46:5-7
CollectBible, Bible Story 17 pictures from God’s Story forMe Poster Pack #2, Preschool Music #2 DVD or CDand player, balloon, toy person, paper, marker.
PrepareBlow up balloon.
Greet Each OtherChildren stand in a circle. We all have families. And all our familiesare different! If your family has any boys in it, reach for the sky. If your family has any girlsin it, touch your toes. Continue, giving other family features (family has a pet fish, family has a baby,etc.) and inviting children to respond with other actions.
Tell the StoryOpen your Bible to Genesis 42. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) or showBible Story 17 pictures.
What is your favorite food to eat for breakfast? Many breakfast foods are made from grains.Grains are little seeds from plants. Grains are used to make good foods like breads and cere-als. Let’s listen to hear about some brothers who had to travel a long way to buy grain.
No food was growing where Jacob and his family lived. They would soon have noth-ing to eat. Then Jacob heard that he could buy grain in Egypt. Grain was just whatJacob and his family needed to make bread and other good foods.
Jacob said to 10 of his sons, “I want you to go to Egypt and buy some grain for us to eat.” Right away the 10 brothers started on their trip to Egypt.
When the brothers finally got to Egypt, they went to the leader who was sellinggrain. They didn’t know that this leader was their brother Joseph! The broth-ers hadn’t seen Joseph since he was young. Now he was all grown up. He wasdressed like an Egyptian king.
When Joseph looked to see who wanted to buy grain, he was surprised! He knewthe men standing in front of him were his very own brothers! “We have come to buygrain,” the brothers said to Joseph. Joseph said to his helpers, “Bring these mensacks of grain.” The helpers loaded the brothers’ donkeys with sacks of grain. Thebrothers returned home.
But later, Joseph’s brothers returned to Egypt because they needed more food. Thistime Joseph told them “I am your brother Joseph.” The brothers were very surprised!At first they were afraid. They had been very mean to him. Now will Joseph be mean tous? they wondered.
But Joseph hugged each of them. “Take plenty of grain home,” Joseph said kindly.“Then hurry back here. Bring our father, Jacob. And bring all your families back hereto live.” Soon Joseph’s father and brothers and their families came to live with Joseph.They must have been glad to be together again!
God’s Word and MeGod helps me show His love to others.
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Talk About the StoryHow did Joseph help his brothers? (He sold them grain to make food. He asked them to live withhim in Egypt.) Joseph’s brothers had been mean to him when he was younger. But Josephshowed God’s love to his brothers anyway. What is a way you can show God’s love to some-one in your family today?
Sing to GodLet’s sing a song about some of the ways God helps us. Lead children in singing “God with You”(on DVD or track 12 on CD). God helps us to show His love to others. How will you show God’slove to someone today?
Hear and Say God’s WordHolding your Bible open to John 13:34, sayverse aloud. The Bible tells us to love eachother. Loving others is a way to obey God.God will help us to show His love to others.Lead children in repeating the verse several times.Children remain sitting in a circle. Toss a balloon in the air. Children work together to keep balloonin the air as they say verse aloud. If the balloon touches the floor, children start verse from beginning.
Pray to GodLet’s ask for God’s help to show love to others. Dear God, help us to show love to our familyand friends. Thank You, God, for loving us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Praise to GodChildren sit in a circle. Pass a toy person around the circle while you play “God Helps Me Do Good Things”(track 3 on CD). When the music stops, child holding toy person names people other than family mem-bers to whom they could show love (friends, teacher, neighbor, babysitter, etc.). Challenge older childrento name the ways they will show love to those people. Print children’s responses on prepared paper andpost it where parents can read it when children are dismissed.
Option: Invite children to clap their handson each word.
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Talk to LearnBible Story Activity Pages CenterCollectA copy of Activity 17 from The Big Book of Bible Story ActivityPages #2 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers, scis-sors; optional—blue tissue paper, glue.
DoLead children to complete pages following the instructions.(Optional: Children glue blue tissue paper onto water inScene 4.) Use the conversation suggestions as childrencomplete their pages and retell the story.
Preschool Puzzle CenterCollectCopies of Bible Story Puzzle 43, Bible VersePuzzle 43 and/or Challenge Puzzle 43 fromThe Big Book of Preschool Puzzles #2 for eachchild; pencils, crayons or markers.
DoChildren complete the puzzles and color pages. Use the conversation suggestions on the pages.
Read-Aloud Story CenterCollectA copy of Story Picture 43 from The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #2 for yourself and each child, crayonsor markers.
DoRead the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages.
