Faithful
WELCOME TO WEEK 4
What have you waited a long time to see come true? Have you had to wait to see what grade you made on your big test? What about waiting to hear if your parents will take you on the trip you’ve been hoping to go on? We might have to wait for the things we really want, or sometimes we wait and it never happens. When God makes a promise, we might have to wait, but we can always trust it will happen. God’s time is not our time, but He completes His promises in the perfect time.
BIBLE STORY
Play this guessing game to see if you can figure out the right answer. Beforehand, pick out several items to place inside of a large bag. Keep all the items hidden and place them one at a time into a paper bag your child can reach into. Have your child reach into the bag to feel and touch the item inside and guess what the item is without ever touching it. Give them several chances to guess before showing the item. Continue with each of the other items.
Were you able to predict what each item was? Was it easy or hard to guess what would come out of the bag. Sometimes we have an idea of what we think is going to happen and then it may take forever for it to happen. In our story this week Joseph thinks he knows what God’s plans are for his future, but then his life takes a seemingly totally different path. God does not always work according to the way we think he should work, but He has His own timing which is perfect. Let’s read or listen to the first part of Josephs story this week.
Read or listen to Genesis 37:1-28
Why did Joseph not get along with his brothers? (They knew he was their fathers favorite son)
What did Jacob make for Joseph? (A colorful coat)
What did Jacob send Joseph to do with his brothers? (Check on them to see how it was going in the fields)
What did the brothers plan to do when they saw Joseph coming? (Kill him and throw him in a cistern)
What did Reuben tell his brothers to do? (to throw him in the cistern but not to kill him. Rueben planned to rescue him)
Why did they decide to sell him instead? (To make money from him instead of touch him)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
We can trust that God’s love is unchanging for us, even when we make big mistakes. David made several mistakes and even tried to cover it up, but God still loved him and forgave him for his mistakes.
Activity
Hide 12 animals, like sheep or any other stuffed animals, around your living space. Have your child find the missing animals. Jacob had 12 sons and Joseph was sent to go look for his 10 older brothers. When he found them they were not happy to see him. Although they sent him away to be a slave, God did not forget about Joseph and the plans he had for Joseph. It may sometimes feel like it is taking a long time for God’s promises to come true, but God has not forgotten and He will do it in His perfect timing.
Materials: 12 stuffed animals
Alternate
Use play dough to create a colorful coat for Joseph. Use the play dough from earlier this month or use several different colored play dough. As your child makes Josephs coat, discuss why it’s important not to be envious of what others have. Josephs brothers were jealous of the attention Joseph received and it eventually caused them to do something very drastic to their own brother. God has given each one of us a unique talent that He calls us to use. We can not look to what others can do but instead see what God has called you to do that is special.
Materials: colorful play dough
Independent activity:
Complete the following activity sheet
Materials: printed activity sheet
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Complete the Joseph coat of many colors mosaic craft. Look at the following website and print out the template and then follow the instructions for creating a mosaic looking Coat of Colors.
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Did David confess to his wrong deeds right away?
What do you do when you make a mistake?
What should David have done when he first took something that wasn’t his?
When you confess your sins, how does it make you feel?
How can we know that we have been forgiven by God?
Practical Application at Home
We may sometimes think the things we have done are too big for God to forgive. Or we may think that God will never forget the bad things we’ve done and it will change his opinion of us. But God’s love for us is unchanging.
Complete the following scavenger hunt and use the pieces you find to fill in the blank on this scripture. Find all the words and place them in order to discover what the scripture says about how much God loves you. Print and cut the squares and place some in front of you and scatter the others around the room for your child to find. When they return with a word, read the verse and help them determine where in the verse their new word should go.
Materials: printed activity sheet, scissors,
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.