Joseph Forgives His Family Bible Story Genesis 42:1-8; 43:16; 45; 46:5-7 Teacher Challenge and Me Joseph looked up to see his brothers bowing low. How life had changed! Now second in command over the world s most powerful nation, he listened as men who had 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 obligation to 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 these people through His eyes. Like Joseph, it s not our job to balance the scales or right the wrongs we ve suffered. Forgiveness is the rule of God s Kingdom! No matter how much someone else deserves to pay, Jesus paid it all. He forgave us so that we might live out His amazing forgiveness to even the people who hurt us. Teacher s Planning 1. Choose which centers you will provide and the order in which children will participate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9. 2. Plan who will lead each center, making sure to have one adult for approximately every six children. For staffing tips and ideas, see page 12. 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide 369
Play to Learn Active Game Center: Road to Egypt Bible, classroom items (chairs, table, blocks, toys, etc.); optional crawl-through tunnel. Prepare Create an obstacle course using classroom items. (Optional: Incorporate a crawl-through tunnel into the obstacle course.) and Me Children take turns moving through the course. Repeat the activity, with children moving in a variety of 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 little seeds 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. You showed God s love by being kind! What are some other ways you can show love today? The Bible says, Love one another. God will help us show His love to our friends and family. Pray briefly, Dear God, please help us to show Your love today and every day. For Younger Children Some children may hesitate to walk through the course by themselves. Offer to hold a hesitant child s hand and walk with that child. For Older Children Children rearrange the obstacle course between rounds. 370 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide
Play to Learn Art Center: Sharing Supplies Bible, construction paper, a variety of art supplies (chalk, markers, glitter pens, etc.). Children share art supplies as they draw pictures of their own choosing. Comment on children s sharing actions as they draw. and Me Talk About The Bible says, Love one another. God loves us. We can show God s love to others. God will help us show His love. One way we can show God s love to others is to share. Let s show love to each other as we share our art supplies! Thank you, Brandon, for letting Sophia use the green glitter pen first. You showed God s love by being kind to her! Taylor, who lives with you in your house? How can you show love to your brother today? Letting him choose what game to play is a good way to show love to your brother! Pray briefly, Dear God, please help me show Your love to everyone! For Younger Children Limit the choice of art supplies you provide. For Older Children Children draw pictures of themselves showing God s love to family or friends. 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide 371
Play to Learn Construction Center: Block Beds Bible, blocks, several blankets or towels, toy people. Children use blocks and blankets or towels to make beds. Children pretend toy people are sick. Children put toy 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. God will help us show His love. One way we show love to others is when we care for people who are sick. Let s build beds and act out caring for sick people. Brianna, who lives in your house? What can you do to show love to your mom? Making your 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 way to show love to your dad! Pray briefly, Dear God, we love You. Please help us show Your love to others. and Me For Younger Children Make several beds ahead of time for children to place dolls in. For Older Children Children use blocks to build rooms in their house and talk about how they can show love to others in each room. 372 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide
Play to Learn Dramatic Play Center: Food, Please! Bible, toy dishes, toy food; optional child-sized apron. Children pretend to be a family. One or more children pretend to be mom, dad, or grandma and pretend to cook 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 to Egypt because they needed to get food. They asked Joseph for food. Joseph showed love to his brothers by giving them food. We can show love to each other. Let s pretend to cook food for each other! Dylan, thank you for waiting your turn to be the cook. Who do you want to be? You can be the dad. What are you going to cook for your children? Giving food to others is a way to show love! Lauren, what are some other ways to be kind and show love to the people in our families? When you kick a ball to your brother you are showing love. God helps us to show love to others. and Me For Younger Children Younger children often play alone, rather than in a group. Provide several plastic mixing bowls and spoons. Children place toy food in bowls and pretend to cook a meal. For Older Children Place a small amount of frosting or cream cheese in a small bowl. Children use plastic knives to spread frosting or cream cheese on graham crackers. Children pretend to be a family and serve snacks to each other. (Check children s registration cards for food allergies.) 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide 373
Listen to Learn Genesis 42:1-8; 43:16; 45: 46:5-7 Bible, Bible Story 17 pictures from God s Story for Me Poster Pack #2, Preschool Music #2 DVD or CD and player, balloon, toy person, paper, marker. Prepare Blow up balloon. and Me Greet Each Other Children stand in a circle. We all have families. And all our families are different! If your family has any boys in it, reach for the sky. If your family has any girls in 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 Story Open your Bible to Genesis 42. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) or show Bible 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 cereals. 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 nothing to eat. Then Jacob heard that he could buy grain in Egypt. Grain was just what Jacob 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 selling grain. They didn t know that this leader was their brother Joseph! The brothers hadn t seen Joseph since he was young. Now he was all grown up. He was dressed like an Egyptian king. When Joseph looked to see who wanted to buy grain, he was surprised! He knew the men standing in front of him were his very own brothers! We have come to buy grain, the brothers said to Joseph. Joseph said to his helpers, Bring these men sacks of grain. The helpers loaded the brothers donkeys with sacks of grain. The brothers returned home. But later, Joseph s brothers returned to Egypt because they needed more food. This time 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 to us? 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 here to live. Soon Joseph s father and brothers and their families came to live with Joseph. They must have been glad to be together again! 374 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide
Talk About the Story How did Joseph help his brothers? (He sold them grain to make food. He asked them to live with him in Egypt.) Joseph s brothers had been mean to him when he was younger. But Joseph showed God s love to his brothers anyway. What is a way you can show God s love to someone in your family today? Sing to God Let 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 s love to someone today? Hear and Say Holding your Bible open to John 13:34, say verse aloud. The Bible tells us to love each other. 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. Option: Invite children to clap their hands on each word. Children remain sitting in a circle. Toss a balloon in the air. Children work together to keep balloon in the air as they say verse aloud. If the balloon touches the floor, children start verse from beginning. Pray to God Let s ask for God s help to show love to others. Dear God, help us to show love to our family and friends. Thank You, God, for loving us. In Jesus name, amen. Praise to God Children sit in a circle. Pass a toy person around the circle while you play God Helps Me Good Things (track 3 on CD). When the music stops, child holding toy person names people other than family members to whom they could show love (friends, teacher, neighbor, babysitter, etc.). Challenge older children to name the ways they will show love to those people. Print children s responses on prepared paper and post it where parents can read it when children are dismissed. 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide 375
Talk to Learn Bible Story Activity Pages Center A copy of Activity 17 from The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #2 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers, scissors; optional blue tissue paper, glue. Name The sons traveled for many days. Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Bible Story Activity 17 Lead children to complete pages following the instructions. (Optional: Children glue blue tissue paper onto water in Scene 4.) Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages and retell the story. Preschool Puzzle Center Copies of Bible Story Puzzle 43, Bible Verse Puzzle 43 and/or Challenge Puzzle 43 from The Big Book of Preschool Puzzles #2 for each child; pencils, crayons or markers. Children complete the puzzles and color pages. Use the conversation suggestions on the pages. Scene 3 Scene 1 Scene 2 Joseph sold his brothers grain, but he His brothers went home and did not tell them who he was. came back to Egypt again. Child colors page. Child cuts along lines, puts Scenes 1-4 in order and then turns scenes over and assembles Scene 5 to retell story action. Scene 4 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to the original purchaser only. The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #2 75 Read-Aloud Story Center A copy of Story Picture 43 from The Big Book of Read- Aloud Stories #2 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers. Read the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages. 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #2 Accordion-fold page to make a door. Color the picture. 91 fold fold Story Picture 43 376 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader s Guide