God s Unfolding Story - PDF Free Download

Bible Story: God Was with Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 39-40) Bible Phrase: God was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2). Bible Truth: God will always be with me and help me do what is right. Old Testament Unit 5: Joesph Lesson 2: God Was with Joseph in Egypt God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour B Unfolding God s Story for Teachers You are late for work but you are driving the speed limit when someone pulls in front of you. Then the light ahead turns red, and you have to stop as the person sails down the road. The work you ve done on a project gets overlooked and another employee gets the credit. You ve worked hard for years for a company, and suddenly you are let go without reason. All of these are unfair situations, some minor but some very life-changing. Experiencing such situations can challenge our faith, character, and ability to surrender to God. Please read Joseph s experience with inequities in Genesis 39-40. In our story, Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers. He was then purchased by a man named Potiphar. Though the circumstances were unfair, Joseph worked hard. God not only blessed him, but Potiphar as well. Joseph was so competent that Potiphar put him in charge of everything he owned. Now Joseph was well built and handsome, and Potiphar s wife presented herself to him as a temptation. A young man of great integrity, Joseph refused her advances. He not only didn t want to dishonor his master, most of all he didn t want to dishonor his God. Then Potiphar s wife caught Joseph alone and tried to force him to submit to her. Joseph did the right thing he ran. She accused Joseph of the sin she tried, unsuccessfully, to get him to commit. Even so, God was in control. Joseph was sent to prison and not to die. Even in prison, Joseph trusted God. He remained faithful, and again God blessed him. He became a trustee over the entire prison. Joseph was assigned to two former servants of the king, the cupbearer and the baker. Both had troubling dreams, and Joseph was sensitive to their sadness. When Joseph inquired, they told him their dreams. Joseph did not hesitate to say interpretations belonged to God. God gave Joseph the meanings. The cupbearer was restored but the baker lost his life. Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him to the king, but Joseph remained in prison. One has to wonder if Joseph questioned why God used him but did not set him free. Yet Joseph continued to trust the Lord. Joseph exhibited perhaps one of the greatest examples of godly character and discipline in the face of injustice we find in the Bible. Joseph was separated from his family and friends. He did not have the benefit of a church, and the Scriptures had not yet been written. Joseph s character was forged through prayer and a reliance on God for strength in the face of adversity. Just as Joseph s superiors observed Joseph s character in his circumstances, people are watching us. How will we respond in the face of injustice, unfairness, or misfortune? Will we, like Joseph, trust God s plan? Will you? Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 2 Hour B Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Invite preschoolers to work puzzles. Encourage children to finish puzzles before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than working a puzzle for a child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Role Play items What to Do: Encourage preschoolers to set the table and pretend to make a meal with the food items. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers play, express that in today s Bible story today a young man named Joseph worked in the home of an important official to the king. Explain that Joseph may have helped to serve food in the home. Center Time Art Center: Paint with Cars What to Do: Print today s Bible Phrase on each paper. Pour paint onto paper plates. Invite children to dip the wheels of the cars into the paint and to roll them across their papers. Link to the Bible Story: Share with preschoolers that long ago a young man named Joseph was taken far away from his family. Comment that even though Joseph was not with his family, God was with Joseph and looked out for him. Bible Learning Center: Can you Find? Find? (Reproducible) What to Do: Ask children to look at items at the bottom of the page and try to find them in the big picture. Children can circle the items with a crayons or markers when they find them. Link to the Bible Story: Express to preschoolers that the picture reminds us of today s Bible story. The young man in the picture is Joseph. Joseph went to prison for something he did not do, but God was with Joseph and watched out for him while he was in prison. Block Center: Build with Blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children play in the Block Center, express that in today s Bible story a young man named Joseph was put in prison for something he did not do, but God helped Joseph work hard and make wise decisions, so Joseph was treated kindly. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 2 Hour B Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Was with Joseph in Egypt (Reproducible) (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of the story is from the third part, God chose a special people. anyone ever been blamed for something you did not do? Perhaps someone said you broke a toy when you didn t. Or someone said you called him or her an unkind name and you did not. How would you feel if that happened? You would probably be sad and feel it was not fair. In life, many things happen to us that don t seem fair. Often we want to cry, get mad, or stomp our feet when things don t go as we want them too. Do you think it pleases God when we get so upset? When things don t go as we would like, it s hard to do the right thing. Our Bible story today is about a young man who had things happen to him that were not fair, but he depended on God, and God helped him make good choices. Listen to learn how Joseph obeyed God. Bible Story God Was with Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 39-40) Joseph was a young man who was living in a country called Egypt. Egypt was not Joseph s home. Joseph s brothers had made some bad choices that caused Joseph to be taken far away from his home. But God was with Joseph, and God allowed many good things to happen to Joseph and to the people for whom Joseph worked. We will learn that Joseph served God even though he often was treated unfairly. Joseph worked for a man named Potiphar. Every day Joseph did his best as he worked in Potiphar s house. One day Potiphar said to Joseph, You are a very hard worker. I have decided to put you in charge of all the helpers in my house. Joseph knew this would be hard work, but God helped him with his work. One day Joseph was blamed for doing something he did not do. Potiphar got very angry and put Joseph in prison! But God was with Joseph. God helped Joseph work hard and do his best for the prison master. The master liked Joseph and appreciated his hard work. One day the master said to Joseph, Today I am putting you in charge of all the prisoners. Again Joseph knew that God would help him to a good job. One morning Joseph noticed one of his prisoners was sad. The prisoner had been a servant of the king, but one day the king got angry with him and put him in prison. The man had a dream during the night and wondered about what it meant. Joseph asked him to tell him his dream. God helped Joseph understand that the dream meant the man soon would be out of prison. Joseph explained the dream and asked the man to remember him with kindness when he was no longer in jail. The man was freed, just as Joseph said, but he forgot about Joseph. Even though Joseph stayed in prison, he knew God was with him, and he continued to serve Him faithfully. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story and talk about ways God helped Joseph at Potiphar s house and in prison. Talk about Joseph s courage to obey God, even when he was treated unfairly. 2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together. Express to children that even though Joseph was far from his home, God cared for Joseph and helped him in his work. 3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Thank God that He is always with them, even though they cannot see Him. Thank God for the ways He meets the needs of those who love Him. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 2 Hour B Page 3

Craft Time: Make a Sun Catcher What to Do: Cut out the center of each sun catcher frame. Invite children to spread glue over a square of waxed paper and to place different colored squares of tissue paper over the glue. Distribute another square of waxed paper to each child. Ask each one to spread glue over the square and to place the square over the tissue paper. Children can color the sun catcher frames and glue their frames over the tissue paper squares. Punch a hole at the top of each sun catcher and tie a small length of yarn. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, read the Bible Phrase, God was with Joseph (Gen. 39:2). Remind boys and girls that just as God was with Joseph at Potiphar s house and in the prison, God is with each of us. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal Can We See God? 1 balloon What to Do: Ask children to join you in the Game Time area. Begin blowing up the balloon. Talk about the change in the size of the balloon and why it is happening. Let out some of the air. Ask if you can see the air leaving the balloon or the air that is inside it. Tie off the balloon and begin to bat it around. Encourage the children to pass the balloon along. Also, stand in a line and have each child pass the balloon over his or her head to the next person in line. Explain, Even though we do not see the air in the balloon, you know it is there. We cannot see God, but we can see the world he has made. He gives us food to eat and clothes to wear. Remind of today s Bible Phrase, God was with Joseph (Gen. 39:2). Express that even though Joseph did not see God with his eyes, he knew God was giving him strength to work hard and wisdom to tell the meanings of dreams. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the your church s security guidelines. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 2 Hour B Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 5: Joesph Lesson 2: God Was with Joseph in Egypt Hour B Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: Can You find? (1 copy per child, card stock recommended) Sun Catcher Frames (1 copy per child, cardstock recommended) Teaching Picture: God Was with Joseph in Egypt (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Coloring Page, God Was with Joseph in Egypt Additional Art Materials White construction paper Small cars (at least 6) Paper plates - 3 Additional Craft Materials 5 squares of waxed paper (2 per child) Several colors of tissue paper Additional Game Time Materials Balloon (1) God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 2 Hour B

Bible Phrase Suncatcher God was with Joseph. Genesis 39:2 God is with me. Craft: Bible Phrase Suncatcher Instructions: Copy 1 sheet for every child. Cardstock recommended. Cut out the center of the suncatcher. Spread glue on a 5 square of waxed paper. Cover the square with colorful tissue paper. Cover the square with another layer of waxed paper. Glue the suncatcher over the square. Tie a small length of yarn to hang. OT05 Lesson 2 Hour B Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com