This week, your kids get to dive into a familiar story about Joseph and the Coat. This story is a great reminder of how we can trust God no matter what happens since He is in control of everything – both good and bad circumstances. As you work through this week’s activities with your kids, prayerfully consider how you can model for your kids the knowledge that God is sovereign and in control of it all.
HIGHLIGHTS from the Weekend…
This week your child learned about Joseph. He was the son of Jacob, who we learned about last week. Jacob loved Joseph more than all of his other sons and gave him a beautiful, colorful coat. Joseph also had many dreams about being in a position of power. All of this made his eleven brothers very jealous. They threw Joseph in a very deep hole in the ground. Then, they decided to sell Joseph as a slave to a group of men from Egypt. They tore his beautiful coat into pieces, dipped it in the blood of an animal and showed it to their father, Jacob. They lied to their father, saying that a wild animal must have eaten Joseph and this was all that was left of him. All the while, Joseph was on his way to Egypt as a slave, but God NEVER left Joseph.
Teaching Truths:
1. We can trust God no matter what happens.
2. God is in control of everything
Memory Verse:
"God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true.” Psalm 18:30
3 Activities that Help Us Learn This Week's Teaching Truths:
1. Colorful Snack
Make this sweet treat for a snack or dessert. Grab a banana, cut it in half (not lengthwise) and peel it. Use a multi-colored fruit rollup for the coat, wrap it around the banana and use a toothpick to hold it. Use two stick pretzels for arms and place them in the banana. Use two chocolate mini morsels for the eyes and butterscotch morsels for his mouth. As you eat and enjoy your treat, talk about the story with your child using these questions.
1. Why were Joseph’s brothers jealous?
2. Who protected Joseph?
3. Even though bad things were happening to Joseph, who was in control?
4. Is God in control of your life too?
5.Can we trust God in all circumstances, good and bad?
6.When have you trusted God when things didn’t go your way?
2. Trust Obstacle Course
Together with your child, create a simple obstacle course through an open space in your house.Be sure to include obstacles that need to be stepped over, crouched under, climbed or jumped on. Pair up with your child and tell him you trust him to get you through the obstacle course safely. Close your eyes and have your child get you safely through the obstacle course. When you are finished talk about how we need to trust God just like you trusted each other to get through the obstacle course safely.
3. Joseph and His Coat
Using a coffee filter, have your child color the filter with washable markers, making the coffee filter as colorful as possible. Then using a spray bottle filled with water, lightly squirt the coffee filter so the colors run together. Cut a small slit in the center of the coffee filter and slide a popsicle stick through the opening. Tape the filter to the popsicle stick and draw a simple face on the stick so it becomes Joseph and his coat of many colors.
Pray
Pray a short, simple prayer thanking God that he always keeps His promises. Thank Him specifically for various ways you have seen Him keep His promises in your life.