JEALOUS AND THANKFUL HEARTS: Provide each team member with a happy or a sad face. Then each child will run when it is their turn on the team to the two labels at the far end of the room one JEALOUS HEART and one THANKFUL HEART. The child will quickly tape their happy or sad face on the correct "heart" and run back to their team for the next player to place his happy or sad face on the appropriate heart!

4. INTIMATE WORSHIP: (5 minutes)
Optional: Download 'Jesus is a friend of mine'

5. TEACHING:
a. Review (5 minutes)
Remember last week we introduced you to Joseph.

Why did Israel love Joseph more than any of his other sons? (Because he had been born to him in his old age) What gift did his dad give him? (A coat of many colours, use visual aid) How did Joseph’s brothers treat him? (They hated him and were unkind to him.)

DOWNLOAD Lesson #2 Visual Aids

b. Learn a Bible Verse (5minutes)
But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.
Genesis 37: 18

Optional: Download Lesson #2 Bible Memory Verse

Divide the children into four groups and get each group to recite a part of the Bible verse

1. But they saw him in the distance 2. and before he reached them 3. they plotted to kill him. 4. Genesis 37: 18 Shout it out, then whisper it, stand up, sit down, hop on one foot, spin around finally say the entire verse.

Optional: Download 'A favorite son becomes a slave' Lesson #2 Bible Verse Reading Video Mute Version Optional: Download 'A favorite son becomes a slave' Lesson #2 Bible Verse Reading Video English Audio Version

Adapted from Bible for Children

c. Teach the Lesson (15 minutes)
Introduction:

Joseph’s father said to him, "Your brothers are out tending my sheep. I want you to go check and make sure that they are ok."

Teaching:
Read: Genesis 37: 17-24

Joseph reminds us that it is possible to patiently endure, continuing to put our trust in God’s plan. He spent 13 years in God’s waiting room. That’s how long it took for God to prepare Joseph for what was about to happen next. And as he waited, Joseph served others with genuine concern and he refused to allow God’s dream to die. He trusted God’s plan and knew that God was with him.

How do we deal with challenges? Oh, I wish it could be a one-time decision. I wish we could just do the right thing and be done with it, but we have learned from Joseph that trusting God is an ongoing challenge. It is a lifetime commitment. There will be ups and downs. There will be times when it will seem much easier to just give in. But Joseph reminds us that it is possible to be faithful over a long period of time in very difficult circumstances

What kind of attitude do we have when life doesn’t go as we think it should? What do we do when it seems like God has forgotten about us?

Like Joseph, we might be tempted to give up, but hopefully we also hang on and continue doing what we need to do.

We think of some of what the apostle Paul went through – beatings, and shipwrecks, and all kinds of abuse – and this is what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Paul had a rough life, but he also refused to let the dream die. Paul continued living the Christian life.

Paul, like Joseph, in the waiting room of disappointment, continued to hang on to God’s plan for his life. Both men continued putting their trust in God.

http://www.fourlakescoc.org/Sermons/websermonupdates/1188_web.pdf

Before we close, I must tell you that this is not the end of the story of Joseph and his brothers. The story does have a happy ending and Joseph is reunited with his father and brothers. But for today, we learn the lesson of the terrible things that happen because of the sin of jealousy.

HURRICANE INFORMATION:

Optional Art Therapy: Give the children paper and crayons or paints to take home and get them to create a storm painting.

Discussion:

6. APPLICATION / ENCOUNTERING GOD:
When you get hurt you need to take care of your injuries. When you fall down and graze your knee you need a plaster. When someone hurts you or you are in a shocking or scary situation, you need to take care of your heart. You need to make sure that you don't end up hating or being troubled by fear. You put a plaster on your heart by talking about your troubles and not keep any bad feelings inside. God wants to remind you that He will always be there to listen to you. He says he will never leave you or forsake you.

Have the children write about times when they have felt afraid, betrayed and separated from loved ones. Create a ‘Heaven Corner’ with a gold cloth on a chair with Jesus’ crown and a wooden cross covered with a red cross to represent His blood. Get them to come and place the papers at the foot of the cross and leave those experiences there.

CLOSING PRAYER:

ADULT EDUCATIONAL HANDOUTS:

Optional: Download 'Support for Grief and Loss Through Christian Counseling' Adult Educational handouts

Optional: Download 'Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Disasters' Adult Educational handouts

Optional: Download'How to Prepare Kids for Emergencies' Adult Educational handouts

NEXT WEEK: Joseph is betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery

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A DROP OF HOPE

GROW AND GO CURRICULUM

ENGLISH/YORUBA

ENGLISH

ENGLISH/EFIK

ENGLISH/SHONA

CHICHEWA

ENGLISH/NUER

SWAHILI

DUTCH

PORTUGUESE

FRENCH/LINGALA

FRENCH/HAITIAN

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SUPER FRUIT CURRICULUM

NEW LIFE CURRICULUM