JOSEPH
Hey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson , Joseph, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!
- Who was today’s Bible story about?
Joseph. God made Joseph for a special job. And God made you, too! - What special thing did Joseph’s dad give him? A colorful coat! What kinds of colors did you see?
- Joseph’s brothers were jealous of Joseph and his coat. They were mad and wanted Joseph to go away. Can you show me a mad face?
- Who did Joseph forgive at the end of the Bible story?
His brothers. He was happy to see them. - You can show someone you forgive them by giving them a hug or high five. Can you show me how you give a hug or high five?
- Just like God made Joseph, he made you, too! Take some time to pray with your toddler. Encourage them to sit with you and fold their hands, saying something like:
God, you made Joseph and you made us, too. Thank you for making us! Thank you for loving us. Thank you for wanting to be our friend! We love you! Amen.
Parent Encouragement - Joseph
Hey Parents! Here's something for you to be encouraged by this week and get ideas from to make the Joseph lesson part of your everyday conversation with your toddler at home!
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Toddler Coloring Page - Joseph
As your child colors this coloring page, they will be reminded that God made Joseph and God made them, too! There are additional coloring pages with familiar faces from today’s lesson, too.
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Toddler Craft – Joseph’s Colorful Coat
This week, your child will create their own colorful coat picture like the one they saw in the Bible story. This will help remind them of Joseph. Just like God made Joseph, God made your child, too.
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Toddler Activity – Colorful Coat Sort
Help your toddler remember the story of Joseph and practice their colors with this sorting activity made up of colorful coats!
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Navigating Parenthood - My Friend Jesus Week 2
Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out this Two-Minute Tip all about the importance of strengthening your own walk with God. When you make time to sit with Jesus first, it becomes easier to lead your child in their faith.
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“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)
Genesis 37
The same question gets asked in a variety of forms: Where is God when it hurts? Why do bad things happen to good people? How can a good and loving God allow suffering?
Joseph could have asked these same questions; maybe he did. Mistreated and abused by his brothers, and eventually sold into slavery by them, Joseph could have easily chosen to believe that this was all evidence that God didn’t love him or wasn’t “on his side.” Isn’t that the same place our minds are often tempted to go when we face difficulties or troubles? “God must not care about me. If He did, these things wouldn’t be happening to me.” This seems to be especially true if our troubles come about because of other people’s meanness or sin, while we were simply trying to live our lives following God.
Joseph was living a life of obedience even as a young boy. He wasn’t perfect, as evidenced by his somewhat boastful interactions with his brothers, where he relayed his dreams of ruling over them. But he definitely didn’t deserve to be thrown in a pit and then sold as a slave by his own family members! Can you imagine how he must have felt when his brothers ripped off his colorful robe? This robe represented the special bond he had with his father and his brothers, in their jealousy, destroyed it.
Have you ever seen something you treasured be ripped apart before your eyes? Maybe it was a tangible object like Joseph’s robe, or maybe it was a long-treasured dream that you saw crumble. In those moments, it’s easy to ask, “Where are you, God? Don’t you see me?”
One thing we can learn from Joseph’s life is that God never leaves us. Even when we can’t see Him or feel Him, He is there and He is working on our behalf. Joseph must have wondered what God was up to as he was being led off to Egypt as a slave, but he didn’t waiver in his trust and obedience to God.
Questions to think about:
- How does it feel to be mistreated when you have done nothing wrong?
- What do you learn from Joseph’s life that can help you respond to people who mistreat you or are jealous of you?
- Do you ever struggle with envy like Joseph’s brothers did? If so, what are some healthy ways you can deal with it?
