✨Chapter 4 – Mature Relationship

20 mins:   [✨]

Icebreaker: Mind Reader

Things Needed

5–10 medium-sized objects such as:

• A large book
• A ball
• A guitar
• A teddy bear
• A water bottle
• A backpack
• A toy car

How to Play

• Place all the objects where everyone can see them.
• Invite one child to be the main player.
• Ask the child to silently choose one of the objects and keep it a secret.
• The rest of the children (including the teacher) become mind readers. Their goal is to figure out which object the child is thinking about—but they cannot ask directly.
• Instead, they may ask yes/no questions.
• Continue asking questions until someone guesses the correct object.
• Repeat the game with a few different children.

Sample Questions

• Can it make a sound?
• Is it round?
• Is it blue?
• Can you carry it with one hand?
• Is it soft?
• Is it made of plastic?
• Do people use it every day?

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Teacher’s Conclusion

Every one of us has a mind that is constantly thinking.

Ask the children:

“What are some things you think about during the day?”

(Let several children answer.) We think about school, games, friends, family, food, worries, and many other things. Today, we’re going to learn from the life of a young man named Joseph about the most important person we should think about every day. Are you ready?

30 mins:   [✨]

Bible Portion: Genesis 37, 39-42, 45, 46, 47, 50

Story Time

Joseph Thinks About God

Jacob had twelve sons. Joseph was one of the youngest. Jacob loved Joseph very much and gave him a beautiful colourful coat.

Joseph’s older brothers became very jealous. They did not like Joseph.

One day, God gave Joseph two special dreams. The dreams showed that one day his family would bow down to him. His brothers became even more angry.

One day, when Joseph was all alone, his brothers took him away and sold him to people who were going to Egypt. They told their father a lie and said that Joseph had died.

Joseph must have felt very sad and lonely.

But Joseph thought about God.

In Egypt, Joseph became a servant in a rich man’s house. He had to work very hard every day. He must have missed his father very much.

But Joseph thought about God.

So Joseph worked hard and did his best. God was with Joseph and helped him. One day, someone asked Joseph to do something wrong. Joseph thought about God and said, “No!”

Even though Joseph did the right thing, he was put into prison. Can you imagine how hard that was?

But Joseph still thought about God.

God was with Joseph in the prison too. Joseph helped the other prisoners. God helped Joseph understand dreams so that he could help people.

One day, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had a dream. No one could tell him what it meant. Joseph was brought from the prison to meet the king. The king said, “I heard that you can tell the meaning of dreams.” Do you know what Joseph said?

He thought about God and said, “I can’t, but God can.”

God helped Joseph explain the dream. Joseph said there would be seven years with lots of food, and then seven years with very little food.

Joseph told the king to save food during the good years. The king was amazed! He made Joseph the ruler of all Egypt. Later, the seven years with very little food came, just as God had shown Joseph. Because Joseph had saved food, Egypt had enough to eat.

People from many countries came to Egypt for food. Joseph’s father and brothers came too. When Joseph told them who he was, they were so surprised! His father was so happy because Joseph was alive.

Joseph’s brothers were afraid. They thought Joseph would be angry with them. But Joseph thought about God and said,

“You wanted to hurt me, but God used it for good.”

Joseph forgave his brothers and took care of them.

What Can We Learn?

Everywhere Joseph went, he thought about God.

• At home, he thought about God.
• At work, he thought about God.
• In prison, he thought about God.
• When he became a great leader, he still thought about God.

That is why Joseph could do the right thing, help other people, and forgive his brothers.

Joseph became a real hero because God was his friend.

Let’s Think

• Do you think about Jesus when you wake up?
• Do you think about Jesus when you are at school?
• Do you think about Jesus when you play with your friends?

When Jesus is your friend, He will help you make good choices, be kind to others, and help people—just like Joseph did.

You can be a hero too when God is your friend!