Kid's Corner - Parent's Guide - Joseph

Joseph

Dear Mom and Dad,
We applaud you for following Proverbs 22:6 by helping your child understand the Bible. Below, you will find some Teaching Tools to guide you in showing your child the truths of God’s Word and in helping your child apply them in his or her life

Ages 3 to 6 - Even if your children are older than six, we encourage you to lead them through this material before moving on to the content for their age group.

Ages 7 to 10

What we will learn
• God's love never fails.
• God always keeps His promises.

LEARN ABOUT JOSEPH

In this section, help your child understand why Joseph was so important in the plan of God. Joseph’s story is an example that shows how much God loves us and keeps His promises to us. God always does what He says He will do.

Teaching Tool #1:
When your child wonders why Joseph’s brothers were mad at him, explain that . . . Joseph’s brothers got their feelings hurt because their dad gave Joseph a new coat, but they didn’t get coats. They were jealous of Joseph’s new coat. They also were angry with Joseph for telling them that they would bow down before him like he was a king. They thought he was bragging, or acting like he was better than they were. Take this opportunity to play "make believe" with your child. Make a grand spectacle of your love for him by presenting him with his coat. Let him pretend to be Joseph for a few moments, walking around in his "new coat."

Teaching Tool #2:
When your child wonders why Joseph told his brothers they would some day kneel at his feet, or bow to him, explain that . . . Joseph had a dream, or a vision, in his sleep. In his dream, he believed God told him that someday his brothers would bow to him. Get on your knees, and ask your child to get on his knees, too. Tell him that this is how we bow when we pray to God.

Teaching Tool #3:
When your child wonders why Joseph wasn’t mad at his brothers after they had been so mean to him, explain that . . . Joseph was upset for a little while, but God helped him understand how to love his brothers no matter what they did to him. It is important that we ask God to help us love people in our family. Take time to pray with your child, thanking God for every member of your family.

Teaching Tool #4:
Tell your child that God loves him and keeps His promises to him. This is because God is faithful, and His love never ends.

Learning Concepts and Unfamiliar Words

Not only has your child learned a fundamental truth about God's character (that God's love is unfailing, and He always keeps His promises), but he or she has also learned the meanings of the following words: jealous, bragging, bow, vision, and faithful.

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Parents' Guide

Dear Mom and Dad,

If you have children that are older (ages 7 to 10) and may enjoy learning more about Paul, help him to understand the following questions. You may want to help your child write his/her answers in a journal.

What we will learn
• God loves us and keeps His promises.
• It is important to be content and thankulf for what we have been given.

HOW TO APPLY WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT JOSEPH

Even though Joseph knew God had told him that his brothers would bow to him, Joseph did not tell his brothers this. He simply told him what his dream was about. Joseph learned the hard way that it is always better to praise God for our talents rather than take credit for them ourselves.

Journal: Can you think of an example when someone made you feel bad because they were bragging about something?

Even though Joseph was bragging, his brothers could have responded better than they did. Instead of selling him to people from another country, they should have been patient with him.

Journal: In your example above, how did you respond to the person who was bragging? If your response to them was not nice, write a prayer asking Jesus to forgive you and help you respond better next time.

Joseph’s brothers responded badly to his bragging because they were jealous of him.

Journal: Write about a time that you were jealous of someone else. God doesn’t like it when we are jealous because it shows that we are not being thankful for what He has given us. Write a prayer asking God to forgive you for not being happy with what He gave you. Then, make a list of 10 things, talents, and/or people God has blessed you with.

Lessons from Joseph’s life:

God wants us to give Him the credit for anything good inside us or for anything good that we do.
God wants us to be happy with what He gives us and not compare ourselves with others.
God always keeps His promises.

Journal: Is there something good you did or something good about you for which you would like to give God the credit?

Journal: God kept His promise to Joseph–not because of anything Joseph did, but because of how much God loved him. God loves you and will keep His promises to you, too. Write a prayer thanking God for loving you.

Click here to learn more about how you can believe in Jesus.

Journal: If you prayed to Jesus, put it in your journal and tell your mom and dad.

Memory Verse: " . . . for God can be trusted to keep His promise"
(Hebrews 10:23 nlt).

Remember Rhyme

Joseph had a new coat

Full of colors bright and bold;

Joseph had a dream,

And this is what it told:

His brothers would bow down to him

Though he was not very old;

His brothers were angry with him,

So it was Joseph that they sold.

Off he went to another country;

And his coat was taken away.

He had hard times but still he knew,

God was with him every day.

God kept His promise to Joseph,

And He keeps His promises to you.

God always does exactly what

He says He’s going to do.

Learning Concepts and Unfamiliar Words

Not only has your child learned a fundamental truth about God’s character (that He loves us and keeps His promises), but he has also learned the importance of being content and thankful. Your child has also had a chance to apply biblical truths to his life and remember the story of Joseph through Scripture and song.

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