FAITH CHALLENGE
Genesis
12-50: Abraham to Joseph
Lesson B, Week 1
Scripture: Genesis 37-50 (the Joseph story)
Memory Verse: Romans 8:28 “We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.”
Concepts:
·
Students will watch an
abbreviated version of the movie Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat.
·
Students will learn the
basic outline of the story of Joseph.
·
Students will discuss
the term “reconciliation” and participate in the Confession portion of a
worship service.
The
Coach leads the opening routine: snack, fellowship, Prayer Wall activity, and
Prayer Chain. Name tags are available.
Introduction: (Coach)
1. Use the visual on the timeline from last week to remind the class they are studying Joseph. Ask where the story is found in the Bible—Genesis.. Ask who was Joseph’s father—Jacob. Ask if they know who Jacob’s father and grandfather were—Isaac and Abraham. The group that has already studied the Abraham lessons in this unit will not require much more explanation at this point, but for the class doing Joseph first, you may explain that God promised Abraham that he would be a blessing to the world and make his descendants into a great nation and the story of Joseph is part of how that came to be.
2
Introduce the guide for the next two weeks.
Scripture/Bible
Story: (Guide)
1. Ask the children who knows what the word “reconciliation” means (to forgive and restore a relationship with someone you have been arguing with or have not gotten along with). Tell the children that as an introduction to the story of Joseph, they are going to watch excerpts from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This is a Broadway play, a “rock opera” that puts the story of Joseph into a lively and exciting format of song and dance. At the end the class will focus on how Joseph became reconciled to his family. We will also have an opportunity to practice how we work for reconciliation in worship: through confession, assurance of pardon, and passing the peace.
2. Show the movie. This video is approximately 30 minutes long. Tell the children that the movie is presented as a school play. This is why they may see school children in it from time to time. We are picking the movie up in the middle.
3. Distribute popcorn with help from Coaches or volunteer children.
1. Ask the children to think about the conflict between Joseph and his brothers? What did they do wrong? What did Joseph do wrong? Why do you think Joseph was so harsh with them when they came to Egypt? What difference did it make when Joseph decided to forgive them? Tell the children about a time in your own life when you forgave someone or were forgiven. What difference did it make in your life? Invite the children to share their own stories of forgiveness? Have they ever had to ask someone to forgive them? Did asking for forgiveness make a difference?
2. Give each child a copy of the day’s worship bulletin. Point out the part of worship in which we confess our sins. Point out to the children that when we confess our sins in worship, the following things happen:
Call to Confession: the worship leader invites us to tell Jesus the mistakes we’ve made or the ways we have messed up.
Prayer of Confession: the congregation reads a prayer together telling Jesus the things we have done wrong.
Assurance of Forgiveness: the worship leader tells us that Jesus forgives us, no matter what.
The Peace: we are so glad that Jesus has forgiven us that we forgive each other also. We say “Peace be with you” and respond “And also with you.”
Hymn: we sing a verse from a hymn to celebrate Jesus’ power to forgive sins.
3. Lead the children in the confession. Read the “Leader” parts and have the children read the “People” parts. You will need to read a call to confession and an assurance of pardon (see some examples attached). Tell the children that after “The Peace” you will begin singing the hymn. That will be their signal to stop passing the peace and begin singing with you.
4. Encourage the children to read along with the prayer of confession when they go to worship with their parents today. Tell them to find these parts in the worship bulletin.
Wrap-up: (Guide)
1. Review the visual on the timeline and the memory verse.
2. Ask students to tidy up.
Closing: (Coach)
1. The coach conducts the closing prayer time. One way to include the memory verse might be to have the class recite it in parts such as: “We know that God is always at work/for the good of everyone/who loves him.”
2. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.
1. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located.
2. Write the memory verse on a poster board or large piece of paper to post in the room: ‘We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.’ Romans 8:28
3. Prepare a “visual” for the timeline. This should be about the size of 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper and have a few words or pictures to remind the class of the Joseph story.
1. Bags of popcorn.
2. Video tape containing excerpts from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
3. Television/VCR.
4. 20 copies of the Worship Bulletin for the day on which you are teaching this lesson.
· Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Universal Studios. Available from amazon.com
Leader: The proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in him, we dare to approach God with confidence. In faith and penitence, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Leader: Hear the good news! The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good. I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!