Children’s Worship 09.13.20
Dear Parents,
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!
Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
GOD IS WITH US: The Story of Joseph & His Brothers
OVERVIEW:
Activity One: Read the intro. Watch the video.
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts.
Worship: Singing
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.)
Through the life of Joseph and his myriad struggles, we can learn about God being with us and working through us. So much so, biblical scholars make a case for Joseph being an Old Testament antetype of Jesus Christ. Both were obedient sons who were beloved by their fathers. Joseph was rejected and sold into slavery by his brothers. Similarly, the Jewish community rejected Jesus and the message He brought. Both were falsely accused and unjustly punished. Yet in the end, both were elevated to a place of powerful position and saved their people from death.
God went before Joseph, preparing the way for the restoration of His people. At this time in God’s grand narrative, His chosen people in Jacob’s family were the faith community. As a result of sin within the family, pain and brokenness permeated it. For Joseph, his father, and his brothers, God used a devastating famine to bring healing and restoration of relationships.
The sin and brokenness within Joseph’s family is present throughout all of humanity. But God Himself is with us. He has made a way for all who would receive Him to be adopted into His family. In God’s family we’re part of a faith community that stretches beyond our own lifetime, into eternity past and present.
Activity 1: STORY
Lead children in a Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds.
Joseph started his life as his father’s favorite child. Life looked good until his brothers sold him
to some travelers who were on their way to Egypt. Once he was in Egypt, Joseph found himself working as a slave to an Egyptian man, and then in jail for something he didn’t do. But God was with him. One day, Joseph was brought before the king of Egypt— the pharaoh— to help him understand his dreams. God showed Joseph what the dreams meant, and Joseph told the pharaoh. Because of this, Pharaoh made Joseph the second-in-command over all of Egypt! No matter what happened in Joseph’s life, God was with him.
Story Song:
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
The following passages have been provided for you to model to your children how to look for truth in Scripture. Some verses may be engaging for your children while others may simply aid in your preparation to lead this time of discussion. Alternatively you can watch the longer video and ask questions after that.
- Read Genesis 37:26–34. After Joseph’s brothers sold him to the travelers, what did they tell their father had happened to him? (They tore his coat and put goat blood on it. The brothers said they found the robe and let their father think a wild animal had killed Joseph.)
- Read Genesis 39:3. How did Potiphar (Joseph’s boss) see that the Lord was with Joseph? (The Lord made Joseph successful in everything he did. Everything Joseph did turned out well.)
- Read Genesis 41:15–16. What was one of the ways Joseph knew that God was with him? (He knew God would help him tell Pharaoh the meaning of the dreams.)
- Read Genesis 46:1–4. How did God show Jacob (Joseph’s father) and his family that He was with them? (God spoke to Jacob and told him not to be afraid to go to Egypt.)
- I wonder … How does it feel to know that God is with me?
Below is a link to an animated video (approx 26 minutes long) from The Beginners Bible.
Worship Songs (from movie Joseph the Dreamer):
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY
Today we heard about many ways God was with Joseph. In good times and bad, God was always there. We know God is with us too. Parent: Share a time when you experienced God being with you. Ask Children: Would anyone like to tell us about a time when you knew God was with you? Or maybe you’re having a hard time right now. We can pray that you’ll know God is with you. It’s okay if you don’t want to share out loud. You can talk to God in your heart too. Tell Him how you feel to know He is always with you. Give children a minute to think and then allow them to share their thoughts and experiences. After a child has shared or had a moment to quietly respond, stop and pray for any requests or worries mentioned.
Invite children to draw a picture of their family and write the words “God Is With Us” on top of the page. Then write each person’s name near their picture.
Friends, I’m glad to hear about all the times you knew God was with you. One of the great things about coming together as a community like we do here is that we can share stories and remind each other of things that are true—like God is with us. Now we have a picture to remind us that God is with us, and we have each other.
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
Friends, God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be with us. Jesus is called Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” Because of Jesus, we know God isn’t far away; He is here, with us. Always. You’re not alone. One at a time, speak the following words over each child:
(Child’s name), God is with you today and always.
End your time by speaking a Scripture and prayer over your family. Invite children to cup their hands and hold them out as if they’re receiving something valuable. Read the following words from John 1:14:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Dear ones, may you know today, tomorrow, and always that God is with you!
