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The story of Joseph is a true account of God working to develop godly character in all the circumstances of life; good and
bad. Ultimately God achieves his sovereign will; he saves Egypt and all the nations around it from famine. This is also a part
of God’s bigger story of salvation. Jesus comes from this family and God saves the whole world through Jesus. The 12
brothers are the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel and Jesus is from Judah’s tribe.
In this session we see that Joseph’s family situation is far from ideal. Favouritism, jealousy, hate and bragging all lead to
some very ugly behaviour from different members of the family. As teenagers, we begin to notice this more as we become
more aware of ourselves and other families. Everyone in Joseph’s family is at fault in some way, yet God does not give up on
them. God can work his perfect purposes through anyone! Take time to reflect on your own family relationships. Pray for
them.
KICKOFF!
Use some of these activities depending on how much time you have for the session
1. Welcome:
Add activities that your group especially likes to do – add that special flavour of your group’s personality! Singing, making
music, snack time, sport, football, volleyball, chat and catch up, or worship.
2. The daughter of your brother is your _ 7. The mother of your cousin is your _
3. The brother if your father is _ 8. The son of your son is you’re your _
4. The wife of your brother is your _ 9. The father of your dad is your _
5. The son of your uncle is your _ 10. The cousin of your brother is your _
6. The daughter of aunt is your _
5. Read Genesis 37
Choose one activity from ways to unpack a Bible story. This may be done in a big group or a small group.
SUGGESTION: Body sculpture – Work in pairs; one as the clay and the other as a sculptor. The ‘sculptor’ models the ‘clay’
to express how a character is feeling at certain events in the passage. Swap roles at different times so that each person
has a turn at being the sculptor and the clay. We will provide a video example of this.
IMPORTANT
Help individuals realize that God made everyone unique, not more important than anyone else. We must let each person
become the person God wants them to be and not squeeze into the shape we are comfortable with them being.
CONTINUE
We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen
for his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NEV)
SUGGESTION: SMS scripture – Stay in small groups. Give the scripture to them as a code as mobile phone numbers. E.g.
We = 93, know = 5669, etc. SMS the Bible verse to each person later during the week.
OVERVIEW OF THE LESSON – ALL THE BASIC INFO TO DECIDE IF THE LESSON IS RIGHT TO KEEP
READING
PREPARE
Joseph’s life with God can be summed up in one word. He is irrepressible. Joseph is in a constant cycle of good fortune and
then bad circumstances; yet he remains buoyant, faithful, trusting in God and never giving up.
It is important to remember that Joseph has God’s blessing right through these times. If God’s blessing was simply ‘success’
and ‘prosperity’ then this would not make sense because why would he suffer? Instead we can understand God’s blessing in
a much fuller sense. For Joseph, God’s blessing is being obedient and faithful to God in everything, knowing God is in
charge. He understands God is sovereign, and that knowledge is a blessing. Because Joseph learned these important
lessons, later on God is able to bless the whole of Egypt through Joseph.
KICKOFF!
Use some of these activities depending on how much time you have for the session
1. Welcome
Singing, making music, snack time, sport, football, volleyball, chat and catch up, worship.
2. Leader welcome:
Leader tells a story about how they didn’t give up or experienced difficult situation that eventually turned out great. Review
last week. Hold up a fancy coat and ask the teens how it relates to last week.
4. Debrief questions
What item did your group give up?
What were you able to do easily?
What were you unable to do because an important item was missing?
What does this tell you about all the parts that were originally in the pack?
SUGGESTION: Press conference. Have 4 people to play roles of Patifar, Joseph, wine and bread guys. They will sit at front
and have asked questions from the rest of the group, who pretend to be journalists. Both of the groups read the story and
journalist come up with the questions for all characters.
IMPORTANT
Help the teens realize that Joseph trusts God in good and bad times. God is more interested in developing godly
character than making Joseph comfortable.
8. Pair sharing
Have teens get into pairs and discuss stories in their lives that relate to the issue of not giving up.
Discussion questions:
What was the situation that seemed bad at first in your life, but later you gained benefit from it?
What was first reaction and what did you do? Why?
What have you learned from Joseph that you want to apply to your life?
What will you do to be obedient to the Scripture?
CONTINUE
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6 (NIV)
Suggestion: Sticker. Write down the verse on the piece of paper and stick it at home at a place you visit the most during
the day.
PREPARE
The Pharaoh has two amazing dreams that worry him. In Joseph’s time, more attention was paid to dreams of significance.
Read the story of Pharaoh, and ask yourself these questions.
How has God developed Joseph to be ready for this time? What has Joseph endured to reach this point? List the character
traits that you admire in Joseph.
KICKOFF!
1. Welcome activity:
Prepare coffee, tea, cookies as you greet teens. On the wall, put a sign “it will not be always this way”. While they have fun
and conversations, ask them what it took to prepare to this. Then interrupt in the middle of it, have them go out of the room
for a minute and take everything off the tables. As the team come in again and see nothing, ask them how they feel about it?
Would having something saved with them help?
3. Gulliver Challenge
Gulliver game. Divide the group into teams of about 10 people. Have each team to place a shoe as far as they can get
without touching the ground.
4. Game:
Have teens into two groups. Prepare five stations where each team should do different kind of challenge at each: sing, solve
a puzzle, do push ups, answer trivia questions, etc. The idea to use all skills of the group to pass each base. And emphasize
that we need one another.
Debrief questions:
What did you see in the video? What can you learn from the characters?
In Gulliver game, why you were able to place the shoe at first place? How did you do it?
Would it work, if all of you could do the same thing or were the same kind?
In base game, how did you pick the people to perform the activity?
What helped you to go through all of them more easily?
6. Read Genesis 41
Choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible story - Teens
IMPORTANT
Help teens understand that just as God gave gifts and skills, ability and character to Joseph, he is doing the same with us.
God gives us these abilities so that we can serve Him. These abilities we have are not ours to hold tightly to; they come
from God for his use.
8. Reflection activity:
Matching activity: Provide the group with big sheet paper and have them right their name and needs they might have or issue
they struggle with. Then put it in front of everybody to see if anybody can help other person with their needs, having these
skills or abilities.
9. Discussion questions
What will it take you to help your peer?
What can stop you from doing that during the week?
When will you do it?
CONTINUE
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its
various forms. 1Pet. 4:10 (NIV)
PREPARE
Joseph’s character is on display to those visiting Egypt, and to all of Pharaoh’s household. He is watched carefully as he
looks after Egypt and serves the neighbouring countries who are also facing famine and starvation. When his brothers arrive,
he could have taken out his anger on them. They deserve this because they had treated Joseph so badly. Instead, he paces
himself, taking time to respond carefully, and allowing restoration to ultimately take place.
We may not all be promoted to second in command of a whole country and all of its wealth, but there are plenty of times
when we are in positions of power, and have those who have hurt us at our mercy. What is your character like at these times
of trial?
KICKOFF!
1. Welcome activity:
Play some games that the teens happy to be involved in and helps welcome new kids.
Debrief questions:
How did you feel when you were requested to do an activity?
How did you feel when you had an opportunity to plan activity for others?
Why did you do the way you did?
Leaders prepare a skit based on the movie called “Le Miserable”, where the priest forgives the thief and gives him the second
chance.
5. Genesis 42-43
Choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible story - Teens: (paraphrase of the scripture)
This is a very long passage. Tell the story with a map to show the journeys taken, and stop during the story at key points to
ask the following questions.
IMPORTANT
Joseph’s real character is on display for everyone to see. He could be very angry and seek revenge. Instead, he paces
himself carefully and refrains from revenge. He acts slowly and carefully, allowing restoration.
8. Reflection activity:
Lead youth in reading and meditating on Eph. 4:32. Have them think about discussion questions
9. Discussion questions
How are those that hurt you in any way? How do you feel about them?
How did you hurt God in any way? How did He felt about it?
What did Christ do for you? What is it that you should be doing towards others?
CONTINUE
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Eph. 4:32 (NIV)
PREPARE
This is a wonderful story. Joseph gives God the glory for pulling together his mighty plans throughout Joseph’s life to save
not only his own family but Egypt and the whole known world!
No matter what we do or what happens, God can use it for his glory! The climax of this story is in Gen 45: 8 when Joseph
says that God was in charge of everything and that all the bad things that happened were ordained by Him to help Joseph
and bless all nations. Through incredible evil and sinfulness, God brings out good. Joseph can see this and gives God the
glory. Compare Joseph’s story with that of our salvation in Jesus.
KICKOFF!
1. Welcome activity:
Volcano game, crossing the lake of fire to get to promised land.
4. Video:
Leader shares the story of Nick, disabled guy, no legs, no arms. The video can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbX6mDnMwM
Debrief questions:
What would be your attitude is something like that would happen to you?
How did Nicks parents feel about this situation?
Why would God let that happen?
How God uses Nick’s life?
What would be the hardest thing to do in this kind of situation?
6. Read Genesis 45
Choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible story- Teens
IMPORTANT
Help children realize that God loves us and wants to save us. He deserves the praise and glory for bringing incredible
good and salvation out of terrible events and making the goodness last for generations.
8. Genealogy hunt
Look at Matt chapter 1:1-17. Where is Joseph in this story of Jesus? Who else is there?
9. Reflection activity:
Journaling. Have teens to think about their lives where God showed His glory and brought good. Or you could have teens
come up with parallels in Joseph’s and Christ’s lives. Make a chart on a sheet paper, using two columns.
CONTINUE
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Rom. 8:18 (NIV)