Bible Point God Wants Us to Be Kind. Bible Verse “Be Kind to Each Other” (Ephesians 4:32A)
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Reuben Tries to Be Kind to Joseph • Lesson 2 Bible Point God wants us to be kind. Bible Verse “Be kind to each other” (Ephesians 4:32a). Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n hear a story about Reuben trying to show kindness to Joseph, n practice kindness by helping a classmate, n hear how Whiskers’ brother showed kindness, and n help each other make a snack. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n Reuben tries to be kind to Joseph. Reuben, the oldest brother, was the first to show concern for Joseph’s life. As the oldest brother Genesis and leader of the family, Reuben was in some ways responsible for his brother’s safety. He would 37:18-30 likely be the one to bring the deceitful report of his brother’s demise to their aging father. His plan to put Joseph in a cistern (probably a dry well) in the desert and rescue him later may have been suspected by some of the other brothers. Scripture doesn’t say that the brothers enthusiastically supported his plan; they just did what the eldest brother suggested, as younger brothers would be expected to do. When the traders came along, Genesis 37:29 indicates that Reuben was not present. Possibly it was his turn to check on distant flocks; in any case, he didn’t witness his brothers’ next act. Judah suddenly suggested that they spare Joseph’s life. We don’t know if pangs of guilt, the appeal of money, or a desire to punish Joseph even more severely by making a slave of him prompted this suggestion. Whatever the motive, the decision was made, and Joseph was gone before Reuben returned. When he found Joseph was gone, he was grief-stricken, anguishing over what to do next and, no doubt, what to tell his father. Whatever their motives, both Reuben and Judah tried to save Joseph’s life, and God used their efforts to bring about his plan for Joseph in Egypt. What the other brothers intended for evil, God ultimately used for enormous good by using Joseph to save Jacob’s family and much of the region from starvation. Prayer • Read Colossians 3:12. • Which of the characteristics listed in the verse do you wear easily, and which are harder for you to don? • Pray: Jesus, as the ultimate example of these characteristics, help me be more… Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children. n Pray for the children in your class and for God’s direction in teaching the lesson. Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4 27 Lesson 2 This Lesson at a Glance What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies Welcome Welcome!—Receive name tags, “Shirt Name Tags” (p. 24), scissors, Time and be greeted by the teacher. marker, safety pins or tape Let’s Get Option 1: Bible Play—Use Four athletic socks, markers, Started finger puppets to act out the 8-inch square of multicolored Bible story. fabric, scissors Direct children to one or more Option 2: In the Hole—Hide Blankets, tables of the optional under table “wells.” activities until everyone arrives. Option 3: Creating Modeling dough, cookie cutters, Kindness—Play with modeling rolling pins dough. Pick-Up Time—Sing a song as CD player they pick up toys and gather for Bible Story Time. Bible Story Setting the Stage—Help a Table, blanket, CD player Time friend out from under a table, and learn that it’s important to be kind. Bible Song and Prayer Bible, CD player Time—Sing a song, bring out the Bible, and pray together. Hear and Tell the Bible Bible, CD player Story—Learn about Reuben’s kindness to Joseph from Genesis 37:18-30, and then sing a song. Do the Bible Story—Create CD player, scissors, at least craft flowers to give away as an 1 craft stick per child, glue act of kindness. Then act out Joseph’s story with rhythm and wiggles. Closing Coloring Kindness—Hear Sheet of paper with a childlike how Whiskers’ brother shared his drawing on it, CD player markers, and teach Whiskers a song. Kindness Crackers—Help Crackers, cream cheese, paper each other make a snack, and plates, spoon, plastic knives, then close in prayer. paper, markers *See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies. 28 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4 Reuben Tries to Be Kind to Joseph Welcome Time SUPPLIES: “Shirt Name Tags” (p. 24), scissors, marker, safety pins or tape • Kneel down and make eye contact with children as they arrive. • Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile. Consider laminating the name tags so they’ll last the entire quarter. • Thank each child for coming to class today. • As children arrive, ask them about last week’s lesson or take-home page. Use questions such as “What did you tell your family about Joseph’s special coat?” and “Did you feel jealous this week? What did you do?” • Say: Today we’re going to learn that God wants us to be kind. • Hand out the shirt name tags children made during Lesson 1, and help them attach the name tags to their clothing. Make some extra name tags in advance using the photocopiable handout, in case some of the name tags were damaged and for children who weren’t in class last week. • Direct children to the Let’s Get Started activities you’ve set up. Let’s Get Started Set out one or more of the following activities for children to do as they arrive. After you greet each child, invite him or her to choose an activity. Circulate among the children to offer help as needed and direct children’s conversation toward today’s lesson. Ask questions such as “What are some ways you show kindness?” or “How does it feel when someone’s kind to you?” n Option 1: Bible Play SUPPLIES: four athletic socks, markers, 8-inch square of multicolored fabric, scissors Create simple hand puppets from athletic socks. Use markers to draw eyes, hair, and nose. The mouth will be formed with the child’s hand when he or she is holding the puppet. Cut a hole in an 8-inch square of multicolored fabric so it fits over the head of one sock puppet, and then slip the fabric over the puppet to be Joseph. Set out the puppets. Have the children use the sock puppets to act out the Bible story from last week. Remind them that God wants us to be kind. If you don’t have tables, provide boxes for children to crawl into. n Option 2: In the Hole SUPPLIES: blankets, tables Drape heavy blankets over tables. Encourage children to climb under the tables and pretend they’re in a deep, dark hole. Provide crayons and markers Explain that today’s Bible story for the children to decorate the is about a boy named Joseph, outside of the boxes to be like who was put in a hole. a cave or a deep hole in the ground. Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4 29 Lesson 2 n Help the child out from under the table, and then have children return to the story Option 3: Creating Kindness area. SUPPLIES: modeling dough, cookie cutters, rolling pins Ask: • Who had a chance to play under the table when you first came to Set out modeling dough, cookie cutters, and rolling pins. Try to provide people- class? Wait for children to raise hands or tell you. shaped cookie cutters if possible. Encourage children to share the materials as they • What was it like under the table? (Fun; dark; scary.) create things that remind them of the story of Joseph from last week, such as the • What did the rest of you do? (I made a building with blocks; I played with people in Joseph’s family. Remind children that Joseph’s brothers weren’t kind to him dough.) but that God wants us to be kind. Say: When you were at the modeling-dough table or under the table or playing with puppets, you had the chance to show kindness to your friends. When everyone has arrived and you’re ready to move on to Bible Story Time, Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to each other.” Can you say that with me? encourage the children to finish what they’re doing and get ready to clean up. “Be kind to each other.” I was happy to see you being kind to your friends because God’s Word tells us that God wants us to be kind. Today we’re going to hear a Bible story about a boy who felt afraid when n Pick-Up Time he was put in a dark place. His name was Joseph. We learned about him last week. Let’s bring out our Bible and find out what happened to him next. SUPPLIES: CD player track 2 Lead children in singing “Come Along With Me” (track 2) with the CD to the tune of “Come and Go With Me.” Encourage children to sing along as they help clean up the room. n Bible Song and Prayer Time SUPPLIES: Bible, CD player Say: Now it’s time to choose a Bible person to Come along with me and pick up all our things, bring me the Bible marked with today’s Bible Pick up all our things, story.