Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday Aug 18: Joseph Reassures His Brothers

Bible Text: Genesis 50:15-26

Key Point of Passage: Joseph’s brothers were afraid that he would not forgive the bad things they had done to him, but Joseph knew that God had planned it all for good . 

Memory Verse: (They) planned to harm (him), but God planned it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      Joseph’s brothers knew they had done many mean things to him when they were young. Have you ever been hurt by a brother or sister or friend?

2)      Joseph’s brothers were scared he would be mad. Did they say they were sorry and ask Joseph to forgive them?

3)      Joseph trusted that God would use everything for good, even the mean things his brothers had done. Does God still use everything for good?

4)      Does God wants us to trust him and forgive others when they hurt us too?

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday Aug 4: Joseph and the Famine

Bible Text: Genesis 47:13-27

Key Point of Passage: All of the people traded Joseph everything they owned for food during the famine, so Pharaoh ended up owning all the land in Egypt.

Memory Verse: (They) planned to harm (him), but God planned it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      When the food ran out in Egypt, where did all the people go to buy food?

2)      When the people ran out of money, did Joseph still help them? What did the people trade to Joseph for food?

3)      Once Pharaoh owned all the land and people of Egypt, did Joseph still help them? What did he give them so they could grow food?

4)      Can God use us to help other people too? In what ways might God use you to help someone else?

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday Jul 28: Joseph and Jacob Meet Again

Bible Text: Genesis 45:16-46:30

Read with Me Bible Reference: Pages 87-92

Key Point of Passage: Pharaoh, Joseph, and God all asked Jacob to come to Egypt, so he went to Egypt and brought his whole family and everything he owned. 

Memory Verse: (They) planned to harm (him), but God planned it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      Pharoah and Joseph gave Jacob and his whole family many good gifts. What are some of the things they sent Jacob?

2)      Pharaoh and Joseph invited Jacob to come to Egypt and God told him to go there too. Did Jacob go to Egypt?

3)      Jacob had a big family of 70 people. Did he bring them all with him?

4)      When God tells us to do things, should we listen too?

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sundays Jul 14-21: Joseph Forgives His Brothers

Bible Text: Genesis 42:1-45:5 (NIrV)

Read with Me Bible Reference: Pages 87-92

Key Point of Passage: God used Joseph’s brothers’ mean act of selling him into slavery for good to save many lives.

Memory Verse: (They) planned to harm (him), but God planned it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food, who was in charge of selling the food?

2)      When they realized that the governor of Egypt was their brother Joseph, why were they afraid?

3)      Why did Joseph tell them not to be afraid?

4)      Do you think it made Joseph and his brothers feel good to be friends again?

5)      When your brother or sister or friend hurts you, does God want you to forgive too?

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday July 7: Joseph and Pharaoh’s Dream

Bible Text: Genesis 41:1-57

Key Point of Passage: God gave Joseph wisdom to know about Pharaoh’s dream, and how to prepare so he could save all the people from being hungry.

Memory Verse: (They) planned to harm (him), but God planned it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      Did anyone here have a funny dream last night? What did you dream?

2)      Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had a dream about 7 fat cows and 7 skinny cows. What did the fat cows represent (years with lots of food, or not enough food)? What about the skinny cows (repeat)?

3)      When God told Joseph what Pharaoh’s dream meant, who did Pharaoh put in charge to help prepare for the years of not enough food?

4)      How did Joseph help keep people from starving when there wasn’t enough food?

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sundays June 23-30: Joseph’s Brothers Sell Him

Bible Text: Genesis 37:4-36

Read with Me Bible Reference: Pages  80-86

Key Point of Passage: Joseph’s brothers planned to kill him because they were so jealous of him, but God saved his life through two of his brothers.

Memory Verse: (They) planned to harm (him), but God planned it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him?

2)      What did they plan to do to Joseph?

3)      How do you think God feels when brothers and sisters are mean to each other?

4)      How did God protect Joseph through two of his brothers?

 

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday June 16: Joseph’s Dreams and his Brothers

Bible Text: Genesis 37:1-11

Read with Me Bible Reference: Pages  74-79

Key Point of Passage: Joseph’s had dreams that his whole family  would bow down to him, but the dreams made them angry; his brothers hated him because they were jealous of him.

Memory Verse: (They) planned to harm (him), but God planned it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      Which son did Jacob make a special coat for? Why?

2)      What happened in Joseph’s two dreams?

3)      Why did the dreams make his family angry at him?

4)      Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him?

5)      Does God want us to be angry at jealous with each other?

 

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday Mar 03: Jacob Continues Home

Bible Text: Genesis 35:1-29

Read with Me Bible Reference: (review pages  67-69)

Key Point of Passage: Jacob’s family committed with Jacob to follow only God at Bethel, where God had appeared to Jacob in his time of need.

Memory Verse: God chose Jacob instead of Esau (Romans 9:12-13).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      God asked Jacob to go back to Bethel where He had appeared to Jacob in a dream of a stairway to heaven. Did God promise to always be with Jacob that day? Did God keep His promise?

2)      Jacob also promised that day to worship only God. But Jacob’s family had been worshipping other gods. When Jacob asked his family to stop worshipping all other gods besides the Lord, did they obey and give up their gods?

3)      Does God want us to follow Him above everyone else too?

 

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday Feb 17: Esau Forgives Jacob

Bible Text: Genesis 32-33

Key Point of Passage: God used Jacob’s humble gifts to appease Esau and his men, and to keep His promise to prosper Jacob and his children, keeping them safe.

Memory Verse: God chose Jacob instead of Esau (Romans 9:12-13).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      Why was Jacob afraid of his brother Esau? Does anyone remember what Jacob had done to make Esau angry?

2)      But did God promise to be with Jacob and to keep his family safe?

3)      What did Jacob send to Esau to try to make him happy?

4)      Did Esau forgive Jacob and welcome his brother home?

5)      When we argue with our brothers or sisters or friends, does God want us to make peace and forgive each other too?

Family Devotions for Early Childhood, Sunday Feb 10: Jacob Wrestles with God

Bible Text: Genesis 32:21-32 

Key Point of Passage: Jacob wrestled with God, and would not let go, even when his hip was hurt, until God blessed him.

Memory Verse: God chose Jacob instead of Esau (Romans 9:12-13).

Questions for Discussion:

1)      Who did Jacob wrestle with all night long?

2)      What part of Jacob’s body was twisted?

3)      What did Jacob ask God to do before he would let go of Him?

4)      Did God bless Jacob like he asked?

5)      If we ask God to bless us, will God bless us too?