“God was with Joseph. Jesus is with us when we are happy or sad.”

“Jesus, thank You for being with me all the time.”

Genesis 37, 45 (simplified forgiveness).

Children repeat after you:

“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pick 2–3 songs, repeat them often through the year.

Song 1 – “The B-I-B-L-E”
Motions:

• Hold hands like a book on “The B-I-B-L-E”.
• Hug the “book” on “Yes, that’s the book for me”.
• Step forward and stomp gently on “I stand alone on the Word of God”.

Song 2 – “Jesus Loves Me”
Motions: 

• point to self on “me,” 
• hug on “loves,” 
• hands like a book on “Bible tells me so.”

Song 3 – “God Made Me, God Loves Me” chant
“God made me (point to self),
God loves me (hug self),
The Bible tells me so (book hands).
Jesus came,
Knows my name,
He’s with me where I go (walk in place).”

Repeat 2–3 times.

Sit kids in a circle. Have a simple paper “coat” in bright colors (or a scarf/cloth) and a few people figures for Joseph and his brothers.

a) Joseph and his special coat
Hold up the colorful “coat.”

• “The Bible tells us about a boy named Joseph. Joseph had many brothers. Joseph’s father loved him very much and gave him a special gift—a beautiful coat with many colors.”

Let the kids gently touch the coat.

• “The coat was bright and special. Joseph was happy to wear it.”

b) Brothers’ jealousy and unkindness (gentle)
Show some “brother” figures looking unhappy.

• “Joseph’s brothers felt jealous and angry. They did not get a special coat. They didn’t like that Joseph was the favorite. Their hearts became full of bad feelings.”newchurchvineyard+1
• “One day, when Joseph went to see his brothers, they took his colorful coat away. They were very unkind to Joseph and sent him far away to another land. Joseph felt very alone and afraid. But God did not leave Joseph. God was still with him."

(For preschoolers, you can skip details of the pit and slavery; just say “sent him far away.”)

c) God’s care and forgiveness (high-level)

• “Even though hard things happened, God stayed with Joseph and helped him. Later, Joseph would help many people and even forgive his brothers. God can use sad and hard times for good.”

e) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “God was with Joseph. Jesus is with me.”

Motions:

• Point up on “God.”
• Point to an imaginary Joseph in front of you on “Joseph.”
• Point up (Jesus) and then to self on “with me.”
  
  

Say it several times: loud, whisper, with kids hugging themselves for “with me.”

d) Jesus connection
Place a hand on the Bible.

“The Bible tells us that God is with His children, just like He was with Joseph. Jesus is God’s Son who came to be ‘God with us.’ When people are unkind to us or when we feel alone, Jesus is still with us. Jesus understands our hurts and loves us. He helps us forgive others, just like Joseph forgave his brothers.”