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Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

We should choose forgiveness over revenge.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will discuss a time they were tempted to try to get even with someone and how they would handle the same situation in light of Joseph’s example.

KEY PASSAGE:

Genesis 45:1-15, Joseph Makes Himself Known

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Joseph’s brothers had treated him cruelly, selling him into slavery. Joseph ended up in Egypt, where God was able to use him greatly. When Joseph was reunited with his brothers, he chose forgiveness rather than revenge.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A colorful coat

Imagine being so jealous of your brother or sister over a coat, that you would sell them. Not the coat, but your own brother or sister. Have any of you ever been mad enough you’d try to sell your brother or sister?

A colorful coat, much prettier and brighter than this one, was the last straw for Joseph’s brothers. They sold him to some slave traders and figured they would never see them again. I can only imagine how Joseph felt seeing the men who had sold him into slavery bowing at his feet begging for food.

Joseph still felt the pain of that betrayal, but he chose forgiveness over revenge. He knew God had used his situation to save his family, and he rejected the temptation to strike back.

Joseph is a Non-Avenger who shows us we can resist the temptation for payback. Let’s repay evil with good. Let’s forgive instead of avenge.

Test Your Knowledge

Craft Activity

Have the kids make a super hero mask (to represent how Joseph’s identity was masked from his brothers). Tell the kids the mask is a reminder of how Joseph chose to forgive his brothers instead of getting payback.

Many times, Jacob had treated his brother Esau cruelly. He was a thorn in his brother’s side. When the time came for them to reunite, Jacob was afraid. But Esau embraced his brother, choosing to forgive the wrongs of the past.

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

Forgiving others can help us to heal our relationships.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will discuss a time they forgave someone and how it felt.

KEY PASSAGE:

Genesis 32:6-21, 33:1-4, Jacob Meets Esau

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A box of (super hero) band-aids

How good does it feel to rip off a band-aid? The short answer is – it doesn’t! Band-aids are designed to stick and stay, even when they get wet. That means when it’s time to rip them off, we’re likely to feel a little pain. If you think it’s bad to rip one off bare skin, try ripping one off your arm or leg when there’s hair involved. You’re not just ripping off the band-aid. You’re ripping out hair.

The best part of ripping off a band-aid is right after. There’s a relief, isn’t there? Sure your skin may be sore for a minute, but the anticipation of the moment and the moment itself are over. It feels good to have it over and done. The pain is over, and the healing has begun!

It isn’t easy to forgive someone who has hurt you, but once we have forgiven someone, there is relief. We’ve let go of a past wrong. We’ve released someone else from feeling guilty about what they did. Our conscience is clear. I’m sure Esau felt that relief when he forgave Jacob, and I know all of you feel it when you forgive someone who has wronged you. No, you can’t erase the past, but once the forgiveness is given, the healing can begin.

You can’t find relief holding a grudge, but you can if you forgive. Ask God to help you rip off that band-aid so that you can begin to heal.

Craft Activity

Have the kids draw and color a comic strip telling the story of Esau forgiving Jacob. They can make a comic book cover, or do a multi-panel story, whatever they choose to do.

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

We can forgive others as God forgave us.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn they can forgive others because God loves and forgives them.

KEY PASSAGE:

Luke 15:11-24 The Prodigal Son

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Jesus told a story about a man who had two sons. One son was very rude and disrespectful of his father. His father however, showed us how much God loves us and is willing to forgive us because when the disrespectful son returned, his father welcomed him with a hug rather than punishing him.

Song

Lesson

Trivia Game

Craft Activity

Have the kids design a logo for a super hero team called the Non-Avengers. They can draw and color their logo, or they can cut and paste construction paper together to make their logo for this super team.

Memory Verse

Merry Christmas

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever receive.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn that they need Jesus.

KEY PASSAGE:

Matthew 2:1-12, The Magi

MEMORY VERSE:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Cody came the furthest to be here tonight, carrying visitors from the east. He tells everyone how the Magi followed a new star in the sky to this very spot, and of the gifts they delivered to the newborn king.

Game

Craft Activity

Let the kids cut out and create a camel using construction paper. (You can search online for “free camel templates.”) Punch a hole in the camel’s back, and he can become a Christmas ornament! Or instead, have the kids create and color a crown like the wise men might have worn.