STORY 15 MINUTES 25 MINUTES 10 MINUTES 25 MINUTES · • Greet kids as they arrive and encourage them to place their offering in the container. • Ask kids if they ever hear people

S E P T E M B E R G R A D E S

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PRELUDE HOME

User AgreementOrange gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor 252 Basics® materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we’ve expressed in our Statement of Faith. These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by other non-subscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws. ©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. 252 Basics® and the 252 Basics® logo are trademarks of Orange and the reThink Group.

Scripture marked “NIrV” is taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION®. Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2014 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica.

Scripture marked “NIV” is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Statement of Faith

ABOUT GODGod is the one and only true God, yet He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is the Creator, so everything belongs to Him and is under His control. God is holy, so He is righteous, majestic, and loving. God is all knowing and purposeful, so He’s at work to bring about His will. No person, thing, or idea compares to God.

ABOUT THE SCRIPTURESGod reveals Himself to us through the Bible, and it is 100% accurate, reliable, and authoritative.

ABOUT PEOPLEPeople are made in God’s image and for His pleasure. But everybody falls short of God’s intention, or ideal, for people. In other words, everyone has sinned. As a result, we are all separated from Him, even though He wants an intimate relationship with each of us.

ABOUT SALVATIONThat’s why Jesus—God’s Son—came and lived on this earth, died, and rose again. God offers His free gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus and accept Him as Savior—the only way to be forgiven and reconciled to God. Anyone who accepts this gift is adopted as a son or daughter into God’s family and will live with Him forever in heaven.

Chief Executive OfficerReggie Joiner

Creative TeamKristen IvyMike ClearMolly BoylanElloa DavisElizabeth HansenJessica McKeeBrandon O’DellGreg PaynePhil PierceDan ScottJon Williams

Contributing WritersMatt BellBecky JarrettCara MartensEmily MeredithAdam WalshDana Wilkerson

Editors Molly BoylanElloa DavisDana Wilkerson

Illustrations & Graphic Design Brian BascleMike DavisJoe Goode

Technical & Web Support Hadley Brandt

Orange SpecialistsAmy GrishamJoy BowenAbbey CarrAmy FentonLeslie GalemaMisty PhillipsStephanie PorterCourtney Templeton

SOCIAL15 MINUTES

GROUPS25 MINUTES

STORY25 MINUTES

WORSHIP10 MINUTES

B I B L E S T O R Y

B O T T O M L I N E

M E M O R Y V E R S E

L I F E A P P

B A S I C T R U T H

PA G E 2©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com

If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

Unhappy DaysJoseph in Jail Genesis 40

(Supporting: Genesis 39)

I can trust God no matter what.

Trust—putting your confidence in someone you can depend on.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5, NIrV

When life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you.

PRELUDE: Setting the tone for the experienceFor Leaders OnlyCreate the Environment

SOCIAL: Providing time for fun interactionIdeas for Early ArriversCircus Story Problems

STORY: Communicating God’s truth in engaging waysOpenerWorshipBible StoryPrayerCloser

WORSHIP: Inviting people to respond to God“Let It Be Known” from Movin’ Me “Good Good Father” from Kidmin Worship Vol. 4

GROUPS: Creating a safe place to connectStory Bingo Because … Nonsense! Prayer

HOME: Prompting action beyond the experienceGodTimeParent Cue


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PRELUDE HOMESOCIAL15 MINUTES

GROUPS25 MINUTES

STORY25 MINUTES

WORSHIP10 MINUTES

25 MINUTES

10 MINUTES

25 MINUTES

15 MINUTES



Note: This version of the curriculum is designed especially for churches with fewer leaders and kids. You may want to use it if you have just one or two leaders and if you combine all your kids in both Large and Small Group time.

GETTING READY

SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION (Choose one or both of these activities.)

Early Arriver• An offering container

Circus Story Problems• “Circus Story Problems” Activity Page • A variety of small circus themed props: popcorn, circus peanuts, balloons, toy

animals, etc.

STORY: COMMUNICATING GOD’S TRUTH IN ENGAGING WAYS

1. Opener/CloserWHAT YOU NEED:• Leader• Ringmaster costume for leader, such as a long red coat and black top hat

(optional)• Hula-hoop (Note: You may use this again in week 4, depending on the activity

you choose.)• Orange, red and yellow tissue paper• Scissors• Tape

Music and Sound Effects (SFX): • High-energy circus music to play as kids enter and exit the room

Large Group Visuals (downloadable from the website): • Trust Slide• Memory Verse Slide• Bottom Line Slide


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PRELUDE HOME

B I B L E S T O R Y

B O T T O M L I N E

M E M O R Y V E R S E

L I F E A P P

B A S I C T R U T H

Unhappy DaysJoseph in Jail Genesis 40

(Supporting: Genesis 39)

I can trust God no matter what.

Trust—putting your confidence in someone you can depend on.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5, NIrV

When life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you.

SOCIAL15 MINUTES

GROUPS25 MINUTES

STORY25 MINUTES

WORSHIP10 MINUTES



WHAT YOU DO:• Cut the tissue paper into small triangles and tape them around the hula-hoop to create a “ring of fire.”• Hide the “ring of fire” somewhere on the stage.

2. Bible StoryWHAT YOU NEED:• Leader• Bible• Baby gate• “JAIL” sign• Two kid volunteers who can read• Prop box containing: o Goblet or fancy cup o Baguette o Cue cards for Baker and Cupbearer• 1 clothespin• Wire/thread/thin rope

Large Group Visuals (downloadable from the website): • Bottom Line Slide• Slide: Bible Story Picture: Week 1

WHAT YOU DO:• Download the slides and have them ready to use. If you do not have CG capabilities, you have Orange’s permission to

enlarge and print the slides on paper.• Print or write out the Bible verses for the Baker (Genesis 40: 16b-17) and Cupbearer (Genesis 40: 9b-11) to read.• Make a sign that says “JAIL” large enough for the kids to see. Hang it on the baby gate, but have it flipped around so

the kids can’t see what it says until the Leader flips it. Put the baby gate on the stage, but out of the way for the Opener. (Note: You will need this gate and sign the rest of the month too.)

• Put the props in the prop box and place it on the stage, out of the way for the Opener.• Download Week 1 Bible Story Picture from the download panel and print on cardstock • Hang a wire somewhere near the stage that you can pin pictures on that represent each week’s Bible story. Hang Week 1

Bible Story Picture on it.

3. WorshipWHAT YOU NEED:• Leader(s)


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GROUPS25 MINUTES

STORY25 MINUTES

WORSHIP10 MINUTES



Music and Sound Effects (SFX): • “Let It Be Known” from Movin’ Me* • “Good Good Father” from Kidmin Worship Vol. 4* *Live Lyric Videos available from www.AmberSkyRecords.com.

WHAT YOU DO:• Download all songs (available on AmberSkyRecords.com) and have them ready to use.• Download and print this week’s tech sheet for everyone helping with Large Group.

4. Additional ResourcesGET REEL: This month with Get Reel 2.0, we’ll step right up to discover what it means to put our confidence in things we can depend on.

This week, we recommend playing the Dear God video to inspire the key faith skill of Dialoguing with God. Also on Get Reel 2.0, you can enhance your environment with graphic motion loops (animation slides) of the theme and Life App.

GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT (Choose as many of these activities as you like.)

* If you don’t have time to do all these activities, be sure to do activity #2.

1. Story Bingo (application activity / review the Bible story)• “Story Bingo Cards” Activity Pages for each kid• “Story Bingo Caller Cards” Activity Page• Something to mark their squares: pennies/tokens, foam shapes, small stones, etc.; 9 for each kid

* 2. Because … (application activity)• No supplies needed

3. Nonsense! (memory verse activity)• A poster board with the verse written on it• Large sticky notes or index cards • Tape• Markers

Prayer• No supplies needed


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GROUPS25 MINUTES

STORY25 MINUTES

WORSHIP10 MINUTES



Additional Resources:• Make copies on cardstock of this week’s GodTime and Parent Cue cards. • Tell parents about our additional family resources: Studio252.tv, CUE Box, and the Parent Cue app. To find out more

about these great resources, go to http://www.Studio252.tv/leaders.


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GROUPS25 MINUTES

STORY25 MINUTES

WORSHIP10 MINUTES



SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION (SMALL GROUPS, 15 MINUTES)Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today’s story.

Before kids arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your group for the first time. Pray for the conversations your group will have today. Ask God to give you wisdom and guidance to respond to any difficult circumstances that may come to light as a result of today’s content. Pray also for the kids whose families are doing well. Pray that they would internalize today’s message and be able to recall it during times when life doesn’t make sense.

1. EARLY ARRIVER IDEAWHAT YOU NEED: An offering container

WHAT YOU DO:• Greet kids as they arrive and encourage them to place their offering in the container. • Ask kids if they ever hear people tell big stories when they get together—crazy or unbelievable things that have

happened to them. (Celebrities they’ve met, crazy times when things are going wrong but it’s really funny, pranks they’ve pulled, etc.)

• Add your own story from experience.• Encourage kids to share their own big crazy stories.

2. CIRCUS STORY PROBLEMSWHAT YOU NEED: “Circus Story Problems” Activity Page, a variety of small circus-themed props

WHAT YOU DO:• As one team, help kids to put together visual representations of the Story Problems using the materials you have. • Once they complete each Story Problem, read the next one to the kids. • Encourage older kids to help younger kids figure out the answer and for there to be more cooperation than competition.

WHAT YOU SAY:“These were fun problems to have—and they all made sense in the end. If you have 2+2 of ANYTHING, it’s going to equal 4! [Transition] Let’s go to Large Group to hear about who we trust when life just doesn’t add up.”

Lead your group to the Large Group area.


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PRELUDE STORY WORSHIP GROUPS HOMESOCIAL15 MINUTES



STORY: COMMUNICATING GOD’S TRUTH IN ENGAGING WAYS (LARGE GROUP, 35 MINUTES)Engage kids’ hearts through a dynamic and interactive Bible story, worship, and prayer experience in a Large Group setting.

SFX: Play high-energy circus music as kids enter.

Leader enters, dressed in ringmaster costume (optional)

OPENERLEADER: (Over the top announcer voice) “Welcome back, everyone, to the greatest show on earth, the [your environment’s name] Circus! I am your ringmaster, [your name], and I am excited to be here with you today as we dare to walk the high wire and put our trust in God!

SFX: Music slowly fades if possible, or just turn it off

“All month long we’re finding out what it means to trust!

CG/Sign: Trust Slide

“Trust is putting your confidence in someone you can depend on. Can you say that with me?

LEADER and KIDS: “Trust is putting your confidence in someone you can depend on.”

LEADER: “Yes! Now, you all know you can depend on me, right? Do you trust me enough to jump through a hoop? (Pause to see if anyone raises his/her hands.) Do you trust me enough to jump through … a ring of fire? (Pause to see if anyone raises his/her hands, and respond accordingly.)

“Don’t worry, I promise you won’t get burned with this ring of fire. (Pull out the hula-hoop.) Let’s get some music going again and we’ll see who can make it through the ring without touching the fire!

SFX: Play high-energy circus music

Start with one side of the hula-hoop touching the ground and allow any of the kids who want to participate a chance to jump through the hoop. If they touch the sides of the hoop (the “fire”), they’re out. Continue with as many rounds as it takes to get down to one winner, raising the hoop off the ground a little more each time. Optional: give the winner a circus-themed prize, like marshmallow circus peanuts.

SFX: Fade out or stop music

“That was great, everyone! Why don’t you have a seat? It’s time to find out what happens next in the story we’re looking at this month. Doesn’t anyone who was here last week remember his name? (Pause for response.) That’s right, Joseph!


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PRELUDE SOCIAL GROUPS HOMESTORY25 MINUTES

WORSHIP10 MINUTES



If you’re wearing the ringleader costume, take off the hat/jacket, etc. for the Bible story and worship.

SETTING UP THE STORYLEADER: “Joseph was the great-grandson of who? Does anyone remember? (Pause to see if they remember.) Yes, Abraham! God had promised to make the father of a great nation. Joseph was part of that promise being fulfilled by God. God had big plans for Joseph’s life, but it wasn’t an easy road for Joseph either. His brothers knew that Joseph was their father, Jacob’s, favorite. They were so jealous of Joseph that they ended up selling him to traders who took him all the way to Egypt! (Point to the week 1 Bible story picture hanging from the high wire when appropriate.) When Joseph got to Egypt, Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard, became his master. And that’s where our story picks up today.

JOSEPH IS IN CHARGELEADER: “At first, Joseph was given only small responsibilities at Potiphar’s house, but it didn’t matter how small the job, Joseph worked really hard following through on whatever Potiphar gave him to do. And Joseph was never alone. God was with Joseph and helped him do well and find success at what ever he did. Well, Potiphar noticed that, so he started giving Joseph more responsibilities with bigger and better things to do.

“Soon, Joseph was in charge of everything Potiphar owned. And because God blessed everything that Joseph did, Potiphar’s house, family, servants and crops were also blessed and successful. With Joseph in charge, Potiphar didn’t have to worry about anything!

JOSEPH THROWN INTO PRISONLEADER: “All seemed to be going well for Joseph. Until Potiphar’s wife started testing him. She liked to stir up trouble, and she liked to mess with people. She started in on Joseph, testing him to see if he was as good as he seemed. She started telling that he could have anything he wanted because he was in charge of the house now. But Joseph knew better. He knew that God had a better plan for his life.

“Joseph told Potiphar’s wife that he couldn’t do anything to sin against Potiphar or God, because Potiphar trusted him.

“But Potiphar’s wife didn’t give up. Every day she bothered Joseph, trying to make him do something wrong. When Joseph kept refusing to do anything wrong, Potiphar’s wife got angry and made up lies about Joseph.

“She told Potiphar that Joseph had done something awful! Potiphar was enraged. “I trusted you, Joseph,” he yelled. “You’ve let me down.”

“Even though Joseph denied it and tried to explain, Potiphar had him thrown in jail with rest of the king’s prisoners. (Walk over to the baby gate and flip over the sign so it says “JAIL.”)

“But just as God was with Joseph in Potiphar’s house, God was with him in jail and continued to give him success. Soon Joseph was put in charge of all the prisoners and everything that happened in the jail. One day the jailer dragged in two new prisoners: two of the king’s servants who had gotten in trouble with the king.

“One was in charge of tasting Pharaoh’s drinks to make sure no one put poison in them. He was called a cupbearer, which basically means a drink taster. I need someone to come up and play the role of cupbearer for me. (Bring a volunteer—who


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WORSHIP10 MINUTES

PA G E 1 0©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com


can read—on stage, put him behind the baby gate, and hand him the goblet.)

“The other servant was Pharaoh’s baker. Can I get someone to play the role of the Baker? (Bring a volunteer—who can read—on stage, put her behind the baby gate, and hand her the baguette.)

Explain to the kids that they just need to act out what you say they do.

DREAM WEAVERLEADER: “Joseph made sure the new men were welcomed and checked on them each day. One morning, he found the Baker staring at his bread, and the Cupbearer weeping into his cup of water.

“He asked them why they were so sad. The men told him they had a both had a dream the night before, but they didn’t know what the dream meant. Joseph told them that only God knows what dreams mean. But Joseph knew that God would help him interpret the dreams, so he asked the men what they had dreamed about. You can read all about it in your Bibles in the book of Genesis, chapter 40. For now, let’s hear what our cupbearer dreamed about.

“So, Cupbearer, can you tell me about your dream? (Hand the cue card to the cupbearer and allow him to read it.)

CUPBEARER: (from Genesis 40: 9b-11) ““In my dream I saw a vine in front of me. There were three branches on the vine. As soon as it budded, it flowered. And bunches of ripe grapes grew on it. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand. I took the grapes. I squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup. Then I put the cup in his hand,” (NIrV).

LEADER: “Interesting dream there, Cupbearer. Let’s read what God told Joseph about your dream in Genesis 40:12-15.

(Open your Bible and read Genesis 40:12-15) ‘“Here’s what your dream means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will let you out of prison. He’ll give your job back to you. And you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand. That’s what you used to do when you were his wine taster,” (NIrV).

“When Joseph finished explaining the dream to the Cupbearer, he asked the man a favor of his own. He asked the Cupbearer to tell Pharaoh all about him—about how Joseph was taken from his home by force and how he hadn’t done anything wrong to get thrown in prison.

(Turning to the Cupbearer) “So really good news for you, Cupbearer. In three days, Pharaoh is going to give you your job back. I think that calls for a high five! And remember, put in a good word for Joseph when you get out! (High five with the Cupbearer.)

“Now, when the Baker saw that the Cupbearer’s dream meant something really good, he wanted Joseph to interpret his dream too! Baker, can you tell us about your dream? (Hand the cue card to the Baker.)

BAKER: (From Genesis 40:16b-17) “There were three baskets of bread on my head. All kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh were in the top basket. But the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head,” (NIrV).

LEADER: (To the Baker) “Well, Baker, I’m afraid the news isn’t so good for you.


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(To the kids) “God had given Joseph the meaning to the baker’s dream, too. But it wasn’t happy.

(Back to the baker; take a deep breath) “In three days, Pharaoh will have you taken out of prison … and, well, there’s no good way to say this. He’s going to have you put to death. I’m really sorry, man. Can we side-hug it out? (Give the Baker a side hug, then quietly dismiss the Baker and Cupbearer to their seats.)

“I am sure that Joseph didn’t love being the bearer of bad news, but there was nothing he could do. Sure enough, three days later, on his birthday, Pharaoh called for both the Cupbearer and the Baker. He offered the Cupbearer his old job back. But the Baker? Yep, just as God had told Joseph, the baker was put to death. Joseph was really sad, but he hoped and prayed for the day when Pharaoh’s cupbearer would remember him.

WRAPPING UP THE STORYLEADER: “Sadly, the Cupbearer didn’t remember what he had promised Joseph. In fact, he forgot all about Joseph and never told Pharaoh about him.

“Joseph wondered if he would be stuck in that jail forever. But even though Joseph couldn’t see how anything that had happened made sense, he still knew God was with him. He still trusted that somehow, all the pieces would fit together in the end. Which brings us to our bottom line for today.

CG/Sign: Bottom Line Slide

“[Bottom Line] When life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you. That was true for Joseph at the bottom of the well, in Potiphar’s house, and even in jail. And the same is true for you and me. There are going to be many times, many situations, when life doesn’t make sense. But we know that we [Basic Truth] can trust God no matter what, and that we can trust that God is with us wherever we are.

“Let’s ask God to help us remember that.”

PRAYLEADER: “Dear God, sometimes we don’t understand why things are happening in our lives. We feel like we’ve done the right things, we’ve made wise choices, and still bad or confusing things keep happening. But we also know that we’re not alone. Help each child here to remember that You are ALWAYS with them and that even [Bottom Line] when life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

WORSHIPLEADER: “Alright everyone, let’s turn up the energy and sing to our God. The Bible tells us that it’s our job to let people know about God’s love and how He saves. This song is about letting everyone know, loud and clear, that our God saves. Let’s sing it loud. Clap your hands, and let’s praise God together!

SFX: “Let It Be Known” / track 5 from Movin’ Me


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“Yeah! Our God saves! He is so good to us. That was fantastic. Let’s continue in worship. It’s important that each day we give thanks to God for His goodness to us. Deuteronomy 32:4 says: ‘He is the Rock. His works are perfect. All his ways are right. He is faithful. He doesn’t do anything wrong. He is honest and fair.’ (NIrV) Wow, those are some good reasons we have to sing and give worship to our God. Let’s honor Him and give Him thanks.”

SFX: “Good Good Father” / track 2 from Kidmin Worship Vol. 4

CLOSERPick up the hula-hoop (“ring of fire”)

LEADER: “So if you don’t know it already, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Life doesn’t always make sense. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. And sometime good things happen to bad people. Look at Joseph! He was thrown in prison when he didn’t even do anything wrong! Sometimes parents get divorced, people get sick, pets get lost, things get stolen. Sometimes it feels like life is spinning out of control. (Spin the hula-hoop off the side of the stage.) Life just doesn’t make sense—at least not to us. But we don’t have to trust in ourselves, do we? Let’s take a look at our memory verse for this month and see whom we can and should depend on:

CG/Sign: Memory Verse Slide

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding,” Proverbs 3:5, (NIrV).

“Hopefully it comforts you to know that God can see things we can’t see. And that He can turn things that seem bad into good things. God can take the most difficult, most confusing, worst parts of life, and turn them into something magnificent. That’s why you have to remember that …

CG/Sign: Bottom Line Slide

“[Bottom Line] When life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you. Say that with me.

LEADER and KIDS: [Bottom Line] “When life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you.

LEADER: “So when you reach one of those times in your life, maybe you’re in one of those times right now, remember, God is with you. And He can use even the ugliest times to do something beautiful.

“Hopefully you won’t be jumping through any other rings of fire this week, but even if you do, remember that God is with you! Now, it’s time to head to small group and discover more about how we can put our trust in God every single day.”

Dismiss kids to their small groups.

SFX: Play high-energy circus music as kids exit.


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GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT (SMALL GROUPS, 25 MINUTES)Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities and discussion questions.

1. STORY BINGO (application activity / review the Bible story)WHAT YOU NEED: “Story Bingo Cards” and “Story Bingo Caller Cards” Activity Pages, bingo spot markers; 9 for each kid

WHAT YOU DO:• Give kids the “Story Bingo Cards” and, if you have a lot of younger kids, make sure you identify all the squares so they’ll

recognize them when you call them out.• Shuffle the “Story Bingo Caller Cards,” and then slowly draw the top card and call it out. Continue drawing and calling

cards until someone has Bingo. • Let kids clear their cards. Shuffle the caller cards and play as many times as interest allows. Kids can swap cards, too. • If you have younger kids, call at a slow pace. If you have older kids, keep a quick rhythm to hold their attention.

WHAT YOU SAY:“This is kind of a random game. There’s no strategy, like in checkers or chess. Whatever happens … happens. Joseph’s life felt like that to him at times: random bad things just kept happening to him no matter what he did. First, we know that his brothers stole his coat and tossed him down a well and sold him into slavery—all because they didn’t like him. Then, Joseph worked hard even though he was a slave and things went well. He might have thought that things were starting to make sense, but after a while, he ended up in jail even though he had done what was right. Then he helped the baker and the cupbearer. But the cupbearer forgot all about him. When he did right, bad things happened. That doesn’t make any sense! We want good things to happen when we make wise choices. But sometimes that’s not how our lives go at all. Joseph kept working hard and kept following God even when his life didn’t make sense because he trusted that God was still with him—as a slave, in jail, when he was lonely and forgotten and overworked! Joseph’s story reminds us [Bottom Line] when life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you.”

* 2. BECAUSE … (application activity)WHAT YOU NEED: No supplies needed

WHAT YOU DO:• Ask kids to give you an example of cause and effect. Tell them that when something happens, it’s usually because

something happened before it. Most things that happen cause something else to happen.• Play a quick game of “Because”: o Says something like, “My shirt is wet because…” and then the next kid continues, “because water came

shooting out of the water fountain …” and the next player says, “because the plumbers were working on the line …” and the game continues, getting more and more ridiculous.

• Change up the story if kids start running out of ideas or get too crazy.• Play as many rounds as hold kids’ interest. • For younger kids, be prepared to prompt them with “because” statements, like in the sample round above. • For older kids, encourage them to be silly but still respectful (no inappropriate humor or violence in their stories).


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PRELUDE SOCIAL STORY WORSHIP HOMEGROUPS25 MINUTES



WHAT YOU SAY:“Wow you were really creative! Life gets crazy sometimes, but I don’t think any of those situations have ever happened in real life … at least I hope not! Sometimes life feels like our game and what starts out fine ends up making absolutely no sense. You start becoming friends with a kid down the street, but he doesn’t invite you to his birthday party. You pay attention at school, but you still have a hard time with homework. You keep quiet when the teacher is talking, but you get punished because other kids were being noisy. Sometimes you work on doing the right thing, but you still don’t get what you want.

[Make it Personal] (Share an age-appropriate story about a time when life seemed like it didn’t make sense or wasn’t fair—maybe you were punished with a group even though you did nothing wrong, maybe someone else got away with breaking the rules, or you had to clean up after someone else’s mess.) “When we say that “life’s not fair!,” what we’re really saying is that it doesn’t make sense to us. And that’s normal—(my situation) didn’t make any sense to me either. But we can’t let times when life seems unbalanced to make us angry or bitter or disrespectful or ungrateful. We need to remember that God never leaves us, even when things don’t seem fair. [Bottom Line] When life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you.”

If you lead mostly older kids, consider asking these discussion questions:• Look up Romans 8:28 together. Ask, “Does this mean that everything that happens, God will make us happy about? Or

that God wants bad things to happen to us?” Guide the discussion to realize God uses everything that happens in His plan to bring everyone into His forever family.

• When it is it easiest to feel God is with you? When is it the hardest? How does remembering that [Bottom Line] when life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you help you feel about those times?

• When is it easiest to feel God is with you? When is it the hardest? • Sometimes our feelings can be confusing. What should we do when we don’t feel like we can trust God? Can you think of

a couple people you can turn to when you feel that way?

3. NONSENSE! (memory verse activity)WHAT YOU NEED: A poster board with the verse written on it, large sticky notes or index cards and tape, markers

WHAT YOU DO:• Give the kids the sticky notes/index cards and markers. • Encourage them to write a nonsense word (feem, thup, pippo, yurb, gah, etc.) on their card.• Use the cards to cover some of the words of the verse on the poster board. • Read the verse aloud with the nonsense words.• Remove the notes/cards and read the verse with the real words.

WHAT YOU SAY:“Some of these were ridiculous! You guys got really creative with those. When you take out the important words here—like trust and heart and Lord and understanding—it becomes a lot of nonsense. Sometime we want to follow our own ideas of making life fair. Sometimes we want to follow our own plan, like putting in our own words to this verse. But this verse reminds us that following God’s plan and depending on His wisdom is the only way that life starts making sense. When you


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trust God, it doesn’t matter if life feels unfair or out of control. He’s never going to leave you no matter what happens, so you can be calm and confident in any situation. [Bottom Line] When life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you.”

PRAY AND DISMISSWHAT YOU NEED: No supplies needed

WHAT YOU DO: • Gather the group for prayer. • Pray aloud, and encourage them to do the motions with you.• If you have older kids: before praying, ask them to come up with motions and body language to fit your words as you

pray, instead of doing the suggested motions below.

WHAT YOU SAY:“Dear God, Thank You for being with us no matter what. You are with us from the beginning of our lives, at Once Upon A Time (act like you’re opening a book) through all the ups (stand up and stretch your arms as high as you can) when we feel happy, and all of the downs when we feel sad or afraid (shrink down into a small ball on the floor). When life is fair (thumbs up) or unfair (thumbs down), when people are our friends (high five kids in the circle) or are mean to us (hide your face with your hands). No matter what happens, you will never leave us, (hug yourself) not even at The End (close pretend book) because we will be with You forever! Amen. This week, don’t forget: [Bottom Line] when life doesn’t make sense, you can trust God is with you.”

Give each child a GodTime card. Pass out Parent Cue cards as adults arrive to pick up. Let kids share their nonsense words from the “Nonsense!” Verse Activity with parents.


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Documents

STORY 15 MINUTES 25 MINUTES 10 MINUTES 25 MINUTES · • Greet kids as they arrive and encourage them to place their offering in the container. • Ask kids if they ever hear people