Joseph Forgives His Brothers Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free Joseph forgives his brothers Sunday school lesson teaches kids to forgive. Joseph's brothers had sold him into Egypt, but when they stood before him years later, he said, "Come near to me," and told them, "God did send me before you to preserve life" (Genesis 45:4–5). Then he fell upon Benjamin's neck and wept, and kissed all his brethren (45:14–15). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

• Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, a towel guessing game, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("God did send me before you to preserve life") with a motion, and a come-near circle with a drawing activity.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, a hide-and-find verse game with five cards, and Come Near Pictures.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the pit, the famine, "Come near to me," Goshen and the five years of famine), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Genesis 45:1–15 out loud themselves, then discuss forgiveness that names the wrong and lets go of payback, and how God meant it unto good. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Genesis 45:5 and Colossians 3:13).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: Genesis 45:1–15
• Main point: Joseph forgave his brothers, and God wants us to forgive others.
• Memory verse: Genesis 45:5 (KJV), with Colossians 3:13 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about coming near, finding out who someone is, or choosing to forgive instead of paying back.
2. Bible story: Joseph sends every man out, weeps aloud, says "I am Joseph," tells his brothers that God sent him to preserve life, invites the family to Goshen, and weeps on Benjamin's neck. Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
3. Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
4. Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Genesis 45:5.
5. What this means for us: forgiving as God forgives us, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
6. Activity: the Joseph forgives his brothers word search, Come Near Pictures, a drawing, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching Joseph forgives his brothers

• Genesis 45 never uses the word "forgive"; Joseph shows it. The brothers ask him to forgive them later, in Genesis 50:17.
• Joseph had eleven brothers in all: ten went down to Egypt the first time (Genesis 42:3), and Benjamin came the second time (43:15).
• This lesson leaves out Genesis 44 (the silver cup in Benjamin's sack) to keep it short. Tell it if your class already knows the Joseph story.
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.