INTRODUCTION

Joseph Dreams Disturbing Dreams

Bible Point:

God wants us to do what’s right.

Key Verse:

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

Big Picture:

Practice making right choices.

Joseph’s Brothers Sell Him Into Slavery

Genesis 37:12-36

No one likes feeling like the odd one out, but this fear can be especially intense during middle school. You may worry that if you speak up for what you believe, people will judge you or push you to the side. When you face a situation where doing what is right makes you stand out, the choice can feel overwhelming.

This week you will explore what it means to stand for what is true and good, even when others may not agree or pay attention. You will learn how to communicate truth in a way that shows love and respect, not pressure or pride.

This study will help you understand that following God sometimes means being different, and that choosing what is right can strengthen your character and influence the world around you.

TRY THIS

Establish a “Choices Watch Day.” Hand out notebooks and pens to each person in your family. Choose a day when you and your family will watch for any time that any person (you and your family members included) has to make a decision regarding doing what’s right. When you see it, write down the dilemma and what decision was made. That evening, share notes on what you each observed. Discuss why the right choices were right and what better options were available when the wrong choices were made.

DAILY CHALLENGE

• EACH morning, think of one way you could love someone else “with actions and in truth,” as suggested by the Key Verse. Follow through with your idea.

• TALK to a parent or trusted Christian friend about a choice you’re facing, and get his or her advice on what the right thing to do is.