Category Archives: Expectations

Time

10-15 minutes
Description

This Challenge teaches what happens to us is not as important as how we respond to what happens to us.  If we trust God with even our “unfortunate” events and circumstances, He can use everything for our good.  Participants will tell a story and take turns making the events of the story either “fortunate” or “unfortunate.”

Scriptures

• Genesis 37-50
• Proverbs 3:11
• Romans 8:28

Materials

• Challenge Card (The file for printing is called, “JJ – Fortunately-Unfortunately – Challenge Card (CHALLENGE),” and it can be found on the Lesson and Material Downloads page at www.teachingthem.com.  This can be printed in black and white on regular paper.  There are two Challenge Cards per page.)
• Ziplock bags – any size – 1 per group

Preparation

• Print out the Challenge Card document.
• Cut the Challenge Card document in half (each half is identical), and put one in each Ziplock bag (one per group).
• Practice the script.

Procedure

Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):

• “We’re going to do a group Challenge today.”
• “It’s called, “Fortunately-Unfortunately” and it’s part of the Joseph’s Journey Series.”
• “First, I’ll need to divide you into groups.”  (Divide the participants into the number of groups for which you have prepared kits.)
• “Each group will have a Ziplock bag with a Challenge Card.”
• “When I tell you to go, open your Ziplock bags, and read the Challenge Card.” (Allow them to read the Challenge Card.)
• “This challenge is about how God can make good things come out of bad situations.”
• “We’re going to play a short game called, “Fortunately – Unfortunately.”
• “First, we have to select the person who will start the game.  I want everyone to hold up one finger.”  (Make sure everyone holds up a finger.  Then have them do the following.)
• “Now point that finger straight up in the air as high as you can make it go.”
• “I’m going to count to three.  When I say, ‘three,’ I want everyone in the group to point at the person you think should start the game.”
• “Ready?  Okay, One….Two….Three!”  (If any groups end up with a tie for the number of fingers pointed at different people, have them do it again until the tie is broken.)
• “Alright, this person is going to start you off by telling the first part of a story.”
• “They will tell you about 15-20 words about any topic they want, but the story has to start with, ‘Once upon a time…’”
• “For example, ‘Once upon a time, there was a man who liked to eat pickled porcupines…’”
• “Then, that person will stop right there, and the person on their right will pick up the story where they left off.”
• “But before they tell anymore of the story, they have to say, ‘Unfortunately…’ and then share something unfortunate about the situation or person.”
• “They will tell about 15 words of why things are so unfortunate, and then they will stop.”
• “The next person will pick up the story where they left off, but he/she will start by saying, ‘Fortunately…’  Then they will tell us what is so fortunate about the situation.”
• “This keeps going with each person alternating their stories to be ‘fortunate’ or ‘unfortunate.’”
• “You will keep going around your group until I say to stop, so you will probably have several tries at making up ‘fortunate’ and ‘unfortunate’ parts of the story.”
• “The only other rule is that you can’t kill anyone in the stories.”
• “Does anyone have any questions before we get started?”
• “Alright, those of you who were picked to start, begin your stories!”  (Allow three to five minutes for storytelling, then ask them to finish the part they are on and turn their attention back to you.)
• “The point of this game is that there are always two ways of looking at the things that happen in our lives.  You can view almost anything as either fortunate or unfortunate.”
• “If you search for it, even something very bad can have a fortunate side, particularly if you are willing to trust God with it.”
• “Romans 8:28 says, ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
• “The Scripture says that God will works in ‘some’ things for our good, right?”  (The kids should answer, ‘NO!’)
• “Oh, it says, God works in just the fortunate things, right?” (The kids should answer, ‘NO!’)
• “In just the things where we make good decisions?”  (‘NO!’) 
• “What does it say?  …God works in ALL things for the good of those who love Him.”
• “Sometimes when ‘unfortunate’ stuff happens to us, it’s God’s discipline in our lives, because the Bible says in Proverbs 3:11:  ‘My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.’”
• “But that means that even when God is disciplining you for your sin, He is doing it for your good!”
• “And it’s even better if you admit that you sinned and ask for forgiveness.  Then God can really use it for your good!”
• “He uses EVERYTHING that happens in your life to be a blessing to you!”
• “So, even when something happens that looks bad, it’s a great idea to praise God for it.  That shows that you trust Him to use it for your good.”
• “It’s less important what happens to you than how you respond to what happens to you.”
• (When you are finished, have them answer the Debrief Questions below (also on their Challenge Cards).  The Rhyme Time is to help them recognize that God can use everything to bless them and prepare them for His good work.)

Debriefing Questions

1. Do you think the things that happened in Joseph’s life were fortunate or unfortunate?  Why?
2. Are there things in your life that looked unfortunate at first but turned out to be fortunate?
3. How could you look at bad things in your life in a positive way?

Rhyme Time

God has a purpose, a plan and a dream; My present struggles are not what they seem!