Time
10-15 minutes
Description
This Challenge makes the point that we can make a choice to honor God even if difficult situations. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, but he was such a trustworthy slave, that Potiphar put him in charge of everything in the house. When Joseph was accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison, the prison warden soon put everything under Joseph’s authority, because Joseph was so faithful in how he handled his responsibilities. Participants will plant flowers in a mixture of gravel and water jelly crystals to show that you can still bloom when you are in a bad place.
Scriptures
- Genesis 37-50
- John 4:10-14
Materials
- Water Jelly Crystals – (You can order them from Steve Spangler Science for approximately $40 plus shipping and handling. (2.27 kg (5 pounds)
Item #: WSAC-900) Order early, because they may take up to two weeks to receive. It’s important that the crystals are clear and not colored. You can find these crystals at http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1283. - Challenge Card (The file for printing is called, “JJ – Bloom Where You Are Planted – 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.)
- Small, potted flowers (preferably seedlings with some leaves but before they bloom, but this is flexible) – 1 per person
- Small, clear, plastic cups – 1 per person
- Gravel – enough to fill each plastic cup about ¾ full
- Ziplock bags – gallon size – 1 per group
- Scoops or large plastic spoons – 1 per group
- Gallon jug of water – 1 per group
Preparation
- Divide the water jelly crystals evenly so that you have the same amount for each group, and place them in Ziplock bags.
- Add a scoop or large plastic spoon to each bag for scooping out crystals.
- Add enough plastic cups for each person in each group.
- Divide the gravel evenly among the groups, and put it into a bag or some other container for each group.
- Set aside enough flowers for each person in each group.
- 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, “Bloom Where You Are Planted” 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, cups, water jelly crystals, and a scoop or spoon.”
- “Each group will also have some flowers, gravel and water.”
- “When I tell you to go, open your Ziplock bags, and read the Challenge Card.”
- “You will then take the small seedlings out of their planter and shake off the soil so that all you have is the plant with exposed roots.”
- “This represents Joseph, who was taken out of the good soil of his home and family.”
- “Next, take a handful of gravel rocks and a handful of water jelly crystals, and mix them together.”
- “Then, put them into your clear, plastic cup.”
- “This represents the bad soil that Joseph was planted in when he was sold into slavery by his brothers and then again later when he was thrown into prison for something he didn’t do.”
- “Plants can’t usually grow in rocks, because they need nutrients from the soil and something to hold the water when it rains.”
- “That’s why we added water jelly crystals. They hold water and help the roots to get the refreshing water that they need to grow.”
- “So here’s the secret reason why Joseph was able to continue to grow even though he was in a bad place.”
- “God was with him.”
- “The water jelly crystals represent God’s presence in Joseph’s life.”
- “Plants need normal water to thrive, but people need LIVING WATER, which is God’s Word and presence, to thrive.”
- “Jesus says in John 4:10 that we can ask Him, and he will give us living water.”
- “Then, He says in John 4:13-14 that ‘Everyone who drinks (regular) water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water (Jesus) gives them will never thirst. Indeed, the water (Jesus) gives them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
- “That means that if you depend on Jesus, you will have eternal life with Him in heaven.”
- “Put your finger into the gravel and water jelly crystals and make a hole for the seedling to be planted in.”
- “Then, plant the seedling in the gravel, and move the gravel and water jelly crystals around the root.”
- “Finally, add some water to about halfway up the cup.”
- “Now, let’s set these aside. We’ll watch them during the week (or weeks) to see if they thrive in their new soil. They may even bloom!”
- (When you are finished, have them answer the Debrief Questions below (also on their Challenge Cards. The Rhyme Time is a reinforce to help them remember that if they continue to trust God, He will make even difficult situations a blessing for them.)
Debriefing Questions
- Do you think the flower will bloom where you planted it? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Joseph was able to succeed in difficult situations?
- How could you “bloom” when you find yourself in a difficult place?
Rhyme Time
If we trust Him and obey,
God makes bad things go OUR way!
Teach Them 