Studying the Bible is so important and absolutely essential for our spiritual growth. This page will be updated monthly with an interactive study focusing on issues that concern you as a teen today.
Welcome to our TGIF interactive Bible Study Page. Here's how it works;
Read and pray through the study topic.Take some notes, and don't be afraid to mark your Bible
(colored pencils work best). We'll post a new study topic each month.
Invite others to be involved.
You can also join Patch Global - our Facebook Group and post your comments for ongoing discussion.
For this study, get a Bible, some paper, and a notebook would be a great idea
April 2024
In our study for this month, we are going to take a look at one of my favorite Bible characters - Joseph. We will look at the life of Joseph, from his family background to his eventual rise to power in
Egypt.
Here’s a few points to think about:
• God has a plan.
• God is always with us.
• The importance of forgiving others.
Bible reading: Genesis 37-50
Memory verse: As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that
many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Genesis 50:20
Here is a quick summary of Joseph’s life as recorded in the Bible:
A. Joseph's Birth and Early life
Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, the father of the Israelites. Joseph was
Jacob's favorite son. Jacob showed Joseph more love than to his brothers, giving him a fabulous coat of
many colors. When Joseph was a young man, he had dreams that showed him as a ruler over his brothers
and family.
B. Joseph is Sold into Slavery (Genesis 37:17-28)
Joseph's jealous brothers plotted to get rid of him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. They told Jacob that
Joseph had been killed and put his coat of many colors in the blood-stained bag to make it appear as if he
had been attacked.
C. Joseph in Potiphar's House (Genesis 39)
Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt, where he was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh
and captain of the guard. Joseph worked hard, and God blessed him with success and favor in all he did.
He quickly rose through the ranks and gained Potiphar's trust.
C. Joseph in Prison (Genesis 40)
Potiphar's wife failed to lure Joseph into having an affair, so she falsely accused him of attempted rape. As
a result, Joseph was thrown into prison. But even in prison, God blessed Joseph, and he was put in charge
of the prisoners and all the prison affairs.
D. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams (Genesis 41)
Pharaoh had a dream, and none of his wise men or magicians could interpret it. So, Pharaoh heard about
Joseph and asked him to interpret the dream. Joseph was able to correctly interpret Pharaoh's dreams,
and he told of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
E. Joseph Rises to Power in Egypt (Genesis 41-45)
© 2023 truewaykids.com
Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparing for the coming famine. Joseph was made ruler of all of Egypt
and stored up grain during the seven years of plenty to prepare for the famine.
F. Joseph Reunited with his brothers and Father (Genesis 45-50)
Joseph's brothers eventually came to Egypt looking for food and reunited with their long-lost brother.
Joseph forgave them and was reconciled with his father. He invited his family to live in Egypt.
God has a plan for us, and He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We can
see this clearly in the life of Joseph, who experienced unimaginable suffering and hardship, yet God
worked it together for good.
Joseph recognizes God's hand on his life in Genesis 50:20 when he says to his brothers, "As for you, you
meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive,
as they are today."
God can take even the most difficult situations and use them for good. In fact, God often takes heartache,
pain, loss, and troubles to create something beautiful and more meaningful than what was there before.
We may not understand why we are in painful moments or why they have to happen, but with faith, we
can be sure that God is working in the midst of it all.
We can trust God with our life's journey and challenges, knowing that, ultimately, everything will work
together for good, and that God remains in control. Circumstances may surprise us, but they never surprise
God.
Adversity is a common theme throughout the life of Joseph, from his brothers selling him into slavery to his
wrongful imprisonment and even his false accusations from Potiphar's wife. Despite all of Joseph's
suffering throughout his life, it was all part of God's plan to use Joseph's adversity to prepare for his future
calling.
Joseph needed to go through those struggles and hardships to be prepared to fulfil the role God had
planned for him. He needed to learn valuable lessons in trust, compassion, humility and leadership, which
would equip him to be second in command over all of Egypt.
It's difficult to understand why God allows us to endure adversity and suffering, but God often uses it to
shape us into the people we were always meant to be. It's important to remember that God's purpose is
not to make our lives miserable or difficult; instead, God has a perfect plan, and our troubles are often part
of God's strategy in unfolding that plan in our lives. At times, this means that He must allow trials into our
lives to reshape us for bigger and better things. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Not only that, but we rejoice in
our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope," (Romans 5:3-4). Adversity helps us become more Christlike and teaches us how
dependent we need to be on Him. (see also 1 Peter 5:10)
Throughout all of Joseph's challenges and suffering, one thing remained constant - God was with him. Even
though it may have seemed like Joseph was alone, God had not abandoned him in his time of need. In fact,
Genesis 39:2 says that the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in all that he did.
How was God with Joseph?
1. God was with Joseph allowing him to prosper in Potiphar's household and the prison. (Genesis
39:1-6)
2. God was with Joseph allowing him to overcome the temptation by Potiphar's wife. (Genesis
39:6-23)
3. God was with Joseph allowing him to remain faithful in the midst of unjust imprisonment.
(Genesis 40)
4. God was with Joseph allowing him to interpret Pharaoh's dreams and become second in
command over all of Egypt. (Genesis 41:38-45).
5. God was with Joseph allowing him to forgive his brothers. (Genesis 45:1-15)
God was with Joseph in every situation, teaching him valuable lessons and preparing him for his destiny. In
the same way, God is with us at all times. He is with us to give us strength, wisdom and courage to
persevere through trials and serve Him faithfully.
Joseph's story of forgiveness is a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiving those who have
wronged us. As Joseph was able to forgive his brothers for their wrongdoing, so must we forgive those who
have wronged us to find true freedom.
The Bible says a lot about forgiving others:
• "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you." - Matthew 6:14
• "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave
you." - Ephesians 4:32
We must learn from Joseph's example of forgiveness and forgive those who have wronged us. Forgiveness
is never easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and relationship with God. It requires humility,
compassion, and a willingness to let go of anger and resentment. As we forgive others, we reflect the love
and mercy of Christ, and we open ourselves to reflect the forgiveness and grace that God freely offers.
So, let’s put this into action:
Joseph's life is an inspiring example of how God works in our lives, despite the hardship and suffering that
we may experience. God was with Joseph throughout his journey, granting him success in all he did. God
allowed him to overcome the temptation of Potiphar's wife and ultimately fulfil his destiny as second in command over all of Egypt. Joseph also teaches us to forgive others, just as God forgave us.
Questions:
In our study for this month, we are going to take a look at one of my favorite Bible characters - Joseph. We will look at the life of Joseph, from his family background to his eventual rise to power in
Egypt.
Here’s a few points to think about:
• God has a plan.
• God is always with us.
• The importance of forgiving others.
Bible reading: Genesis 37-50
Memory verse: As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that
many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Genesis 50:20
Here is a quick summary of Joseph’s life as recorded in the Bible:
A. Joseph's Birth and Early life
Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, the father of the Israelites. Joseph was
Jacob's favorite son. Jacob showed Joseph more love than to his brothers, giving him a fabulous coat of
many colors. When Joseph was a young man, he had dreams that showed him as a ruler over his brothers
and family.
B. Joseph is Sold into Slavery (Genesis 37:17-28)
Joseph's jealous brothers plotted to get rid of him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. They told Jacob that
Joseph had been killed and put his coat of many colors in the blood-stained bag to make it appear as if he
had been attacked.
C. Joseph in Potiphar's House (Genesis 39)
Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt, where he was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh
and captain of the guard. Joseph worked hard, and God blessed him with success and favor in all he did.
He quickly rose through the ranks and gained Potiphar's trust.
C. Joseph in Prison (Genesis 40)
Potiphar's wife failed to lure Joseph into having an affair, so she falsely accused him of attempted rape. As
a result, Joseph was thrown into prison. But even in prison, God blessed Joseph, and he was put in charge
of the prisoners and all the prison affairs.
D. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams (Genesis 41)
Pharaoh had a dream, and none of his wise men or magicians could interpret it. So, Pharaoh heard about
Joseph and asked him to interpret the dream. Joseph was able to correctly interpret Pharaoh's dreams,
and he told of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
E. Joseph Rises to Power in Egypt (Genesis 41-45)
© 2023 truewaykids.com
Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparing for the coming famine. Joseph was made ruler of all of Egypt
and stored up grain during the seven years of plenty to prepare for the famine.
F. Joseph Reunited with his brothers and Father (Genesis 45-50)
Joseph's brothers eventually came to Egypt looking for food and reunited with their long-lost brother.
Joseph forgave them and was reconciled with his father. He invited his family to live in Egypt.
- GOD HAS A PLAN FOR GOOD - GENESIS 50:20
God has a plan for us, and He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We can
see this clearly in the life of Joseph, who experienced unimaginable suffering and hardship, yet God
worked it together for good.
Joseph recognizes God's hand on his life in Genesis 50:20 when he says to his brothers, "As for you, you
meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive,
as they are today."
God can take even the most difficult situations and use them for good. In fact, God often takes heartache,
pain, loss, and troubles to create something beautiful and more meaningful than what was there before.
We may not understand why we are in painful moments or why they have to happen, but with faith, we
can be sure that God is working in the midst of it all.
We can trust God with our life's journey and challenges, knowing that, ultimately, everything will work
together for good, and that God remains in control. Circumstances may surprise us, but they never surprise
God.
- ADVERSITY PREPARES US FOR OUR FUTURE - 1 PETER 5:10
Adversity is a common theme throughout the life of Joseph, from his brothers selling him into slavery to his
wrongful imprisonment and even his false accusations from Potiphar's wife. Despite all of Joseph's
suffering throughout his life, it was all part of God's plan to use Joseph's adversity to prepare for his future
calling.
Joseph needed to go through those struggles and hardships to be prepared to fulfil the role God had
planned for him. He needed to learn valuable lessons in trust, compassion, humility and leadership, which
would equip him to be second in command over all of Egypt.
It's difficult to understand why God allows us to endure adversity and suffering, but God often uses it to
shape us into the people we were always meant to be. It's important to remember that God's purpose is
not to make our lives miserable or difficult; instead, God has a perfect plan, and our troubles are often part
of God's strategy in unfolding that plan in our lives. At times, this means that He must allow trials into our
lives to reshape us for bigger and better things. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Not only that, but we rejoice in
our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope," (Romans 5:3-4). Adversity helps us become more Christlike and teaches us how
dependent we need to be on Him. (see also 1 Peter 5:10)
- THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH - GENESIS 39:2
Throughout all of Joseph's challenges and suffering, one thing remained constant - God was with him. Even
though it may have seemed like Joseph was alone, God had not abandoned him in his time of need. In fact,
Genesis 39:2 says that the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in all that he did.
How was God with Joseph?
1. God was with Joseph allowing him to prosper in Potiphar's household and the prison. (Genesis
39:1-6)
2. God was with Joseph allowing him to overcome the temptation by Potiphar's wife. (Genesis
39:6-23)
3. God was with Joseph allowing him to remain faithful in the midst of unjust imprisonment.
(Genesis 40)
4. God was with Joseph allowing him to interpret Pharaoh's dreams and become second in
command over all of Egypt. (Genesis 41:38-45).
5. God was with Joseph allowing him to forgive his brothers. (Genesis 45:1-15)
God was with Joseph in every situation, teaching him valuable lessons and preparing him for his destiny. In
the same way, God is with us at all times. He is with us to give us strength, wisdom and courage to
persevere through trials and serve Him faithfully.
- FORGIVE OTHERS - GENESIS 50:15-21
Joseph's story of forgiveness is a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiving those who have
wronged us. As Joseph was able to forgive his brothers for their wrongdoing, so must we forgive those who
have wronged us to find true freedom.
The Bible says a lot about forgiving others:
• "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you." - Matthew 6:14
• "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave
you." - Ephesians 4:32
We must learn from Joseph's example of forgiveness and forgive those who have wronged us. Forgiveness
is never easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and relationship with God. It requires humility,
compassion, and a willingness to let go of anger and resentment. As we forgive others, we reflect the love
and mercy of Christ, and we open ourselves to reflect the forgiveness and grace that God freely offers.
So, let’s put this into action:
Joseph's life is an inspiring example of how God works in our lives, despite the hardship and suffering that
we may experience. God was with Joseph throughout his journey, granting him success in all he did. God
allowed him to overcome the temptation of Potiphar's wife and ultimately fulfil his destiny as second in command over all of Egypt. Joseph also teaches us to forgive others, just as God forgave us.
Questions:
- What can we learn from the life of Joseph? _____________________________________________________________
- How has God used a difficult situation to prepare you? ________________________________________________________________
- How can you remind yourself that God is with you? ______________________________________________________________
- Do you think it’s important to forgive others? Why? ________________________________________________________________