Lesson 3 Treating Others the Way You Want to be Treated

Loving My Family

Treating Others the Way You Want to be Treated


* Note to Parents: younger families may want to just read Genesis 45:1-15 and sum up the other passages.

Read: Genesis 37:16-36; 45:1-15; 47:1-12
Questions for Discussion:
How did Joseph’s brothers feel about him? Why?
What do you think about what they did to Joseph?
How did their father react to the news?
How do you think they would have felt if they were in Joseph’s place?
Later on, when they were at the mercy of Joseph, how do you think
they expected him to act?
How was his response to seeing his brothers different from their actions towards him?
Who’s actions, Joseph’s or his brothers’, displayed love?
Which way do you find yourself reacting more regularly to your family?
Out of love like Joseph or out of hate like his brothers?
How would you prefer that others respond to you?


As a family read Matthew 7:9-12. Let each person who can, read verse 12. Talk about what it means to treat others the way that you want to be treated. Make a list of words or sentences that your family brainstorms up for how you would all like to be treated. In a second column, make a corresponding list of ways you can treat others in those same ways.

Key Thought: Joseph treated his brothers with love and respect even after they sold him into slavery. Joseph understood what it meant to love his family and treat them the way that he wanted to be treated. We can do the same thing, everyday, as we interact with our family.

Activities
Preschool: Encourage your child to role play being a parent, either to a doll or stuffed animal, or you can pretend to be the child. After playing for a while, discuss the way the “parent” treated the “child”. Discuss any instances when they chose to treat the child in a way that was respectful and loving, in a way that they would like to be treated.

Lower Elementary: Help your child act out the story of Joseph and his brothers. Use other family members or even stuffed animals to fill in the cast.

Upper Elementary: Pray with your child that God would help them be eager to treat others in the way that they would like to be treated.

Help your child paint a wooden ruler gold. Talk about how the saying “Do to others what you would have them do to you” is sometimes called the golden rule. Talk about why it is called that, and that it is a way we can judge, or measure up, what we do and say to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew. Place the ruler someplace prominent as a reminder to them to use the golden rule.

Teens: Practice treating others the way you would want to be treated. Take extra care today to speak and act toward your siblings and parents only in ways that you would want to be treated.