God with Us: Joseph's Dream
Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:14; 2 Samuel 7:12-16 New Testament PrincipleObedience
Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, a carpenter from King David's family. Before they were married, Mary was going to have a baby from the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man, and he planned to end the engagement quietly. But an angel came to him in a dream – "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." It all happened just as God promised through Isaiah – "They will call Him Immanuel," which means "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel told him. Obedience means trusting God's word and doing it.
Obedience is doing what God says because we trust Him. Joseph obeyed right away because God's word was true, and God was keeping His promise to send Immanuel, God with us.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21 BSB
Christ Connection · Promise
Matthew says Jesus' birth happened "to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet": a virgin's child called Immanuel, "God with us." And through Joseph, Jesus became a son of David, the King God promised. Jesus is God with us, and He promised, "I am with you always."
Matthew 1:1, 22-23; Isaiah 7:14; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 28:20
The Big Story · Redemption
God promised David a forever King and promised through Isaiah a child called "God with us." Jesus is both. God came to live with His people to save them from their sins.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Right away
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): A manger strong enough
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Wake up and obey
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
I can obey God right away!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Sleep and wake, Color Joseph's dream
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Joseph, a builder from King David's family, was going to marry Mary. Then God gave Mary a baby in a special way, by the Holy Spirit. Joseph didn't understand. But an angel came to him in a dream – "Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. Her baby is from God. Name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." God had promised a baby named Immanuel, "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he obeyed right away. We obey God because we trust Him.
Memory verse
“You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Adapted from Matthew 1:21
Start here
Ask, "Has anyone ever asked you to do something you didn't understand?" Let kids share. Say, "Today God asked Joseph to do something big that he didn't understand at first. Let's see what Joseph did."
Bible story 6 min
Joseph lived in a small town. He was a builder. He came from King David's family. Joseph was going to marry Mary.
Then Joseph found out Mary was going to have a baby. He knew it was not his baby. He did not get it. Joseph was a good man. He did not want Mary to get in trouble. So he made a plan to quietly not marry her.
But one night, an angel came to Joseph in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said. "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. Her baby is from God's Holy Spirit. She will have a Son. You will name Him Jesus. He will save His people from their sins."
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Joseph's dream 10 min
You’ll need: A pillow, A blanket
- Choose a narrator, Joseph, Mary, an angel and a friend.
- Act out the skit. Joseph jumps up right away when he wakes.
- Switch parts so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
Joseph, a builder from King David's family, was engaged to Mary when he learned she was going to have a baby. Not understanding, he planned to end the engagement quietly. But an angel spoke to him in a dream – Mary's child was from the Holy Spirit, and Joseph was to name Him Jesus, "because He will save His people from their sins." This fulfilled Isaiah's promise of a child called Immanuel, "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he obeyed right away. Obedience is trusting God's word enough to do it.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Promises kept, Wake up and obey
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends, at school
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Matthew tells the Christmas story through Joseph, a righteous builder from David's line. When he learned that his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant, he chose mercy, planning to end the engagement quietly. But God's angel told him the child was from the Holy Spirit and gave him a job – name Him Jesus, "because He will save His people from their sins." This fulfilled Isaiah's promise of Immanuel, "God with us." Joseph woke and obeyed at once, and by naming Jesus he received Him as his legal son, making Jesus heir to David's throne. Obedience is trusting God's word enough to act on it immediately.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Son of David, God with us, Obey before I understand
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, at home, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Obedience
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Kings and ProphetsThe Walls of JerichoJoshua 6:1-27; Joshua 2:1-21God told Israel to march around Jericho for seven days, and when they trusted and obeyed, God made the walls fall down flat.Old TestamentObedience
Balaam’s DonkeyNumbers 22:1–24:19King Balak paid Balaam to curse God's people. On the way, Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the LORD and stopped, and God made her talk! Balaam could only say the words God gave him, so he blessed Israel three times. God's word never changes, so we listen and obey Him the first time.Old TestamentObedience
In the BeginningGod Calls MosesExodus 2:1-3:15; Exodus 4:1-17God saw His suffering people and came down to rescue them, and He called Moses to go, promising, "I will be with you."Old TestamentObedience
Kings and ProphetsGod Calls Samuel1 Samuel 3:1-21When God's word was rare in Israel, God called the boy Samuel by name, and Samuel learned to say, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."Old TestamentObedience
With Building BricksThe Wise and Foolish BuildersMatthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:46-49Jesus told about two builders. The wise one built on the rock and his house stood through the storm. Jesus says those who hear His words and do them are like the wise builder.New TestamentObedience
Jesus the KingJesus Is BaptizedMatthew 3:1-17Jesus came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River, and God the Father said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," as the Spirit came down like a dove.New TestamentObedience