Before class, print out enough May and June calendars (collate and staple) so that each student has a set. Calendar templates can be found here:

Free printable calendar template/ May 2022
Free printable calendar template/ June 2022

If your class is meeting online, email the templates for families to print ahead of time. Invite students to bring the printouts, pens/pencils, and markers/colored pencils to class.

Earlier we learned how Joseph remained faithful to God, no matter what events were thrown his way. His faithfulness to God caused him to become second in command of Egypt. Even when his future may have seemed hopeless, his loyalty never seemed to waiver. He kept his eyes on God instead of his circumstances and because of that was able to save the lives of so many during the famine. Staying true to God no matter the circumstances matters!

Read today’s memory verse aloud (Colossians 3:23).

• What does it mean to work at something with all of our heart, working for the Lord and not for others? (It means we should give it our all doing our best no matter who is watching because we are doing it for the Lord and not to impress others.)
• Can you give some examples of what that might look like in our lives? (Answers might include: When I do chores around the house, I can work hard knowing I am serving the Lord, not just taking out trash; when my little brother needs help with his homework, I want to do a good job and not be short-tempered with him in order to please the Lord, etc.)

Pass out blank May and June calendars as well as writing utensils to everyone (or invite students to have those items ready at home). Have your preteens fill in the rest of May’s calendar with any upcoming events or things they have going on. The events don’t have to be official events. Examples may include: family Memorial Day cookout, swimming in the pool, baseball games, tests, school field trips, last day of school, playing with friends, or relaxing in front of the television.

After they’ve filled in their upcoming events, they should take some time to pray and ask God how He would want them to remain faithful to Him in each of these circumstances. They should ask Him what they can do to bring glory to Him and how they can work with their whole hearts for Him each day.

If time allows, students should then draw emojis and/or picture symbols on their events representing ways they’ll choose faithfulness to God. Examples might include a Bible emoji for days they will spend in the Word; the praying hands emoji for prayer time; the happy face emoji for when they plan to cheer their teammates on at their baseball game (no matter the score); the heart emoji because they’ll love on their grandparents at the upcoming family cookout, etc.

As students work on their calendars, you may want to play the following music video in the background [4:39]:
Great is Thy Faithfulness-Chris Rice

When we dedicate our hearts and minds to Jesus, the action part of it begins to flow out of us naturally. By spending time in prayer and in His Word, we’ll be strengthened in our love and devotion to God. And just as our verse says, whatever we do, we’ll want to work at it for the Lord.

Put your calendar somewhere you’ll see regularly, and when you have some quiet time this week, repeat today’s activity on your own. Add events as needed. Let God show you how you can work for Him this summer. Let your calendar serve as a reminder to you of all the opportunities you have coming up in which you can show your love and faithfulness. No matter what, let’s stay faithful to Him. 

Pray to close.