Middle School Margin
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

BUILD THE TIMELINE

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Put the story back together.

Some biblical stories move quickly. A timeline forces you to identify what actually drives the story forward.

For the Student

Read the passage once without taking notes.

On your second read, choose 5–8 events that matter.

Put them in order.

Then ask:

If I removed one event, which removal would make the story hardest to understand?

For the Grown-Up

Don't select the events unless your student is truly stuck. If their timeline contains too many details, ask them to reduce it. If it skips something important, ask, “How did we get from this event to that one?”

Workpage: Build the Timeline (optional)

  • Scripture: Genesis 37:12–36
    Time: 20–25 minutes

    Prompt: Joseph doesn't simply go from “brothers hate him” to “Egypt.” Reconstruct how he gets there.

    Short Directions: Build a 6–8 event timeline. Include the brothers' original plan, what Reuben suggests, Judah's idea, the traders, and what Jacob is told.

    Take It to the Margin: Which event most changes Joseph's future?

    For the Grown-Up: If sequencing becomes difficult, have your student write character names beside each decision. Help them notice that different brothers propose different things rather than treating the brothers as one voice.

  • Scripture: Exodus 3:1–4:17
    Time: 30–40 minutes

    Prompt: God calls Moses. Moses has…questions. And objections. Several. 😂

    Short Directions: Build a timeline of God's instructions and Moses' responses.

    Take It to the Margin: How many different concerns or objections does Moses raise? What answers does God give?

    For the Grown-Up: This is long. If attention drops, divide the study into God Calls / Moses Questions / God Responds rather than shortening the actual conversation too much.

  • Scripture: Esther 4:1–5:8
    Time: 25–35 minutes

    Prompt: Esther doesn't immediately walk into the king's room.

    Short Directions: Trace what happens from Mordecai's mourning to Esther's first banquet.

    Take It to the Margin: Where would you place the turning point in Esther's decision?

    For the Grown-Up: If needed, help explain the danger Esther describes in 4:11. Then let your student determine why that information matters.

  • Scripture: Luke 22:31–34, 54–62
    Time: 20–25 minutes

    Prompt: Jesus tells Peter something before Peter ever denies Him.

    Short Directions: Put Jesus' warning, Peter's confidence, the three denials, and Peter's response in order.

    Take It to the Margin: How does reading verses 31–34 before verses 54–62 change the way you read Peter's failure?

    For the Grown-Up: If your student jumps straight to “Peter was bad,” redirect to the sequence. Ask what Peter believed about himself earlier that night.

  • Scripture: John 20:1–18
    Time: 20–30 minutes

    Prompt: People are running everywhere. Let's figure out who knows what—and when.

    Short Directions: Track Mary, Peter, the other disciple, the angels, and Jesus.

    Take It to the Margin: At what point does Mary understand that she's speaking with Jesus?

    For the Grown-Up: If the movement becomes confusing, draw the tomb and use initials or small objects to represent each person.

  • Please see the following work page(s) to utilize with this section of prompts:

    R026 Build the Timeline