Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Forever Friends

1 Samuel 20:41-42


When the boy left, David came out from the south side of the rock.  He bowed facedown on the ground before Jonathan.  He did this three times.  Then David and Jonathan kissed each other.  They cried together, but David cried the most. 

Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace.  We have promised by the Lord that we will be friends.  We said, “The Lord will be a witness between you and me, and between our descendants forever.”  Then David left, and Jonathan went back to work. 

Discussion Questions

  • David and Jonathan are brothers?  True or False:  False
  • Why did they cry?  They were crying happy tears because they stayed friends.
  • Jonathan was a true friend by standing up to King Saul to keep David safe?  True or False:  True 

Prayer

Dear God,Thank you for the story of Jonathan and David.  We have learned a lot about what a true friend is from the Bible.  Please help us to always be kind to our friends.  Amen 

Bible Verse for August


“A friend loves at all times.” 
Proverbs 17:17a


Song:  The More We Get Together

The more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we'll be

The more we play together
Together, together
The more we play together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we play together 
The happier we'll be


The more we dance together
Together, together
The more we dance together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we dance together
The happier we'll be


The more we get together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
The more we get together
The hap-pi-er we'll be


Outdoor Family Fun


Take a family bike ride.  At the end of each sidewalk take turns picking which way to turn.  Your child will get exercise, practice patience while waiting his or her turn, learn left and right, and work as a team to have a family fun bike ride.

Homespun Idea


Tonight be a TEAM!!  Play a board game and praise your
children for taking turns.  When they hear you using positive
comments they will do the same!  Forever friends lift their friends
up!  Kind words go a long way!

Daily Challenge

This week we have been talking how friends are forever.   Your child has committed to one of the following challenges in a way to thank God for their friends.  Help your child weave faith into life this week and follow through on the challenge!

  • Pick a flower (from your garden) and share with your friend at school.
  • Offer to pray for a friend and then remind that friend Jesus love them!
  • Be a leader on the playground.  Invite your friend and then someone new to be included in your game.  It feels good to be included!
  • Color a picture for your neighbor or family member

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Can I Help You?

Summary of 1 Samuel 20


1: David fled from Naioth in Ramah; he came to Jonathan and said, “What have I done, what is my crime and my guilt against your father, that he seeks my life?”
13-16: [Jonathan said to David:] “But if my father intends to do you harm, may the LORD do thus to Jonathan and more if I do [not] disclose it to you and send you off to escape unharmed. May the LORD be with you, as He used to be with my father. Nor shall you fail to show me the LORD’s faithfulness, while I am alive; nor, when I am dead, shall you ever discontinue your faithfulness to my house — not even after the LORD has wiped out every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth. Thus has Jonathan covenanted with the house of David; and may the LORD requite the enemies of David!” 20-22: Now I will shoot three arrows to one side of it, as though I were shooting at a mark, and I will order the boy to go and find the arrows. If I call to the boy, ‘Hey! the arrows are on this side of you,’ be reassured and come, for you are safe and there is no danger — as the LORD lives! But if, instead, I call to the lad, ‘Hey! the arrows are beyond you,’ then leave, for the LORD has sent you away. 30-32: Saul flew into a rage against Jonathan. “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!” he shouted. “I know that you side with the son of Jesse — to your shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness! For as long as the son of Jesse lives on earth, neither you nor your kingship will be secure. Now then, have him brought to me, for he is marked for death.” But Jonathan spoke up and said to his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 41: When the boy got there, David emerged from his concealment at the Negeb. He flung himself face down on the ground and bowed low three times. They kissed each other and wept together; David wept the longer.



Discussion Questions

  • David left because he was afraid of something.  What was it? That King Saul was going to kill him.
  • How was Jonathan a good friend to David? He spoke to his father (King Saul) about not killing him and that he is an innocent man.
  • Jonathan was a good friend to David through the good times and the very scary times.  True or False:  True

Prayer


Dear God,
Thank you for teaching us what a friend is and how a true friend helps you through good and bad times. Amen


Bible Verse for August


 “A friend loves at all times.” 
Proverbs 17:17a


Outdoor Family Fun


After dinner one night take a walk and talk about what a true friend is.  For example, a good friend is someone who treats you nice at all times, they use kind words, and cheer you up when you feel sad. Then ask he or she what they can do at school tomorrow to show kindness to a friend.


Homespun Idea


Build a tent with your child(ren).  Come up with a plan together on how it will look.  Will you use the table and chairs with blankets?   Will use chairs, couch, and blankets?  Encourage discussion  about how you are working together and considering other people’s opinions.   True friends are a team!

Daily Challenge

This week we have been talking about how friends care for each other and help each other.   He or she committed to one of the following challenges to thank God for their friends.  Help your child weave faith into life this week and follow through on the challenge!

  • Offer to do a brother or sister’s chores.
  • Invite a friend over and let the friend pick the first game they will play.
  • Find a book about helping in your house, or ask a parent to take you to the library.  Thank God for making friends.
  • Offer to walk the neighbor’s dog.




Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Friends Share

1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-6



Chapter 18: 1-4
When David finished talking with Saul, Jonathan felt very close to David.  He loved David as much as he loved himself.  Saul kept David with him from that day on.  He did not let David go home to his father’s house.  Jonathan made an agreement with David.  He did this because he loved David as much as himself.  He took off his coat and gave it to David.  He also gave David his uniform, including his sword, bow and belt.

Chapter 19 : 1-6
Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan cared very much for David.  So he warned David, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you.  Watch out in the morning.  Hide in a secret place.  I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are hiding.  I’ll talk to him about you.  Then I’ll let you know what I find out.”

Jonathan talked to Saul his father.  He said good things about David.  Jonathan said, “You are the king.  Don’t do wrong to your servant David.  He did nothing wrong to you.  What he did has helped you greatly.  David risked his life when he killed Goliath the Philistine.  The Lord won a great victory for all Israel.  You saw it, and you were happy.  Why would you do wrong against David?  He’s innocent.  There’s no reason to kill him!”

Saul listened to Jonathan.  Then he made this promise:  “As surely as the Lord lives, David won’t be put to death.”

Discussion Questions


  • Who was Jonathan’s friend? David
  • Who was Jonathan’s father?  King Saul
  • What did King Saul want to do to David? He wanted to kill David
  • This made Jonathan very sad.  What did Jonathan do to help his friend? He talked to his father telling him David did nothing wrong and please don’t kill him.
  • Did King Saul listen to Jonathan?  Yes



Prayer

Dear God,
Thank you teaching us about the friendship between David and Jonathan.  Please help us to love our friends at all times. Amen

Bible Verse for August


“A friend loves at all times.” 
Proverbs 17:17a

Outdoor Family Fun


Take a walk to a local park.  On the way to the park talk about what a friend is, how to treat a friend, and how to introduce yourself to a new friend.  When you arrive at the park help your child to include other children and to take turns on the playground equipment.  

Homespun Idea


Help your child color a picture or write a letter to a friend.  Then mail the picture or letter to the friend’s home.  Discuss how it is important to be kind to our friends and do nice things for them.  Explain how excited their friend will be when they open their special piece of mail. 

Daily Challenge

This week your child learned that a friend loves at all times.   He or she committed to one of the following challenges to thank God for their friends.  Help your child weave faith into life this week and follow through on the challenge!

  • Encourage your child to give one compliment to a friend each day.
  • He or she will share toys with a friend and will let their friend have the first turn.
  • Find a book about friendship in your house, or ask a parent to take you to the library.  Thank God for making friends.
  • Invite a friend to church.