This weekend the children hear about the friendship between David and Jonathan. They were also taught how to encourage one another.

Friends forever that is what David and Jonathan swore to be. Most children have made a similar pledge at one time or other. David and Jonathan were of the same heart, brought together by their love for God. David and Jonathan believed that a king of God’s people should seek to do God’s will. That is why when king Saul’s heart ceased to seek after God, Jonathan, Saul’s own son, was willing to support his friend David. Jonathan’s father was obsessed with remaining king at any cost and sinned against God. When Jonathan saw that his father was even willing to kill David, Jonathan realized his loyalty had to be with his friend. The two friends swore their allegiance to one.

As we learned more about this account we see that Jonathan riked everything he had to protect David. He did what was right in the eyes of God when he put his love for God and his love for David above his own safety and concerns. This lesson teaches the kids that in all circumstances of life they can learn that when they choose to love instead of hate, the love of God brings them closer to people in ways that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

This week as you interact with your children ask them how far they would go for a friend, and teach them what the limits of friendship should be. Teach them that there are times when they can go along with what a friend wants to do and that there are also times when they must refuse to go along. And most important talk to them about the best friend they will ever have and that is Jesus.

“The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever”. 1Samuel 20:42

This weekend the kids explored the biblical account of Ruth. We also showed them the place that Ruth has in the lineage of Jesus. We then had them think about the meaning of true friendship. We discussed how the church is like a family.

When the book of Ruth opens, it tells us that everything has gone wrong. There is a famine in Bethlehem that forced Elimelech and his wife Naomi along with their sons to move to Moab in order to survive. While they were in Moab, Elimelech died and the sons married Moabite wives, but the tragedies didn’t stop there. Naomi’s two sons also died leaving her and her daughters in law alone. As the story goes along we can see that the main theme is one of true friendship. Because Ruth sticks with Naomi, she meets and marries Boaz, creating a new family of which Naomi is a part. Ruth and Boaz have a baby named Obed who later became the grandfather of David, from whose lineage will much later come Mary, the mother of Jesus. As you can see this story provides a good opportunity to talk about ways families care for one another and also how the church family can support one another and care for those in need.

“The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever”. 1Samuel 20:42