Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands the previous two lessons about David and Jonathan. Jonathan was in a difficult spot because his best friend was David, and his father was King Saul. King Saul was so jealous of David that he plotted to kill him! In the end, Jonathan remained loyal to his friendship with David, and God’s plan to crown David king prevailed. Children will learn that it’s important to work on their friendships—especially in difficult times.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation.

Friendship

Optional Opening Game

Form teams of two children.

The first team stands facing each other in an open area of the room free from chairs, tables, etc., with about 6 feet between the players. Give one player a balloon.

The players take turns hitting the balloon between them with one or two hands as many times as they can without the balloon touching the floor.

Consider giving each team a few practice hits to begin.

Have the other children count the hits aloud and encourage the players as the teams play.

When the balloon touches the floor, play stops.

The next team takes a turn. Continue until all teams have taken a turn.

Play a second round and form teams with different children. Repeat as time permits with different distances and teams.

Note: If players have difficulty hitting the balloon, they may catch it first and then hit it.

Good job, everyone! It's fun to play and work together with different people as we try new things. This helps us to meet others and learn about them so we can make new friends.

Video Lesson

Today, we will learn about friendships.

It’s time to watch our Bible story about a friendship between two young men named David and Jonathan. These friends shared a love and trust for God and each other, even in difficult times. When God is a part of our friendships, they can last forever! Let’s watch the video to learn more about these forever friends.

Play Video (Bible Story)

David and Jonathan

Teaching Time

Select a child to open one folder in order (1–7). Point out the correct folder as necessary.

Have the child hold up the image for all to see as you tell the story.

Optional: When each image is shown, ask the child or others what the image is and how the image relates to the story.

Tell the Bible story slowly using the bullets provided. Add interest to the story by varying facial expression, voice, and volume level and engaging the children in questions and responses.

● Folder #1. There were two men named David and Jonathan. They became friends—actually more than just friends: best friends! In fact, they stuck together like peanut butter and jelly!

● Point to image. Have you ever tried to pull a sandwich like this apart? Good luck!

● Folder #2. The Bible tells us that Jonathan loved David like himself (1 Samuel 18:3). Jonathan and David made a promise to always stay friends no matter what happened; good or bad! Can anyone remember what gifts Jonathan gave David as a sign of his friendship? His sword, belt, robe, and bow.

● Folder #3. David served King Saul, who sat on a throne and ruled God’s people, the Israelites. Whenever the king commanded, David went to battle to fight the enemies of God’s people.

● Folder #4. Saul had a son. Do you know his name? Jonathan.

● Yes, and who was Jonathan’s best friend? David!

● Since Jonathan was King Saul’s son, he was actually a prince and next in line to be the king after Saul! That was a problem because God had chosen someone else to be king. Do you remember who? David!

● How did King Saul feel about the thought of David being king instead of his son? Angry, jealous, mad.

● Was Jonathan angry and jealous like his father? No.

● How did Jonathan feel about David? He loved him.

● Jonathan chose to follow God’s plan and was happy for his best friend David.

● Folder #5. When King Saul was sad, what did David do to cheer him up? David played the harp to help King Saul feel better.

● But did that always stop King Saul from being jealous and thinking about how David would be king? No.

● Folder #6. One day as David played his harp for King Saul, what did the king do? He became so angry that he threw his spear at David!

● What did David do? He quickly jumped out of the way, and the spear missed him!

● David feared for his life. Could he stay safe around King Saul? No!

● So, David told Jonathan how King Saul tried to kill him. At first, Jonathan couldn’t believe it. But then what did Jonathan decide? To believe David.

● Jonathan knew he must trust David because best friends tell each other the truth!

● Folder #7. What else did Jonathan do? He protected David.

● Jonathan promised to help David escape from King Saul and to always be his friend—even when something as bad as this happened!

● What did David promise Jonathan? When he became king, he would always take care of Jonathan’s family.

● David hid and ran from Saul for many years.

● Hold up Bible Story Card #3 and #4. What do you think happened to David after many years of hiding from King Saul? He wore a crown and sat on the throne. He became king.

● David did become king, just like God planned!

● Did David remember his promise to Jonathan? Yes, when David became king, he took care of Jonathan’s family.

The Bible story of David and Jonathan shows us what a true friendship looks like. As great as their friendship was, we can have an even better one with Jesus! He is a perfect friend who forgives us and loves us forever. He will never leave us or let us down!

Optional Review Questions

Who were the best friends in our story? Jonathan and David.

Name something Jonathan gave to David as a sign of their friendship and promise. His sword, belt, robe, or bow.

Did David often play the harp for Jonathan? No, he played for King Saul.

What did King Saul throw at David? His spear.

Was it wrong for David to become king instead of Jonathan? No, God chose David.

Object to GO!

Hold up the gold medal or image and lead a short discussion:

● Raise your hand if you have ever seen something like this. Children respond.

● Where did you see it? The Olympics on TV, movie, track meet.

● Have you or a friend or a family member ever won a medal or an award? What was it for? Children respond.

● In today’s video, the robots are running as fast as they can, practicing for a race to win a medal. Who do you think is the fastest? Gears, Gizmo, Rig, or Widget? Children guess.

● Good guesses! Let’s watch the video to find out who is the fastest robot!

Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.

Today, we are going to visit the robots, who are competing against each other as they practice for a race. The only problem is, one robot is so fast, the others can’t keep up!

Play Video (Gizmo Goes for the Gold)

Gizmo Goes For Gold

Optional discussion following the video. 

● What event were the robots practicing for? The (Robo) Olympics.

● Who is the only robot who had feet so he could run? Rig.

● Who always won the races when the robots practiced? Gizmo.

● How did that make the other robots feel? They felt sad and sorry for themselves, and they wanted to give up.

● What helped Gizmo win every race? His rocket boosters.

● In the song, what did Miss Tina tell the robots to do about how they felt? Listen and talk it out with Gizmo; share their feelings.

● Have you ever been upset with or disagreed with a friend? If so, what did you do to solve the problem? Children respond.

● Instead of being upset, what should we do when a friend wins or is happy about something and rejoices? Rejoice with them; be happy for them.

Verse to GO!

Proverbs 17:17: (NIV)

Stand facing the children and lead them in repeating phrases and imitating the motions.

Today we are going to learn the memory verse Proverbs 17:17 in the Bible.

In the two lessons before, we learned the verse in two parts. Today we will put the two parts together! If you missed the other two lessons, no worries. We will learn the same words and motions again! Are you ready? Children respond.

Let’s begin with the first part of the verse:

“A friend loves at all times.”

Let’s say it together. “A friend loves at all times.”

Now, say the verse slowly and demonstrate the motions for the children to repeat.

A friend… Have children do a “high five” with the person next to them. You can do a high five with the child at one end.

Loves… Form a heart with fingers of both hands.

At all times… Point to an imaginary wristwatch and circle it with your index finger.

Repeat slowly one more time, then add the second part of the verse with motions as described below to do the entire verse.

Great! Now let’s add the second part of the verse:

A brother is born… Hold arms in front of you to cradle a baby.

For a time of adversity… Place hands on cheeks and open mouth wide to show surprise or shock.

Who remembers what adversity means? Hard times, difficulties.

Repeat that section two times.

Now, put the two parts together and repeat them twice.

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse. They may simply repeat it with you.

Be sure that children understand that in this verse, a brother means a family member. God made families to stick together and support each other.

"Adversity" means troubles or problems we will face that can surprise us.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson with a simple prayer to encourage the children to look for ways to work out problems in a friendship to make it stronger.

For example: Dear Jesus, thank You for making us all unique and special with different abilities and strengths. Help us not to be jealous of each other, but to be kind and patient with our friends as we work out any problems and differences we may face. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

The lyrics and chords for this song are found in Resources.

Create your own motions or use the suggested motions as seen in the Quantum Karaoke “Friendship” under Resources or under “Extras! in the DVD main menu.

Play the video song “Friendship” for your students.

Friendship

Encourage the children to dance and move to the music.

Optional: lead children in saying and doing actions to specific parts of the song below:

Verse 1

Line three: hold fingers up and shout, “One, two, three!”

Line four: hug self when at “friendly hug.”

Line four: cover your eyes at “and hide-and-go-seek!”

Verse 2

Line two: point to sky and shout, “Firmament!”

Line three: hold arms up and make big muscles at “stronger than cement.”

Chorus 1

Line three: sing, “Oh, oh, oh, oh.” (x3)

Verse 3

Line two: shout, “Your very self”

Chorus 2

Line four: sing, "Love, love, love, God’s love. Love, love, love, God’s love."

Verse 4

Lines two and four: hold palms together at “prayer.”

Note: if you don’t wish to use this song, you can substitute the extra video, “Tea for Two,” under Additional Resources.

Take-Home Coloring Page

As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below:

● Who is sitting on the throne in the picture you are coloring? David.

● Did King Saul choose David to be king after him? No, God did.

● Who did Saul want to be king? Jonathan, his son.

● What does a king wear on his head? A crown.

● Who tried to hurt David? King Saul.

● What promise did David make to Jonathan that he kept after he became king? David promised to take care of Jonathan’s family.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! CASE OF THE MISSING PROTONATRON/FRIENDSHIP trading card, one per child, available for purchase under Products. (The other two cards in the set were to be handed out to the children in Lessons 1 and 2.)

Video Option

If time permits, play one additional short video for the class:

Tea for Two

After the video, ask the following discussion questions:

● Who was having a tea party? Widget.

● Who did Widget invite to her tea party? Rig.

● Where was Widget having her party? In her treehouse teahouse.

● What problem did the two friends have that they needed to work out? Rig was too big to fit in the treehouse.

● What had Widget never thought about before? How different she and Rig were.

● In his song, what did Rig say that differences did for friendships? They made them stronger.

● What was Rig’s idea that solved their tea party problem? Rig used a remote-control figure of himself that fit in the treehouse (and wore virtual reality goggles).

Rig said that the cool thing about Widget and his friendship is that they each could do things the other couldn’t do. God made everyone different and special, with different abilities and strengths to share with one another. Friendship is sharing life with someone you like and trust.