Teaching Time

Make one copy of each sign in color or black and white.

Tape a sign to the back of each of the two chairs.

Tape a line, several feet long on the floor leaving lots of space on both sides of it.

Place the King Saul chair on one side of the end of the line.

Place the Jonathan chair on the opposite side of the same end of the line.

The two signs should now be facing the line on either side of it.

Have children stand in a single row on the tape and facing the signs. Make sure children have space in front and behind.

Read the following true and untrue statements. Add your own statements as desired. Children decide if each statement is true or untrue. Each child then moves to the King Saul side of the tape for untrue statements or to the Jonathan side of the tape for true statements. Have a quick talk about each statement, especially Bible truths, so children know the truth.

For untrue statements, ask children to make a statement that is true. For example, if Jonathan didn’t give David a spear as a gift, what gifts did he give him? (Bow, sword, tunic, robe, belt).

If two true or untrue statements are read in a row, children can move back and forth from one side and return back to the side where they were standing. Do as many statements as time permits.

True statements are bold text.

We watched the Bible story about Jonathan and David, now let’s see what you remember.

At the beginning of today’s Bible story, Jonathan was king. Children choose a side.

Saul was king.

Jonathan was King Saul’s son. Children choose a side.

David played the drums for King Saul to cheer him up when he was sad. Children choose a side.

David played the kinnor or harp.

Jonathan and David became were friends. Children choose a side.

Jonathan gave a spear as a gift to David. Children choose a side.

Jonathan gave David a bow, belt, tunic, robe and sword.

King Saul was so jealous of David that he threw his spear at him. Children choose a side.

Jonathan was not angry at David or jealous of him, because he believed God chose David to be king instead of him. Children choose a side.

Jonathan would not help David escape from King Saul. Children choose a side.

Jonathan helped David and protected him from King Saul.

Jonathan and David promised to always be friends. Children choose a side.

David never became king because King Saul would not let him. Children choose a side.

David did become king.

After David became king, he kept his promise to take care of Jonathan’s family. Children choose a side.

Jesus is your friend, and He is the best friend you could have. Children choose a side.

Wow, you remembered a lot from today’s Bible story! Jonathan and David show us what it means to be a good friend. But you have an even better friend, and His name is Jesus. He loves you, forgives you, protects you, and saves you from your sins. He will never leave you and He always hears your prayers! With Jesus as your friend, you are never alone.

Optional Object lesson

Choose a volunteer to be Jonathan and another child to be David.

Raise your hand if you have ever been waiting in line and someone cut in front of you? Children respond.

Maybe you were next in line to ride a ride at the fair or amusement park, or to play a game, or buy popcorn or a drink at the movie theater and someone stepped in front of you. How did it make you feel? Angry, disappointed, cheated.

Have the Jonathan volunteer stand beside you and face the class.

Let’s say this is Jonathan. Jonathan is King Saul’s son, so he is next in line to be king.

But then there is a change of plans. Have David stand directly in front of Jonathan and face the class.

David appears and God chooses him to be king instead of Jonathan!

That is like when someone cuts in front of you, isn’t it?

If you were Jonathan, how could you have felt? Hurt, sad, disappointed, jealous, angry.

King Saul was angry because his son was supposed to be the next king, that’s how it is supposed to work!

But Jonathan wasn’t angry or jealous, why? Because he loved David and knew God had chosen David to be king.

Have Jonathan stand beside David. Yes, Jonathan loved God and David, and he chose to follow God’s plan and support David. Instead of it destroying their friendship, their friendship became even stronger!