~ THE ZION 7 REPORT. * II Samuel 15:1-17:23 "TIIE. LGYAL WGRD. T,.i ~PG"iff SKIT SUGGESTED MUSIC POWER-PACKED POPPET SKIT THE ~OOK OF ~OOKS

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1 Proverbs 17:17 Proverbs 18:24 Proverbs 18:6 I Samuel * II Samuel 15:1-17:23 Loyalty in friendship is a quality to be admired. T,.i ~PG"iff WGRD "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 ~~ ICE-~REAKER With Fast Freddie "TIIE. LGYAL F~Xi.tfD" SKIT SUGGESTED MUSIC Song Service 5 F-A-I-T-H With My Whole Heart The Name Of The Lord Jesus, Lord To Me POWER-PACKED POPPET SKIT "Stick Together" Friendship ought to be based on principle and not on convenience. Jonathan saw that David was a man of faith and courage. He admired those qualities in David and became his friend. Later on, Jonathan's father, Saul, became jealous of David and set out to kill him. Though Saul was the king and he was the most powerful man in Israel, Jonathan did not betray David to his father. This remarkable story is an illustration of true friendship. This friendship was based on principle and it stood the test of jealousy and envy. This kind of friendship is honored by God and is to be admired. ~~ THE ~OOK OF ~OOKS "The Best Of The Worst" ILLUSTRATED SERMON "Jonathan And Ahithophel" ROVERCOMER, THE FAITH DOG "True Friends" ADVENTURES "Standing Together" IN FAffH ~ THE ZION 7 REPORT.. 0 7l. "Closer Than A Brother" REVIEW GAME "Jeopardy" Volume 4 Lesson 5

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3 ~\BiBlE ~ rllu~t~at'd ~'~MO" ~ '~ONATHAN AND AHITHOPHEL" SCRIPTURE TO STUDY: oproverbs 17:17 0 Proverbs 18:24 0 Proverbs 27:6 01 Samuel oil Samuel 15:1-17:23 NEEDED: A can opener, two cans of peaches and a can of dog food the same size, two bowls, two spoons, and glue O~JKTS HOW TO PREPARE: Carefully remove the labels from the dog food can and one can of peaches. Then, re-glue the peach label around the dog food can. Place all of the objects in your pulpit for the lesson. MESSAGE: I. Jonathan was a good friend to David. A. Jonathan was the son of King Saul and was heir to the throne of Israel. 1. King Saul was a wicked man and had turned away from God. 2. Jonathan honored God even though his father had become evil. B. When David killed the giant, Goliath, all the people of Israel loved him and sang songs about him. 1. King Saul became insanely jealous of David and wanted to kill him. 2. Everyone knew that God wanted David to be the next king of Israel. C. Jonathan wanted to be David's friend even though his father hated David. 1. Jonathan admired David for his faith and courage. 2. Jonathan risked his father's anger to befriend David. D. Jonathan knew that David would be the king instead of him. 1. Jonathan was unselfish. 2. He was a true and loyal friend. E. Some people are outwardly friendly but are not true and honest on the inside. (Take the can ofpeaches and hold it up.) 1. This label says that there are peaches in the can, but let's look inside. (Open the can.) 2. This is a true label because what is on the outside is also on the inside. (Pour the peaches into a bowl and let a child eat one or two to demonstrate the sweetness of good friendship.) II. Ahithophel was also a good friend to David. (Hold up the dog food can with the peach label.) A. Ahithophel gave wise counsel to King David. 1. It was said that Ahithophel's counsel was as the counsel of God. 2. David and Ahithophel had many good times together. Volume 4 7 Lesson 5

4 B. When Absalom, David's son, tried to overthrow the kingdom, Ahithophel ran to help him. 1. Ahithophel was angry at David for a sin that David committed. 2. God had forgiven David but, Ahithophel had not. C. Ahithophel tried to help Absalom kill David. 1. Ahithophel was not a true friend of David because of his bitterness. 2. He was filled with poison though he seemed to be a good man. (Ask for a volunteer to come forward to eat the "Ahithophel" can of peaches. Give the volunteer a bowl and spoon. Open the can and reveal the dog food. Needless to say, the volunteer won't want to eat the dog food.) III. We should choose our friends because of what is inside them. A. Choose a friend who believes in doing right. B. Choose a friend who is loyal and trustworthy. C. Choose a friend who will tell you the truth even when you are wrong. Volume 4 8 Lesson 5,

5 Host: Host: Host: Host: ~ Host: Host: Host: Host: Host: Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you brought your Bibles with you today? Hold them up in the air and let me see those Bibles. Now open those Bibles to Proverbs 18:24. Today we're talking about loyalty in friendship. Did you know there are bad friends as well as good friends? A good friend is a loyal friend-one who will stand by you when the going gets tough. Say this verse after me. (Repeat memory verse several times.) Hey, Teach. Do you want me to take care of that guy who's bothering you? What guy? There's nobody bothering me. Sure, there is. I heard you telling the kids about your friend that wouldn't leave you alone. Something about, "He follows you around real close." Freddie, I was teaching the boys and girls today's memory verse. It's found in Proverbs 18:24. It says, "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." That's talking about loyalty. Wow. Do you have a friend that's royalty? What is he-a prince? I didn't say royalty. I said loyalty. Loyalty is a choice to be faithful-no matter what. God wants us to be loyal friends. Like Jesus! That's right. We need to be loyal friends to others like Jesus is to us. I want to learn this verse so I can say it really fast. Let's all say it together. Ready, class? (Lead in repeating memory verse.) That's a great verse. It's almost as wonderful as I am. I'm the world's fastest memory-versesaying puppet. Want to hear? (Before a response can be given, he says the memory verse really fast.) That was really fast. I know. I'm the greatest. Anyone want to race? (Choose several kids to race Fast Freddie, allowing him to beat all but the last one.) Woe is me. Woe is me. Woe is me. It's horrible. It's terrible. It's awful. I can't believe it. I can. These kids are good. Kids, let's say good-bye to Freddie. Good-bye, kids. So long. (exits) Volume 4 1 Lesson 5

6 CHARACTERS: Billy, Faith Man, Negatron, Toby sane I: TO~Y'S ~E1~ROOM (Toby has a towel laid across the back of his neck.) (Billy enters.) It's time to go take care of Mr. Brown's lawn again and it's going to be a hot one today. Hey, Toby. What's wrong with your neck? Nothing's wrong with it. This is my sweat towel. I use it when I'm doing yard work. You have to do yard work now? I take care of Mr. Brown's lawn every summer. You take care of that yard? It's the biggest one there is around here. Believe me, I know. How long does it take you to get everything finished? About three hours. But Mr. Brown pays me really well. (disappointed) Three hours? I wanted you to go to the water park with me. My dad got some free passes from work. This would be a great day for it, too. Could you wait until after I'm done with Mr. Brown's yard? I've got a better idea. Why don't I help you and it'll get done twice as fast? Are you sure you want to do that? Sure, I'm sure. That would be great! Do you have an extra one of those sweat towels? You bet! I've got one that's never been washed. Gross! I'm only kidding. Come on. Let's go. SCENE Z: OUTSIDE (The sound ofa lawn mower stops. Billy and Toby have towels around their necks.) Whew! I never knew someone's yard could be so big. I've never been done it this fast before. Thanks for your help, Billy. That's what friends are for. Volume 4 3 Lesson 5

7 I'm ready for the water park now. Me, too. We've got just enough time to go home and change and still get there right when it opens. Okay. I'll meet you over at your house. I'm going to go settle up with Mr. Brown. I'll see you in a little bit. Thanks again, Billy. You're a real pal. SCENE 3: ~llly's ~EDROOM (Billy is getting his things together for the water park.) Let's see. I need to bring a towel to dry off with. (The telephone rings and Billy picks it up.) (Negatron enters.) Negatron: Negatron: Negatron: Negatron: Hey, Toby, where are you? (pause) What are you still doing at Mr. Brown's? (pause) There was some damage done to his flower garden and you have to stay until it's fixed? (pause) You may not have a job anymore? (pause) Okay. Bye. Mr. Brown is really upset with Toby. I do remember getting a little close to that flower garden with the weed-eater. I think this is my fault. Let's not draw hasty conclusions here. After all, Toby did run the mower by that flower garden. I know Toby ran the mower by the flower garden, but there's no way the mower could get into it. It had to be me with the weed-eater. Well, now, no one else would have to know that, would they? If I keep quiet about this, I won't get into trouble. But Toby would take the wrap for it and lose his job. He can't complain. You helped him do the yard work for free. He can find another job. I suppose he could find another job, but what kind of friend would that make me? The best kind-the kind who covers for himself first. The scripture says... (Billy disappears and emerges as Faith Man.) Faith Man: Negatron: Faith Man: Negatron: Faith Man: Negatron: Faith Man: "There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother!" Not so loud! That hurts my ears. You have no character about you whatsoever, Negatron. Oh, I don't know. Shady, deceitful, selfish. Those are all qualities to be admired in a person. Only if someone wants to be like you. Loyalty in friendship is a godly quality. I'm not going to let Toby down. Fine. Be a hero. See if I care. In the Name of... Negatron: You don't have to do that. I'm going. (exits) (Faith Man turns back into Billy.) I'm going over to Mr. Brown's house right now and set the record straight on this. SCENE 4: TO~Y'S ~EDROOM (Billy and Toby are talking about what happened.) -Volume 4 4 Lesson 5

8 I never expected you to come back to Mr. Brown's, Billy. I couldn't let you take the blame for my mistake. Mr. Brown told me I wouldn't be working for him anymore after today. But after you told him what happened, he changed his mind. Thanks for coming back, Billy. Real friends stick together. And they go to water parks together. Exactly. Get your stuff and let's go! Volume 4 5 Lesson 5

9 (Rovercomer enters the classroom.) Do you have a story for us today, Rovercomer? Well, go ahead and tell it in dog language and I'll interpret. (barks, howling) One day as he was walking down the street, Rovercomer heard a howling sound in the distance. He ran about a block and found his friend, Bingo, laying in the street! Bingo had been hit by a car and couldn't get up. Rovercomer said, "Don't worry, Bingo. I'll help you." (barks, acts as if picking a dog up) So Rovercomer picked him up and carried him three blocks. (to Rovercomer) My, thafs a long way, Rovercomer. He said, "Yes, it was, but I had to help Bingo because he was hurting." Then Rovercomer called the veterinarian and he came to look at Bingo. The vet said Bingo had a fractured foot and a broken hip, and he couldn't be moved for three weeks. So Rovercomer told the vet, "He can stay here and I'll take care of him." (to Rovercomer) Thafs a very nice thing to do, Rovercomer. I'm sure that was a lot of work. He said he had to change his bandages and share his food with Bingo. It was a lot of work and it took up all Rovercomer's time. But he was glad to do it because Bingo was his friend. He says about seven months later, long after Bingo had gotten better and gone home, Rovercomer was walking down the sidewalk. Volume 4 9 Lesson 5

10 He looked up and here came the dogcatcher. Rovercomer says he wasn't worried, because he always wore his license on his collar. He reached up on his neck to touch his collar, but he discovered his license was gone! That dogcatcher stopped his truck and said, "Well, it looks like you don't have a dog license." Rovercomer tried to explain that it must have fallen off, but this dogcatcher didn't understand dog language. (barks, like a wicked laugh) So he threw Rovercomer in his truck and, with a wicked laugh, he drove away to the dog pound. The dogcatcher put him in a pen and said, "If nobody claims you in three days, we'll put you to sleep. Ha, ha, hal" Rovercomer didn't know what to do! The only thing he knew to do was pray! He believed God that his master would miss him or that maybe someone would rescue him. He waited three days, but nobody had come. The dogcatcher came by his pen and said, "Sorry there, Puppy Dog, but if nobody comes to claim you by 1:00 p.m., irs sleepy time for you. Ha, ha, hal" He says that was a wicked dogcatcher! Rovercomer says time passed until it was 12:55. He said the dogcatcher was coming to get him when he heard a dog barking. The bark sounded familiar. It was his old buddy, Bingo! Volume 4 10 Lesson 5

11 He had found Rovercomer's dog license laying on the street and figured out that he was in the pound. He gave that wicked dogcatcher his license and a dog tag with Rovercomer's master's phone number on it. The dogcatcher said, 'Well, this is too bad, but it looks like we'll have to let you go!" The dogcatcher phoned his master, and he came and picked Rovercomer up. Rovercomer told Bingo, "Bingo, you saved my life!" Bingo said, "After what you did for me, it was the least I could do!" Rovercomer said, "Bingo, you are a true friend. Thank you so much." (to Rovercomer) That's a good story. Bye, Rovercomer. Volume 4 11 Lesson 5

12 "Lord, You said the footsteps ofa righteous man are ordered ofthe Lord. I'm believing You to direct me to the right building and to give me wisdom in making the purchase. " Pastor Matthew was praying in his car as he drove around the area where the International Outreach Center was located. The building the church was in was fast becoming too small to hold the people who were coming and to house the many outreach programs they had started. After getting some advice from his dad and praying about it as a church staff, the decision had been made to look for something bigger. "Dream big, Matthew," were the words ofhis father. "God wants to use you to do a great work in L.A. Don't limit God. "., Pastor Matthew knew God wanted him to stay in the same part of the city, so he was searching the area for a building that would work for them. As he drove up a hill, he came to a huge, abandoned warehouse. The Holy Spirit spoke to Pastor Matthew's heart. "This is your building." Pastor Matthew stopped his car and got out to look around. On one side of the building was a large parking lot, and behind it was a good-sized piece of property. Going around the building, Pastor Matthew found a door that was unlocked and he went inside. There were a large number of offices, a conference room, and enough floor space to be divided up for whatever was needed. He could see the possibilities. "Lord," prayed Pastor Matthew, "this is a whole lot bigger than I am. You know we don't have the money to do this. You're going to have to show me how to get this done. " "But Pastor Matthew," said Brother Julio, "how are we going to pay for this?" "This was God's idea, not mine," said Pastor Matthew. "He has a way to pay for it. We'll just have to find it. " Back in his office later that day, Pastor Matthew called his dad. "They want a million dollars for the property, Dad. They'll take fifty-thousand dollars down and carry the rest for one year. What do you think about that?" "I can raise the down payment out ofmy church," said Pastor Bennett. "But how williraise the rest, Dad? The people we're reaching here don't have hardly anything." "We've got friends, Matthew," said Pastor Bennett. "When they hear about the great vision to reach the inner city of L.A. and the need you have, they'll respond. They'll want to help. But listen. Don't sign a contract without a contingency that the property can be zoned and used for a church. Get your plans together and take it before the city planning commission and zoning board to make sure they approve. You don't want to buy a building you can't use. " Pastor Matthew heeded his dad's wisdom and prepared for the next city meeting. What he didn't prepare for was the opposition he would face there. Lawrence Stapleton, a very influential businessman in L.A., opposed the use of the property for a church. He carried enough weight to get the board to put off a decision until the next meeting which was four weeks away. Pastor Matthew knew it was the devil trying to stop them from moving forward, so he made the whole situation a matter of earnest prayer. Pastor Matthew went back to the church and got his staff together to come and look at the property. Everyone got excited over the potential there. Volume 4 13 Lesson 5

13 Two weeks later, Brother Julio received a curious invitation to lunch at a very expensive restaurant. When he gave his name at the reception desk, he was ushered to a private table. He was surprised to find Lawrence Stapleton seated there. "Please, sit down," said Mr. Stapleton. Brother Julio sat down cautiously. "I suppose you're wondering why I arranged this little get-together," Mr. Stapleton continued. "How long have you worked for Pastor Matthew Bennett?" "About one year," said Brother Julio. Five-thousand dollars was the most money Brother Julio had ever seen at one time in his life, and he knew he would never come close to the job salary that was offered-at least not for several years. Brother Julio stood to his feet and looked Mr. Stapleton right in the eyes. "Pastor Matthew believed in me when no one else would," said Brother Julio. "Even when I've made mistakes, he's stood by me and continued to teach me. I would never betray him. " Brother Julio pushed the envelope back across the table. "Keep your money and your job, Mr. Stapleton. "And you head up his children's ministries and outreaches?" "Yes," answered Brother Julio. "Something like that can't pay that well," said Mr. Stapleton, matter-of1actly. "The money isn't my main reason for doing what I do," responded Brother Julio. We're going to build the kingdom ofgod." Brother Julio left the restaurant and went back to the church. At the next city planning meeting, Pastor Matthew's plans were passed with flying colors. The International Outreach center had a new home. "Oh, come now," said Mr. Stapleton. "Everyone could use a little more money----<jr perhaps, a lot more money. II Mr. Stapleton pushed an envelope across the table. "Go ahead. Open it," he said. Brother Julio opened the envelope and found five onethousand-dollar bills. "That can be yours today," said Mr. Stapleton, "along with a guaranteed position in one ofmy companies starting out at a salary offorty-thousand dollars a year. " "What do you want from me in return?" asked Brother Julio. "Just a little help," said Mr. Stapleton. "I've found out that the city planning commission is going to let your pastor go through with his plans to turn that old warehouse into a church-unless someone from within his organization voices some opposition against it. " "And you want me to be that someone," said Brother Julio. "Exactly," said Mr. Stapleton. "All you have to do is get up at the next city meeting and disagree with your pastor. What do you say?" Volume 4 14 Lesson 5

14 MATERIALS NEEDED: Jeopardy theme music, separate envelopes with each review question inside and the answer written on the outside \-low TO PLAY TI-lE GAME: 1. Play the Jeopardy theme music while you choose two children, one from each side of the room. 2. Select an envelope and tell the children the answer to the review question. 3. The first child to raise his hand and tell you the correct or similar question receives 50,000 points for their team. 4. If the first child misses, the second child gets a chance. If both children give an incorrect question, choose two new contestants to come forward and remember to play the theme music every time children are walking to the front of the classroom. 5. The team with the most points after all answers have been given wins. REVIEW QUESTIONS: 1. Who was the heir to the throne of Israel after King Saul? 2. Even though King Saul became evil, whom did Jonathan honor-god or his father? 3. Why was Saul jealous of David? 4. Who did God want to become the King after Saul? 5. What did Jonathan risk by befriending David? 6. Is a true and loyal friend selfish? 7. If someone is friendly on the outside, does that mean they are loyal on the inside? 8. What kind of counsel did Ahithophel give King David? 9. What did Ahithophel do to show he wasn't really loyal to King David? 10. What are three things we should look for in a good friend? Volume 4 15 Lesson 5