UNIT 1. GOD S PROMISES / PRESCHOOL SESSION 2 - DAVID AND JONATHAN BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Samuel 14:49; 18:1-4; 20 LIFE POINT: People should love one another and Jesus. CHRIST FOCUS: Jesus is God s gift of love for us. BIBLE VERSE: Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (Paraphrase) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (HCSB) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (KJV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (NIV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (ESV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (NKJV) Production Notes p From simple to involved, you can tailor Worship for Life to your kids and leaders: Short on supplies and leaders? For an easy prep, enlist a host, a music leader, and prepare the Connection Point game. Then show the videos for the worship songs and other segments. Do you have musicians who would like to lead worship songs? Check out the lead sheets on the DVD-ROM or substitute your songs! v This symbol denotes that the segment or song is available on video. h This symbol indicates props that will be needed for today s session. 1
Schedule and Props v This symbol indicates that a video is provided on the DVD-ROM. p This symbol indicates that the activity is host or leader-led no video for this activity. Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: beanbag, David and Jonathan Coloring Sheet (DVD-ROM), crayons or washable markers Intro v Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: headset (doesn t have to work; hide end of cord in pocket), photos of friends (or photos of friends on smartphone) Song v Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Set-up, v Host Briana and Friends Video 2 minutes People: Host p Closing 2 minutes People: Host and Welcome v Countdown 1-5 minutes People: Host Props: none Song v Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Outro v Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: headset off ears and around neck Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: alphabet beads; clear, empty water or soda bottle; uncooked rice, tape Point Game p Connection 5-10 minutes People: Host, everyone Props: large heart shapes cut from heavyweight paper (1 for every 5 to 6 kids), tape, upbeat music Story v Bible 5-6 minutes People: Storyteller, 3 boys Props: Bible, scissors, marker, tape 2
t TECH Video and/or audio capabilities Microphones for singers Lights (optional) Optional sound effects available (see sound effects file) m music He Keeps His Promises His Name Is Jesus J-E-S-U-S Your Promises Are True God Helps People God s Promises Need help planning your session? Additional training for Worship for Life: Kids is available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. 3
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) Huddle ups are for churches that have a drop-off time before the session begins. There are multiple ideas for interaction during this time, such as simple games that children can play on the floor or within whatever arrangements you gather your kids. Leaders can ask get-to-know-you questions after welcoming kids into their groups. (Print the following for your small group leaders.) What I Like About Friends Form a circle with the kids. Play a game of toss around the circle. When the beanbag is tossed to a child, that child will say one thing they like about having friends. For instance: I like sleepovers or having someone to talk to or having someone to play games with. Leader, be prepared to jump in if things stall out or if a new kid has joined that week. Color David and Jonathan Coloring Sheets Tell preschoolers that today they will learn that God wants us to love others. Distribute coloring supplies and coloring sheets to the preschoolers. Allow them to color on their pages while they wait for the session to begin. If the kids prefer to use blank paper, they can color on the back of the page. 4
v BACKSTAGE INTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option available; t Session Title slide People: Stage Manager p (wears headset) headset, photos h ofprops: friends (or photos of friends on smartphone) (Show video or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) (Holding a picture album, several pictures of friends in frames, or scrolling through pictures on a phone.) Hi, friends! We re all friends here, right? A friend is someone you know, like, and trust. Look around you there are friends everywhere! It s important to have friends because it means that we are not alone and that we have people to have fun with. It s also important to have friends because God tells us that it s important to love others! Here are some of my friends (show photos or scroll through pictures of friends on phone.) I m so glad that all of these people are in my life. Today, we will hear about two very special friends in the Bible. (speaks into headset) Hey, friends, are we ready to get this show started? Great! Let s get to it! PLACES! (runs offstage) 5
v COUNTDOWN AND WELCOME c Estimated time: 1-5 minutes Tech: Countdown video, Life t Point slide, Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Play Countdown video. Host walks out at around 30 seconds.) Hello, friends! Let s get to our feet and count it down! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! I love being here with you today! We are all friends! Turn to your neighbor and give them a friendly high five. Today we want you to know that people should love one another and Jesus. (Show Life Point slide.) Let s say that together. People should love one another and Jesus. Good job! This is what our Bible verse says today. Can you say this with me? (Practice saying the verse with the kids a few times, using a different pose each time you say the verse together. Examples: while standing on one foot, with finger on nose, with eyes shut) (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred version.) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (Paraphrase) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (HCSB) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (KJV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (NIV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (ESV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (NKJV) Let s stand to our feet and worship Jesus together. (Host leaves as worship team gets in place.) 6
v WORSHIP SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric video, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music: God s Promises (lead m sheet available on DVD-ROM) or download Love One Another recorded by Yancy (Show video or give the following to your worship leader.) WORSHIP LEADER (Music begins.) Friends, God loves you! That is the best news that you could hear all day! Let s stand and sing our praises to give thanks to God for His love today! (Show the music or lyric video.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) Now, let s get ready for Connection Point! 7
p CONNECTION POINT GAME c Estimated time: 5-10 minutes Tech: Connection Point slide, t Connection Point theme music p People: Host, everyone Props: large heart shapes cut from h heavyweight paper (1 for every 5 to 6 kids), tape, upbeat music Game Instructions: Space the hearts around the outside edge of the game area and tape them to the floor. Instruct kids to stand in the center of the game area. Play a fun, upbeat song and instruct kids to jump. When the music stops, the kids should walk to a heart on the outside and stand on it. Encourage kids to share the heart they are standing on with 4 or 5 friends. Encourage them to stand close and hug one another while standing on the heart. When the music starts, kids return to the middle and jump again. Play this several times. Host (Play Connection Point theme music and show Connection Point slide.) (Enter after theme music plays.) Hi, everyone! Welcome to Connection Point! Today s game is called Friendship Freeze. We have big hearts all around us on the floor. Today we will stand up with our friends and jump to some fun music. When the music stops, you will walk to one of the big hearts and stand on it. You must share the heart that you are standing on with 4 or 5 friends. You will have to stand close together on the heart and hug until you hear the music again. When you hear the music, you can come back to the open floor and jump again. Are you ready? Go! (Play the game as time allows.) That was so fun! Let s all come back to our seats. (Theme music/slide to transition. Host leads into next segment.) 8
v BIBLE STORY c Estimated time: 5-6 minutes Tech: Christ Focus, Life Point, and t Bible Story slides; Bible Story video p People: Storyteller, three boys Props: Bible, scissors, marker, tape h (Cut or fold paper into half sheets. Print Saul on one, David on one, and Jonathan on one.) New This Quarter: Optional interactive steps will enable kids to participate in the telling of the Bible story. Use this feature as appropriate for your group. (Play the Bible Story video or tell the following Bible story.) STORYTELLER (Show Bible Story slide.) Hi, friends! I wonder do you have a good friend? (Allow kids to respond.) How about a really great friend? (Allow kids to respond.) You do! Well, tell me your really great friend s name. (Allow kids to say their friend s name all at once.) Oh, I like those names! What do you like about your great friend? (Allow kids to raise their hands and share a few ideas.) Wow, you have really great friends! God is so good to us that He gives us friends. Today I want to tell you about some friends in the Bible. Show me that you re ready by putting your hands in your laps and big smiles on your faces. (Allow kids to respond.) Good! Last week we heard about King Saul. (Invite a boy to stand before the group. Tape the Saul sign to his chest.) Give me a thumbs up if you remember who King Saul was. (Allow kids to respond.) Good! God had chosen Saul to be the king over the Israelites. While Saul was king, a boy named David came to his palace to help him. (Invite a second boy to stand before the group. Tape the David sign to his chest.) King Saul had a son named Jonathan. (Call upon a third boy to stand beside David. Tape the Jonathan sign to his chest.) David and Jonathan became very good friends. (Suggest David and Jonathan give each other a high five.) Let s see what the Bible says about David and Jonathan s friendship. (Open the Bible to 1 Samuel 18:3-4.) Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. Wow! Jonathan gave a lot of things to David! Can you tell me some of the things Jonathan gave him? (Allow kids to respond.) Good job! Jonathan gave David his robe, his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. Jonathan was a prince, so it was a very special gift to give David his royal robes and weapons. Unfortunately, there was a problem. King Saul became angry with David. (Physically move Saul 9
a few steps away from David and Jonathan.) In fact, Saul was so angry that he wanted to hurt David! So David and Jonathan thought of a plan to keep David safe. Jonathan told David to wait in a field. Jonathan said, After I talk with the king, I will come to the field to shoot arrows. If it is safe, I will tell my helper to look close by for the arrows. If it is not safe, I will say the arrows are far away. So, David hid in the field while Jonathan went back to the palace. The next night the king noticed that David was not at dinner, and he became very angry. Jonathan knew it was not safe for David to stay in the city. (Remove Saul s name sign and send the boy back to his seat.) The next morning, Jonathan and his servant went out to the field where David was hiding. Just as they had planned, Jonathan shot his arrows far away. (Invite all kids to pretend to hold a bow and shoot an arrow.) Only Jonathan and David knew that this was a signal for David to run away. Jonathan sent the servant back to the city and David came out of his hiding place. The two friends cried together. Jonathan and David promised to be friends forever and to take care of each other s families. (Lead David and Jonathan to shake hands. Remove the name signs and send the boys back to their seats.) Then David left and Jonathan returned to the city. (Show Christ Focus slide.) Did you know that God loved us so much that He gave us a very special gift? God gave His one and only Son, Jesus. Jesus is a gift of love to us from God. (Lead kids to cross their arms across their chests and hold them there until you have finished the closing prayer.) God wants people to love one another just like Jonathan and David did, and He wants us to love His Son Jesus. Jesus is God s gift of love. God, thank You for our friends. Help us to love them. Thank You for Jesus, Your gift of love. Help us to always love Jesus. Amen. 10
v WORSHIP SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric video, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music His Name Is Jesus (lead m sheet available on DVD-ROM) or download My Best Friend recorded by Yancy WORSHIP LEADER (Music begins.) My heart is so happy when I think about how Jesus is a friend who loves me. Jesus loves you, too! Let s turn to our friends today and say Jesus loves you! (Allow kids to respond.) Let s stand and sing to Jesus. (Show the music or lyric video.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) 11
v HOST SET-UP, BRIANA AND FRIENDS VIDEO c Estimated time: 2 minutes t Tech: Briana and Friends video p People: Host h Props: none HOST Today we learned about how David and Jonathan were great friends. Let s talk to our friend Briana about it. Listen carefully and remember, when she asks you a question, be sure to say your answers aloud! (Play video.) 12
p CLOSING c Estimated time: 2 minutes Tech: Session Title slide, t Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Show Session Title slide.) I loved our story today about Jonathan and David. God wants us to love each other the way that Jonathan loved David. God also wants us to love His Son, Jesus. Jesus is a gift of love from God and we can love Him back! (Show Life Point slide.) People should love one another and Jesus. Let s say that together. People should love one another and Jesus. Optional Giving Segment: One way that we can show love to Jesus is by giving an offering to God. God gave His Son, Jesus, to us and we can show our love by giving to Him. If you d like to give to God today, (Give your own directions for how the kids can give to God. Perhaps you have buckets in the back of the room, a chest up front, or an envelope that each small group leader passes.) (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred version.) Let s go over our verse one more time. Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (Paraphrase) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (HCSB) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (KJV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (NIV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (ESV) Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7 (NKJV) I can t wait to see you back here next week! 13
v BACKSTAGE OUTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option available, t Session Title slide p People: Stage Manager Props: headset off ears h and around neck (Show video or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) Could you imagine being friends with someone only to find out his dad was angry with you or didn t like you? That must have been hard for David and Jonathan! I m so glad that they could keep being friends even though they would be far away from each other. This week, let s practice showing our friends love the way that David and Jonathan did. And don t forget to pray and thank God for your friends! Be sure to grab the One Conversation page on your way out. It will help you talk with your family about what you ve learned. Can t wait to see you next week! Bye, friends! 14
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) This time is designed for churches that have a pick-up time from a large room as parents arrive. It s a great time for follow-up conversations and questions from small group leaders about the session s content. You also can use the missions emphasis (below). (Print the following for your small group leaders.) Who were the friends in our story today? (David and Jonathan) What did Jonathan give David? (a robe, sword, bow, and belt) How long were Jonathan and David planning to be friends? (forever!) Earlier, we talked about the best things about friends. What is the best gift you ve ever been given by a friend? (Allow kids to respond.) MISSIONS EMPHASIS (OPTIONAL) Prior to the session, place alphabet beads inside a clear, empty water or soda bottle. Fill about 2 3 full of rice, and tape closed. Shake the bottle to mix. Tell the missions story, Who Are the Bedia? Guide children to listen for ways they can pray for the Bedia people. Remind kids that they heard about Mandahar (MAHN-dah-har), a rice farmer. Tell kids that they will take turns shaking the bottle filled with rice to discover a letter hidden inside. As a group think of ways to pray for the Bedia people that begin with each letter. Remind boys and girls that God answered the pastors prayers for Mandahar to be healed. Missions Story: Who Are the Bedia? This is a story about how God brought together two groups of people from opposite sides of the world! It all began when First Baptist Church of Centerton, Arkansas learned about a people group in India called the Bedia. The Bedia had never heard about Jesus. Most of the Bedia are Hindu, which means they worship many gods. The church wanted to help, so they began to pray. After many years of praying, the church saved enough money to make the long flight to India. When they arrived, they saw small, busy villages. The Bedia ride their bikes or drink tea in little shops. Others carry water from the well to use at home. Kitchens are usually nothing more than a small pot and a fire. But, the church saw something else, too! They saw many people choosing to follow Jesus and being baptized. The church thought there were no Christians there, but God had answered their prayers! 15
Mandahar (MAHN-dah-har) is a new believer in Christ. He is a rice farmer. A few years ago, Mandahar was very sick, and no one could help him. Finally, a group of pastors came to the village and began to pray for Mandahar. God heard their prayers, and Mandahar was healed! God has changed Mandahar s life. Although there are now some Christians among the Bedia, it still is not easy. Pushba (PUSH-bah) believed in Jesus, but her father did not. He got very angry at her and would not allow her to stay in her home with her family. Pushba, her mother, and her older brother were some of the first Christians in her village. Pushba is praying for a church to be built near her village. She also is praying for the people in her village to understand the love God has for them and that they would not be hurt for believing in Jesus. First Baptist Church continues to pray for the Bedia. They keep photographs of the Bedia hanging in their church to remind them to pray for the new believers and the people who still need to know about Jesus. 16