Friends can be fun, but they’re also an important way for your kids to learn about sharing God’s love with others! Over the four days of this plan, you and your kids will do fun activities and have important conversations about how love shapes biblical friendships. Each day includes a prayer prompt, brief Scripture reading and explanation, hands-on activity, and discussion questions.
Focus on the Family
Day 1
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
FRIENDS HELP EACH OTHER
TALKING TO GOD
Thank God for His constant help and for the people around you (family, friends, teachers, pastors) who help you, too.
DIVING IN
Sit in a circle. One person should stand and say, “I am your friend. I will ___.” In the blank, the person can make up an ending, such as “help you comb your hair” or “take your favorite toy without asking.” The rest of the family should give a thumbs-up if the action is that of a friend and a thumbs-down if the action is not that of a friend. Go around the circle a few times. It’s OK for people to suggest funny ideas that don’t belong in a friendship.
GOING DEEPER
The Gospel of Mark tells about four men who helped their friend find a way to Jesus (2:1-12). Their friend was not able to walk, so they carried him through the crowd, made a hole in the roof above Jesus and lowered him through the hole. Because they loved their friend enough to help him, he was able to meet Jesus, and Jesus healed him so he could walk again.
TALKING TO EACH OTHER
– How have your friends helped you?
– How have you helped your friends?
– Do you have any friends with special needs? How might you help them?
– What other ways can friends help each other?
Day 2
Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22
FRIENDS NEED TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS
TALKING TO GOD
Thank God for His forgiveness and for sending Jesus to wash away your sins.
DIVING IN
Find a partner. Do the following actions: Pat your thighs once, clap both hands against your partner’s hands, clap your right hand to your partner’s right hand, clap your left hand to your partner’s left hand, clap both hands against your partner’s hands, then pat your thighs once. The second time through, repeat the sequence within the asterisks five times before ending with the final pat on your thighs. When you are done, talk about which claps you did well and which ones you messed up.
GOING DEEPER
We all make mistakes sometimes. One day, Jesus’ close friend Peter made a big mistake. When people were being mean to Jesus, Peter pretended that he didn’t even know who Jesus was. In Luke 22:57, Peter tells a woman, “I don’t know him.” Twice more, he tells people that he is not one of Jesus’ friends. When Peter realized what he had done, he was sorry for his actions. Because Jesus loved Peter, He forgave him. Forgiveness is an important part of all friendships.
TALKING TO EACH OTHER
– When have you hurt one of your friends? What happened when you asked for forgiveness?
– Do friends always forgive? Why?
– How has a friend hurt you? What would you do if the person asked for forgiveness?
Day 3
Scripture: John 15:15
JESUS IS OUR FRIEND
TALKING TO GOD
Name one good friend and tell God something you love about that person. Then thank God for him or her.
DIVING IN
Tape a large sheet of paper to the wall. Write as many words as you can to describe good friends (great, super, fantastic).
GOING DEEPER
Jesus had 12 disciples who were His friends. You can become a friend of Jesus, too. When you follow and obey Jesus just as His disciples did, Jesus calls you His friend. What kind of friend is Jesus? In John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” That’s what Jesus did for His disciples and for you.
TALKING TO EACH OTHER
– How do the words on your sheet of paper (from Diving In) also relate to Jesus?
– What does it mean when Jesus calls you His friend?
– How is Jesus different from our other friends?
Day 4
Scripture: Joshua 23:14
PROMISES ARE IMPORTANT
TALKING TO GOD
Thank God for always keeping His promises. Ask Him for help so you can keep your promises, too.
DIVING IN
List some of the promises God gave people in the Bible and the way He kept those promises. Examples: putting a rainbow in the sky as a promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood; giving Abraham’s descendants the land of Canaan; sending a Savior, Jesus; sending the Holy Spirit.
GOING DEEPER
The Bible tells the story of two young men, Jonathan and David, who became good friends. Because they loved each other, they made a promise to always be friends and exchanged gifts as symbols of their friendship. This story was written in 1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 1 Samuel 20:16-17. Twice, Jonathan saved David’s life when Jonathan’s father, King Saul, wanted to kill David. Later, after Jonathan died and David became king, David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). David remembered his promise of friendship to Jonathan and was kind to Jonathan’s son.
TALKING TO EACH OTHER
– When do people make promises?
– What promises have others made to you? Did they keep their promises?
– What promises have you made to others? How hard was it to keep your promises?
– Why is it important to keep your promise to a friend?