Think about your best friend. What are some things that are easy to love about them? Are there things that make it hard to love them at times? What helps you to continue to love them, even when it’s hard? This week, we see in God’s Word the way two best friends selflessly love each other. But does God say we should only love our best friends? No way! Understanding God’s perfect love for us helps us to love others, even when it’s hard.
LOVE IS...
MEMORY VERSE: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
This Week’s Finish Line: Knowing God loves us helps us love others!
First Samuel 20 tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Jonathan and David. What was so unlikely? Well, Jonathan was Saul’s son, the current king, yet God had chosen David to be the next king of Israel. David came to Jonathan with news that Saul was trying to kill him (David), and Jonathan responded by assuring David he would do whatever he could to help him. When it was confirmed for Jonathan that Saul really wanted David dead, he went to David and helped him escape. David promised to take care of Jonathan’s family as long as he lived, and we get to see David keep that promise in 2 Samuel 9. Because of God’s love for him, Jonathan was able to show love to David that was kind and not self-seeking or envious. Sound familiar? Check out this month’s memory verse (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) for more ways of how knowing God loves us can help us love others!
Family Questions:
READ 1 SAMUEL 20:1-4, 12-17
- What was David worried about? (He was afraid because King Saul, Jonathan’s dad, tried to kill him.)
- What was Jonathan willing to do for David? (Anything he asks) How was this different than you might expect him to act towards someone who was going to be king instead of him?
- What did Jonathan know to be true about God? (God’s love is faithful and forever, He has a plan and will make it happen. The Lord will be with David and make him king like He promised.)
- Read our memory verse, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. How did Jonathan show David kindness and patience? (He listened to his friend and wanted to do anything to help him.) How did he show that he wasn’t self-seeking or envious of David? (He was willing to give up the throne for his friend because he knew that’s what God’s plan was.) How did God use Jonathan to protect David and give him hope? (He helped David escape from his dad. He reminded him of God’s plan and love for him and that God would always be with him.)
Bring it Home Conversations & Activities:
* Check out our vision for parents and how to use these activities each week.
Teacher: Meal Time
READ 1 JOHN 4:7-12 What do these verses remind you about God and love? (God is love and all love comes from Him. If we don’t love others, it’s like we’re saying we don’t know God.) What is real love? (God loved us so much He sent His son Jesus as a sacrifice to pay for sins.) What does God’s love help us do? (It helps us love each another. For those of us who trust in God, He lives in us and His love pours out of us to others.)
Friend: Drive Time
Practice the memory verse stop-and-go style! When you are about 100 feet from a stoplight or stop sign, start saying the verse as fast as you can. The goal is to get through the entire verse before you have to stop at the light or the sign. If you don’t make it in time, pause when you reach the light/sign and then pick it back up when you start driving again.
Counselor: Bedtime
Thank God for letting you see what true love is. Ask Him to help you love others even when it would be easier to be jealous, prideful, or self-seeking. Thank Him for His perfect love for you and for how He showed that love thru the Gospel.
Coach: Anytime
Help your kids to make a list of people who they can love show God’s love to this week. (siblings and/or another relative, teacher, mailman, friend at school, teammate, etc.) As you make your lists, remind them that the reason we can show love to others is because of God’s great love for us! Brainstorm some fun ways to encourage and love a few people on that list. Examples include: write someone a note letting them know you’re thankful for them, do a sibling’s chore without expecting anything in return, take time to listen to a friend.
Prayer
Pray and thank God for loving us no matter what! Thank Him for giving us His Word and that we can trust him! Praise Him that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! Ask him to help you love others because he has loved you first.
Looking Ahead
Next week, we will jump into the month of March with a new character trait, TRUSTWORTHY. We will be talking about how to be dependable without a doubt!
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