God Helps Me Be A Friend

Let’s get up and dance with your kids in praise! Play some worship music in your home, have fun with it! Raise your hands, jump, close your eyes – enjoy a time of worship as a family. To get you into a groove, here are some songs to choose from:

John 3:17 - by Saddleback Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0MNmUh3v54
Brave - by Saddleback Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_LQ8pytZJU

Bible Passage: Ruth 1:3-18, Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi

God helps me be a friend
Lesson: God helps us be a friend to people in need

Today’s story comes to us from the Bible. (Hold up a Bible.)
The Bible is God’s word to us, so we know that everything it says is true. (Open the Bible and set it down in front of you as you give the lesson.)

God made all the animals. Kittens, fish, birds, and puppies. Puppies are loyal. They make great friends. God wants us to be loyal too. He wants us to be a friend.

Naomi was a woman who needed a friend. She was old. Her husband and her children had died. She had no home either. Her life was very difficult. Naomi decided to take a long journey back to the place where she used to live. She was hoping her life would get better there. There was a woman named Ruth. Ruth had been married to Naomi’s son before he died. Ruth was a friend to Naomi. Ruth decided to go on the long journey with Naomi. Naomi said, “You should go back to your home. I have nothing to give you. I cannot help you.” But Ruth said, “I am loyal to you. Wherever you go, I will go.” So they went on the long journey together. Ruth took care of Naomi. Ruth was loyal. Ruth was a good friend.

I can be loyal too. I can be a good friend too. Just like Ruth. Just like a puppy.

Simple Prayer:
Dear God, Help us to be a good friend to people who need a friend. Amen

Discussion Questions:
Wiggle Tamer: Play a few rounds of Follow the Leader.

Small Group Memory Verse: See how loudly you can shout the verse together.

Questions: What was the name of the old woman who had nothing?
Who decided to be a friend to Naomi?
How can I be a good friend to someone else?

Game: With crayons and construction paper, have kids draw a picture of their best friend. Give each kid an opportunity to tell you about the person they have drawn.

Make this week’s lesson real:
At Dinner: During the mealtime prayer, ask God for help to be a good friend for those who need a good friend. Thank Jesus for always being a good example of what a friend looks like.

Hanging Out: Encourage your kids to be a “good friend” to the other kids they play with. Talk about some of the qualities that might demonstrate friendship: Using kind words, encouraging each other, sharing, etc.

Bedtime: Snuggle up and read the memory verse: “But I know that God helps me. The Lord is the one who keeps me going.” Psalm 54:4 (NIrV). Talk about how God helps us to be a good friend to people who need a friend.

Activity:
Items Needed: Roll of newsprint, crayons, tape, scissors

Prepare Ahead:Tape a large piece of newsprint paper to one wall of your space. If your group is large you might need two or three of these. (If you do not have access to a roll of newsprint or craft paper sheets, you can tape individual sheets of heavy paper together and then tape to attach them to the wall. Make sure you have one sheet for each kid.)

Directions: Friends cooperate and do things together, so explain that today’s craft will be cooperative – everyone working together to make one work of art. We need to be good friends as we make this craft: using kind words, respecting other people’s bodies, encouraging each other. Allow kids to use whatever colors they like and draw as they wish. Let them know that they don’t have to stay in one spot; they can move around and create anywhere on the paper. Encourage them to respect what someone else has already colored; they are working together to make a beautiful piece of art. You can choose to keep the artwork on the wall, or have a leader take down the mural and cut the newsprint into even pieces, giving one to each child as they leave at the end of class. (Since everyone worked on the piece together, you shouldn’t be too picky about which section belongs to which artist.)