Wisdom for Friendships

Sunday Kids Summer Schedule (JUNE-JULY, 10:30AM-ACT 2)—Proverbs 13, 17, 27                                                                      

10:30 Hangout/Worship with GP-Family

(Nursery & Pre-School Drop off in Children’s Center)

11:05 Welcome/Brite Idea/Monthly Memory Verse Balloon Game:

· Brite Idea: God gives us wisdom for friendships.

· Monthly Memory Verse: Proverbs 2:6 directly from the Bible: For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

11:15 Small Group Activity

**11:30-11:45 Bible Teaching/Pray: Scripture Proverbs 13:20, 17:17, 27:17

· Intro: The Bible has much to say about friendship. It is extremely important to be wise about who we spend our time with. It is wise to choose friends who are loyal, kind and have good character. True friends always stick by us. They help us rather than hurt us. True friends avoid gossip, anger and other harmful traits. God wants us to build wise friendships and to be a godly friend to others. Wise friends help each other become more like Jesus. Jesus is the best friend we will ever have and showed His true friendship by giving His life for us.

· Read Scripture/Explain the Bible Story (Background, optional: act it out with/without kids, use props, object lessons, short video, music, create a challenge, tell a story that connects to the passage, etc.)

o Read Proverbs 13:20 directly from the Bible: Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. #1. Choose wise friends not foolish friends.

“Jesus says” vs. “Simon Says”, what type of choices were you making when you followed what Jesus said? What choices did you make when you followed Simon?

o In other words, if you hang out with people who are making wise choices, you are more likely to make wise choices too. If you hang around people who make foolish choices, what are you probably going to do? Because of this truth, God offers us a lot of wisdom in the book of Proverbs about the friendships we have.

o Read Proverbs 17:17 directly from the Bible: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. #2. Choose loyal friends.

“1 - Legged Squat” — friend that walks away vs. friend that helps/sticks with you.

o We are wise when we pick friends who are loyal. Friends argue sometimes, and that’s normal. But real friends will always be there for you. They will always care about you. While you might have a lot of friends, you will also have friends who “stick closer than a brother.” It is wise to protect that friendship. When disagreements come along, talk about it and work it out. Be there for your friends during both good times and hard times and choose friends who are there for you too.

o “Friendship Bible Verse Race” Partner with a friend and find Proverbs 13:20, 17:17, 27:17

Read Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one friend can sharpen another. #3. Choose friends that helps you grow in your faith.

o  Our wisest choice in friendship is to find kids who help us live like God wants us to. In other words, friends can help each other grow to be more like Jesus. True friends will point us toward God’s Word. Find friends who encourage you to grow closer to God. Also, be a friend who helps others live for Jesus!

o Gospel: Jesus is the very best friend of all. Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He loves at all times. He is the perfect friend and is an example to us of how to be a friend. But that’s not all. In John 15:13, Jesus said: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Jesus proved that He is the greatest friend we will ever have by dying on the cross for our sins and making a way for us to live forever with Him.

· 11:45-12:00 CLOSE IN PRAYER/PARENT PICK UP/DOTTIES RETIREMENT PARTY.