Explore the Bible Adult Leader Guide

Explore the Bible Adult Leader Guide

Teaching Plans

Session 9: Faithful

Text: 1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:35-42

Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 18:3

Prepare to Lead the Group time

READ 1 Samuel 18:1–20:42 and Understand the Context. Look for how a shared commitment with God impacted the friendship of David and Jonathan.

STUDY 1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:35-42. Consider Jonathan’s upbringing in the king’s court as compared to David’s upbringing in the country. Refer to Pack Item 6 (Map: The Kingdom of Saul). Use Explore the Text for your personal study.

PLAN the group time using the concepts under Lead Group Bible Study. Refer to the Explore the Bible blog, available at Blog.LifeWay.com/ExploretheBible, for additional ideas.

Grow from expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/Web/ExploretheBible).

Gather the following items:

Personal Study Guides; Index cards, paper, and pens; Posterboard and markers; Construction paper and scissors; A dictionary; and copies of PACK ITEM 5 (Bookmark: Memory Verses). Prepare to display the following Pack Items: PACK ITEM 1 (Map: David’s Flight from Saul); PACK ITEM 2 (Outline of 1 Samuel); PACK ITEM 6 (Map: The Kingdom of Saul); and PACK ITEM 8 (King Saul vs. King David).

LEAD Group Bible Study

Focus Attention (First Thoughts)

Brainstorm: Instruct the group to name synonyms for or words that define a friendship. Then lead a discussion on the merits of having a true friend. Ask: How does doing good deeds for others exemplify friendship?

Read: Introduce the focus statement: Godly friendship is built on commitment to God and provides lifelong encouragement (PSG, p. 91). Write the session title, Faithful, on your focal wall. Explain: Jonathan and David’s friendship was a commitment that transcended all situations and circumstances of life.

Exhibit: Display Pack Item 2 (Outline of 1 Samuel) and Pack Item 8 (King Saul vs. King David). Spend time comparing and contrasting the characteristics of King Saul and David, who would eventually become king. Indicate that the events surrounding the abiding friendship of Jonathan and David contributed to David’s role and rule as king of Israel.

Explore the Text

READ: Call on a volunteer to read aloud 1 Samuel 18:1-5, while everyone listens for words or phrases that define the friendship of David and Jonathan. Invite volunteers to share what they identified.

STUDY: Using a dictionary, read a definition for the word covenant. Guide the group to share examples of modern-day covenant relationships. Discuss: What are the similarities and differences between the covenant relationship of Jonathan and David and those examples shared by our group today? Allow time for reflection.

Read: Direct someone to read 1 Samuel 18:5 again, as the group considers their answers to the following question: Do you agree or disagree that success reveals a person’s character?

GUIDE: Refer to the paragraph under Verse 5 (PSG, p. 95) that defines people who are successful as “those who act prudently and wisely.” Lead the group to review pages 95-96 in the PSG and report anything else that stands out to them about verse 5.

Ask: How can success change a friendship? Even if the gesture is never reciprocated, how can a person encourage friends in their successes? (PSG, p. 96).

GUIDE: Use the information under Verses 35-40 to fill in the events between 1 Samuel 18:5 and 20:35.

READ: Call for a volunteer to read aloud 1 Samuel 20:35-40. Point out that the encounter between David and Jonathan was in code to protect David from Saul.

Ask: David and Jonathan’s friendship was tested at the deepest of levels. What kinds of tests make a friendship stronger? Would you view the smaller tests as more or less significant than a dramatic test? (PSG, p. 98).

SHARE: Call on volunteers to provide examples of when a true friend acted prudently or wisely. Then lead the group to ponder what risks they would take to help a true friend.

Designate: Choose a volunteer to record on posterboard answers to these two questions posed to the group: (1) What words, phrases, or examples can be used to indicate someone who is not a true friend? (2) What Scripture verses support the correct attitude and behavior of one called to be a true friend?

READ: Call on a volunteer to read aloud 1 Samuel 20:41-42, while the group listens for David’s and Jonathan’s mutual expressions of love and respect.

Highlight: Use Pack Item 1 (Map: David’s Flight from Saul) and Pack Item 6 (Map: The Kingdom of Saul) to visualize the distances David traveled to flee from Saul’s attempts on his life.

EXPLAIN: In verses 41-42, Jonathan renewed his covenant with David. However, he faced an ethical dilemma by going against the wishes of the king. Enduring friendships can be risky, but with the Lord’s help, a greater good can be realized. Review the Key Doctrine (Christian Community) in the PSG (p. 99).

DISCUSS: List elements required to make a timeless friendship. How many of these elements are seen in the relationship between Jonathan and David? Can these elements be fostered within a relationship, or do they just happen? (PSG, p. 99).

Summarize and Challenge (In My Context)

ASK: What biblical truth did you extract from the study of Jonathan’s abiding friendship with David? Distribute index cards, and ask each person to record one of the suggested truths.

CHALLENGE: Lead the group to complete the second question set under In My Context (PSG, p. 100): List the things you believe to be the greatest threats to true friendship. What actions are you taking to guard your friendships against those threats? Discuss with the group the role they can have in helping you guard godly friendships.

EMPHASIZE: Call attention to today’s Memory Verse (1 Samuel 18:3), and remind the group to continue using Pack Item 5 (Bookmark: Memory Verses) as a reminder of what they have been learning during the sessions.

PRAY: Read the summary statement for today’s session: Godly friendship is built on commitment to God and provides lifelong encouragement. Close in prayer, asking the Lord to create heartfelt attitudes which promote deeper friendships with each other.

Practice

Use email, social media, or text message to strengthen relationships with your group. Suggest that each person keep a daily log, listing personal acts of friendship. Encourage them to read and apply the following verse to their daily lives: Proverbs 17:17a. The group may share one or more examples of how this verse affected their lives during next week’s session.

More Ideas

Focus attention (first thoughts)

To replace or supplement the Focus Attention opening activity, lead the group to design a bookmark entitled Friendship. Distribute construction paper, markers, and scissors. On one side of the bookmark, lead volunteers to write a personal quote or action activity, such as “Friendship is important to growing the church.” An action activity might be, “I will endeavor to be a friend to someone who needs to see the love of Christ.”

explore the text

To further compare David’s relationship with Jonathan, lead the group to complete the Bible Skill activity on page 96 of the PSG.

To supplement the discussion of 1 Samuel 20:35-40, guide the group to create case studies that point to tests that strengthen relationships. As they share, compare the dynamics in the case study with the dynamics David and Jonathan faced.

To support the discussion of friendship, lead the group to research illustrations or stories of Jesus exhibiting friendship. (Ex.: Jesus encountering Nicodemus, the woman at the well, or Lazarus.) Volunteers may give a synopsis of the story, sharing how Jesus’ message was life changing—not only for those He encountered but for every generation.

Summarize and challenge (in my context)

Guide the group to create a list of their ten closest friends. Brainstorm ways to deepen their friendships with those whom they listed. Emphasize the importance of shared belief. When their lists are complete, volunteers can fold and place them in their Bibles as a reminder to pray for their friends and God’s work in their lives.

SUGGESTED music idea

To close the session, lead the group to ponder the application to their lives as you read the lyrics to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” by Joseph Scriven, or “How He Loves,” by David Crowder Band.