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68Hands-On Bible MAX

Who Is My Best Friend?7

BIBLE BASIS

In this passage, Jesus

gives several facts about

true friendship. Friends

put each other fi rst, they

love each other, they share

everything with each

other, and they’ll even die

for each other. Jesus also

says he has chosen each

of us to be his friends.

He follows his own

prescription for friendship

with us, too. What an

amazing thing! If children

fi nd this friendship, they

will have the privilege of

growing up with a true

best friend for life.

Bible Focus: John 15:12-17

Discovery Point: Jesus wants to be your best friend.

Worship Response: Children will celebrate Jesus when they discover that he has chosen them to be his best friends.

Key Verse: “A real friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24b).

A Look at the SessionMix and match to meet your needs. For more ideas, see “For-Extra-Time Activities” on page 76.

Session Sequence

What Kids Will Do Supplies

Welcome!(up to

15 minutes)

Find out about others’ best friends.

Getting to Know God: Bible Basics CD and DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player

Let’s Explore!(up to

25 minutes)

Talk about what makes a best friend, and then make glue.

Hands-On Bibles, newsprint, marker, tape, pencils, paper, ½ cup fat-free milk, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 bowls, strainer, paper towels, spoon

Let’s Praise!(up to

10 minutes)

Praise Jesus for being our best friend.

Getting to Know God: Bible Basics CD or DVD, CD player or TV/DVD player

Let’s Pray!(up to

10 minutes)

Talk to Jesus about our friendship with him.

Getting to Know God: Bible Basics CD, CD player, newsprint, colored paper, markers or pencils, glue from Let’s Explore!

69Session 7 | Who Is My Best Friend?

Before This Session

o Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per four or fi ve kids): Hands-On Bible, paper, markers, and one half-sheet of colored paper, a sheet of newsprint, and a pencil per child.

o Hang newsprint in a prominent spot, and write the numbers 1 through 4 down the left side with plenty of space between each number.

o Review the “Stick Together” activity next to Proverbs 20 in the Hands-On Bible. Then set these supplies on a table: ½ cup fat-free milk, 2 tablespoons vinegar, strainer, several paper towels, 2 teaspoons water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, spoon, and two bowls.

o CD/DVD Cue the Getting to Know God: Bible Basics CD (1) or DVD (1).

o Huddle briefl y with volunteers before the session. Answer any questions they have. Encourage them, and pray for the session, the volunteers, and the kids.

TEACHER TIPBible Exploration

Kits are an easy way

to give each group

supplies. The Jabber Mat

from Group Publishing

is a great tool that

can be used as a Bible

Exploration Kit and as a

space for a Bible Crew to

gather. Check it out at

group.com/jabbermat.


Welcome!

Supplies: CD player | TV/DVD player

1. Play CD/DVD “Into the Bible” (1).

2. As kids arrive, ask them to introduce themselves to several children they don’t know very well and fi nd out several things about the other kids’ best friends.

3. After fi ve minutes, start the DVD “Bible Countdown” (2), turn up the volume, and lead kids in cheering along.

4. SAY: Welcome to Bible MAX! Thanks for choosing to be here! Today we’re going to be talking about friendship.

ASK:

• Who did you meet who has a great best friend?

• What makes a great best friend?

SAY: Did you know that JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND? He can be the greatest best friend of all!

DVD DVD CD CD


Let’s Explore!

Supplies: assembled Bible Exploration Kits (see page 69) | prepared “1-2-3-4” newsprint (see page 69) |“Stick Together” ingredients (see page 69) | marker

1. SAY: Let’s look at what Jesus has to say about being a friend. Have children form Bible Crews of four or fi ve, and distribute Bible Exploration Kits. Take out the Hands-On Bible, and turn to John 15:12-17. Have one person in your group read John 15:12-17 while the rest of you listen to fi nd four things that Jesus says a best friend does. Have one person record your ideas.

After three minutes, SAY: Let’s see what you found out.

ASK:

• Who can tell me one of the things a friend does? Record the answer on the numbered newsprint.

• What would this look like today?

Repeat both questions for numbers 2 through 4, taking volunteers from different groups.

ASK:

• How many of your friends do all these things?

• Who has Jesus chosen?

• What has Jesus chosen you to be?

• Why did he choose you?

SAY: JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND! He has chosen you and will be the kind of friend he has described.

ASK:

• How do you feel knowing that JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND?

2. SAY: “Stick” with me while we try this experiment. Direct kids’ attention to the table of supplies for the “Stick Together” activity next to Proverbs 20 in the Hands-On Bible. Ask for volunteers to help you with each step. Complete steps 1 and 2. While the mixture is sitting for two minutes, read the Key Verse Proverbs 18:24b.

TEACHER TIP

If you have more

than 10 kids,

consider dividing the

large group into groups

of 10 to 12. Have separate

stations for each of these

groups, and have other

leaders do the experiment

in each of the stations

so the kids can be more

involved.

Mixing vinegar and milk

can smell bad, so do the

experiment in a well-

ventilated area.

See page 56.


ASK:

• How does a brother stick with you?

• What does it mean to stick closer than a brother?

• How do you know when your friend is sticking with you?

Complete steps 3 through 5. Allow each child to put a dab of the glue on a fi nger. Let kids test the stickiness of the glue by touching some of the paper in their Exploration Kits. Reserve most of the glue until the prayer time.

ASK:

• Can you fi nd anything that sticks together so well you can’t pull it apart?

• How do you know when Jesus is sticking with you?

SAY: JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND. He will stick closer than anyone, and you don’t have to use glue!

Each of you will get to use some of the glue in a moment.

Forgot the milk? Use any

sticky material, and forgo

the glue making. Use

double-stick tape, poster

putty, or even masking

tape curled into a loop.

SIMPLE STRATEGY


Let’s Praise!

Supplies: CD player or TV/DVD player

1. SAY: Knowing that JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND and my best friend makes me want to praise Jesus and thank him for his friendship. Let’s take a few minutes to sing to our best friend!

2. PLAY: CD/DVD

• “Jesus Loves Me Rock” (5)

• “Praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6) (3)

• “To God Be the Glory” (6)

DVD DVD CD CD

• “To God Be the Glory” (6)


Let’s Pray!

Supplies: CD player | assembled Bible Exploration Kits(see page 69) | list and glue from Let’s Explore!

1. SAY: What can be better than knowing that JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND? Read aloud the list you made earlier.

Jesus says he will be this kind of friend to you. Let’s take some time now to talk with Jesus one-on-one about being his best friend. Each of you will need one of the half-sheets of paper, a piece of newsprint, and a pencil [or marker] from your Bible Exploration Kit. Pause to give kids time to fi nd their supplies.

On your paper, create something that shows your relationship to Jesus. It could be a simple heart with your name and “Jesus” inside of it. It could be a note that you write to Jesus about your friendship with him. It could be anything you want to create. When you have fi nished, bring your paper, take a small amount of the glue we made, and glue your note to your blank newsprint sheet. This will be a time between you and Jesus, so you won’t need to talk to anyone else. If you fi nish before others, you can quietly look through your Bible. I’ll play some music while you’re working. You’ll know our prayer time is over when the music stops.

2. Play CD “Prayer Time Sound Effects 1” (17) as kids pray. Repeat the song as necessary. After fi ve minutes, stop the music.

DVD DVD CD CD


High Fives

Supplies: none

SAY: What would a high fi ve be like if your hands were sticky? As you leave today, give fi ve kids a sticky high fi ve. As you give

each person a high fi ve, remind him or her that JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST

FRIEND! Tell each person that Jesus will stick with him or her more closely than anyone else will.

each person a high fi ve, remind him or her that JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR BEST

FRIEND! Tell each person that Jesus will stick with him or her more closely than anyone else will.


For-Extra-Time Activities

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE Supplies: CD player

Ask kids to read the intro page for any book of the Bible and create a motion for that book. For example, they could make a motion for rain for Genesis or do a beauty pageant wave for Esther. Play CD “The Books of the Bible Song” (8), and have kids do all the motions they have learned.

CREATE A BIBLE DICTIONARYSupplies: paper | markers | dictionary

Ask kids to create one or more new pages, each with a new word, for the Bible dictionary. Have them suggest new word(s) from today’s session—friend and friendship are two suggestions. Have them write each word on a sheet of paper in fun letters, add a defi nition, list Scripture references, and make illustrations. Add each page to a three-ring binder, and watch the dictionary grow!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU!Supplies: none

In their Bible Crews, have kids take turns introducing themselves by answering these wacky questions. You may want to write the questions on newsprint so kids can see them. ASK: • What is your favorite smell? Why?• What would you most like to do with a bucket full of mashed potatoes? Why?• Imagine you’ve just put your three favorite foods in a blender and mixed them up. What

would you call it, and what would it taste like?After kids discuss the questions in their groups, ASK the whole group: • What three questions would you like to ask Jesus to get to know him as a best friend?

HIDING IT IN YOUR HEARTSupplies: pencils | sticky notes

Have kids help you make a list of as many sticky things as possible, one per sticky note, such as tape, glue, and Velcro. Then have kids repeat the Key Verse, Proverbs 18:24b, inserting something from the list after the words sticks like. For example, they might say, “A real friend sticks like Velcro, closer than a brother.”

FOCUS KNOT OF FRIENDSHIPSupplies: string | scissors

Have kids each fi nd a partner. Give each pair two 12-inch pieces of string. Tell children that each partner may use only one hand as partners work together to tie the two pieces of string in a knot. Talk about what was important when tying the knot and how tying it is like building a friendship with others and with Jesus.


FAMILY CHALLENGE

Who Is My Best Friend?Family Devotion

Bible Focus:John 15:12-17

Discovery Point:Jesus wants to be your best

friend.

Key Verse:“A real friend sticks closer

than a brother”

(Proverbs 18:24b).

Talk together about what

it means to be best friends

with others as well as

Jesus. Reminisce about

times you knew Jesus was

sticking with you closely.

Look for examples of Jesus’

friendship during the week.

At the end of the week, get

together and thank Jesus

for all the times he has

stuck with you.

With your family, use your glue to make a collage of family photos, pictures from magazines, and anything else you can fi nd. The collage should show what holds you together as a family.

When your collage is finished, talk about these questions:What is your favorite part of this collage?

Why is that your favorite part?

What kinds of things help our family stick together?

How does Jesus stick even closer than a brother?

Pray, thanking Jesus for being your best friend and asking God to help your family stick together. Hang the collage in your house so you can look at it often. Keep looking for new stuff to add to the collage.

Stick TogetherWith your family, read what Proverbs 18:24 says about true friendship. Want to be a true friend?

Get yourself into a sticky situation!

Stir the mixture, and then let it sit for two minutes. Your milk will look a little chunky—YUM!

Pour a half cup of fat-free milk (the fat-free

is important) into a small bowl, and add two

tablespoons of vinegar. (Be prepared! It

might smell a little funny.)

Strain the chunks (or curds) out of the milk.

Put the curds between two paper towels, and press down to dry them.

Put the curds in a clean bowl or cup, and add two

teaspoons of water and one teaspoon of baking

soda. Guess what—you’ve made your own glue!

Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible MAX™ granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539. group.com/BibleMAX

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