LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In 2 Samuel 9:1-13, David is now king over all Israel and living in Jerusalem. He still thinks often of his dear friend Jonathan, who died in battle alongside his father, King Saul. Years earlier, David and Jonathan had promised each other that they would care for one another’s families. David asks if anyone from Saul’s family is still alive so he can keep that promise. A former servant of Saul named Ziba tells him about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who cannot walk because of an accident in his childhood. David sends for him right away.
In that time, a new king often removed the family of the king before him, so Mephibosheth had good reason to be afraid when he was brought to the palace. Instead of harm, David gave him kindness. He returned all of Saul’s land, provided servants to farm it, and invited Mephibosheth to eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life, as if he were one of David’s own sons. David chose to show kindness because of a promise. This points us to God’s own kindness toward us, and it shows that God’s people care for others, especially those who are hurting or left out.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Kindness Tree
Items Needed
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Markers
- A large stick with many branches
- Hole Punch
- String
- Optional Beads (to add to the string)
Give each child a piece of construction paper for younger kids, pre-fold in half and draw half a heart so they can cut out a heart. For older kids, teach them how to draw half a heart and then cut it out.
Go around the room asking each child what is one way to show kindness. Write that on their heart. Then allow them time to decorate their hearts. When they are finished, punch a hole in the top of the heart and place string through it. Allow kids to hang their heart on the stick to create a kindness tree.
BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? (Book) 2 Samuel
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
Today we are going to learn that God is kind, and we can be kind too! Can you say kind? [Let kids respond]
What does it mean to be kind?
This king’s name was David. Can you say David? [Wait for response] David was a very good king. He had a best friend named Jonathan. They played together and helped each other. David and Jonathan made a promise. A promise means you say you will do something, and then you do it. David promised to be kind to Jonathan’s family.
Before David became king, his friend Jonathan had died. One day, David was missing his friend Jonathan. He asked if there was anyone left in Jonathan’s family.
David called for a helper named Ziba. Can you say Ziba? [Wait for response] David asked, Ziba, is anyone from Jonathan’s family still here? Ziba said, Yes! Jonathan has a son. His name is Mephibosheth. [Say it slowly, clapping each part: Meph-i-bo-sheth.] Let’s clap it together! [Clap the syllables with kids]
Ziba said Mephibosheth could not walk. His feet were hurt.
David said, Go get him! Bring him to me! Let’s march like Ziba’s helpers, marching, marching to find Mephibosheth! [Stand up and march in place] Left, right, left, right! Now sit back down. [Sit]
Mephibosheth was scared. He did not know what the king would do.
David said, Do not be afraid! I will be kind to you because of your father Jonathan. Mephibosheth could not believe it!
David gave Mephibosheth land and helpers to take care of him. David also told him he would eat at his table every day! Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like he was one of David’s own children.
David made room in his home for someone who needed a friend. We can make room for friends, too! When we share a toy, invite someone to play, or say a kind word, we are showing kindness. Let’s say it together: I can be kind! [Say it twice, getting louder]
God is kind to us, and we can be kind to others. Everybody say it with me: God is kind! [Let kids respond]
Theological Questions
- Who is always kind to us? (God)
- What did David do to show kindness to Mephibosheth? (He gave him land and invited him to eat at his table)
Life Application Questions
- Who can you be kind to this week?
- What is one kind thing you can do for a friend who feels sad or left out?
Scripture Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being kind to us, just like David was kind to Mephibosheth. Please help us to show kindness to others every day. Amen!
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45 p.m.
Transition the kids to the floor for prayer time. Have them sit in a circle, criss-cross applesauce. Pray for kids who feel lonely or left out, and ask God to help each child show kindness to a friend, a family member, and someone new this week. Invite kids to say Thank you, God, for being kind to us.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:45-6:55 | Silverware Ball
Items Needed
- 1 Fork per child
- 1 Spoon per child
- Pink Pong Ball
Give every child a spoon and fork. Sit in a circle on the floor. Roll a small ball (ping pong size) across the circle. The object of the game is to use the silverware to hit the ball back and forth without letting it out of the circle.
Say, David was kind to Mephibosheth by letting him have dinner with his family every day. What can you do to be kind to others?
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Kindness Turkey
Items Needed
- Manilla paper
- Kindness Turkey Template (precut)
- Plastic Bags (for feathers)
- Glue Sticks
- Markers (optional)
- Fall Stickers (optional)
Precut the turkey bodies and the features. Separate the feathers by topic into ziplock bags and tape the ziplock bags to the wall. Children will take turns picking a feather off the wall and discussing what it means with the class before handing it on to glue on the turkey.
Give each child a glue stick and a turkey body. Have them glue their feathers to the back of the turkey. Once all the feathers have been glued, you can have them glue the turkey to a piece of manilla paper. If time allows, they can then decorate the manilla paper with markers or stickers.
Note: You could also use a pile of leaves and let them crumple the leaves and glue leaves to their manilla paper for a lower cost alternative.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks. A coloring sheet will be available for kids to color while they eat their snack.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Kindness Grows Your Heart STEM
Items Needed:
- Balloons (red or pink works well)
- Permanent marker
- Empty plastic water bottles (one per group)
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Tablespoon
- 1/4 cup measuring cup
- Tray or tub to catch spills
- Towel
Before Class (Leader): Draw a heart on each balloon with the marker, then stretch each balloon a few times so it inflates easily. Set up one bottle per small group on a tray with the baking soda and vinegar nearby. Leaders do all the measuring, pouring, and balloon placement.
How to Do It:
- Hold up a balloon with a small heart on it. Say, “Here is a little heart. When we are kind, our hearts grow. Let’s help this heart grow!” Ask, “What do you think will happen?” [Let kids respond]
- A leader puts 1 tablespoon of baking soda into the empty bottle. Let kids help by watching and counting “one!”
- A leader quickly pours in 1/4 cup of vinegar and stretches the balloon over the top of the bottle right away.
- Kids watch the fizz and bubbles. Cheer together, “Grow, heart, grow!” as the balloon fills up and the heart gets bigger.
- Ask, “What happened to our heart?” (It grew!) Have kids point to the heart and show with their arms how big it got.
- Empty the bottle and repeat so every group gets a turn, or so kids can see it happen again.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE | 2 Samuel 9 (ESV)
1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog such as I am?”
9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: Be Kind
What I Learned Today: Today we learned about King David and a man named Mephibosheth. David kept his promise to his friend Jonathan by showing kindness to Jonathan’s son, giving him a home and a seat at the king’s table. We learned that God is kind to us, and we can be kind to others too.
Questions to Ask Me
Theological Questions
- Who was the king in our story? (David)
- Who was David’s best friend? (Jonathan)
- What did David promise Jonathan? (To be kind to his family)
- Where did David invite Mephibosheth to eat? (At the king’s table)
- Who is always kind to us? (God)
Life Application Questions
- Who can you be kind to this week? (A friend, sibling, parent, or someone who needs a friend)
- What is a kind thing you can say? (Thank you, please, I like you, can I help?)
- How can you help someone who feels left out? (Invite them to play, sit with them, share a toy)
- What does it feel like when someone is kind to you? (Happy, loved, safe)
- How can you share kindness at home? (Help clean up, share toys, give hugs, use kind words)
