The 5th Mark, Study 1: Friendship with Each Other

For Sunday Nov 2nd, 2008

1) What are some words that describe what a friend is?
[Note: Ideally have post-its with markers for the youth to write their ideas on and stick them on a wall.]

2) Read Proverbs 27:5-7.

A truly good friend will openly correct you.
You can trust a friend who corrects you, but kisses from an enemy are nothing but lies.
If you have had enough to eat, honey doesn't taste good, but if you are really hungry, you will eat anything.

Do these words by King Solomon match any of your descriptions of a friend?
Do you agree with what Solomon says?

3) Read 1 Samuel 18:1-4.

David and Saul finished talking, and soon David and Jonathan became best friends. Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself. 2From that time on, Saul kept David in his service and would not let David go back to his own family. 3Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends. 4Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes, his sword, his bow and arrows, and his belt.

In this passage, the young David (before he was king) makes a friendship covenant with King Saul's son Jonathan.
What do you think might be the significance of Jonathan giving his robe and sword to David?
[Note to leader: Traditionally it represents Jonathan acknowledging David as an equal from a military and class point of view, but allow the kids to explore other ideas as well here]

4) Read 1 Samuel 19:1-7. [Note to leader: Possibly have the youth act this story out]

One day, Saul told his son Jonathan and his officers to kill David. But Jonathan liked David a lot, and he warned David, "My father is trying to have you killed, so be very careful. Hide in a field tomorrow morning, and I'll bring him there. Then I'll talk to him about you, and if I find out anything, I'll let you know."
The next morning, Jonathan reminded Saul about the many good things David had done for him. Then he said, "Why do you want to kill David? He hasn't done anything to you. He has served in your army and has always done what's best for you. He even risked his life to kill Goliath. The LORD helped Israel win a great victory that day, and it made you happy."
Saul agreed and promised, "I swear by the living LORD that I won't have David killed!"
Jonathan called to David and told him what Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul, and David served in Saul's army just as he had done before.

Although David is being threatened by Saul, Jonathan takes an enormous risk. What is the danger in Jonathan's action?
The story of David and Jonathan is a well known story of friendship in the bible. If you are interested in reading more, chapters 18 through 23 of 1st Samuel cover much of that friendship.

5) What is difficult about being a friend in the way described in the passages we've ready?
If you can, describe a recent situation in which you had to do something difficult in order to be a true friend.

6) As you go about your week, how might you apply what we've discussed here?