Harmony: Together is better
WEEK OF
September 17, 2023
PA R E N T G U I D E
Elementary
Use this guide to help your family learn about friendship.
First, watch this week’s video!
Activity
Talk About the Bible Story
Take a Stand
How did Barnabas stand up for Saul in our story today? (He helped the believers understand that Saul now believed in Jesus, and that they could trust him.)
What You Need: No supplies needed What You Do: Invite your child to play a game.
Friendship: Using your words and actions to show others you care
Memory Verse “A friend loves at all times. They are there to help when trouble comes.” Proverbs 17:17, NIrV
Bible Story Barnabas and Saul Acts 9:26-30
Bottom Line Friends stand up for one another.
Say, “I’ll read a list of situations that you and a friend might experience together. For each scenario, you’ll sit down while you think about how you could stand up for your friend in that situation. Then stand up and give me your answer. Ready?” Situations: You’re on the playground and an older kid starts making fun of your friend. You’re at the water fountain with your friend. After you drink your water, a kid comes up to the water fountain and takes your friend’s turn. This keeps happening again and again, and your friend can’t get to the water fountain. During class, you’re asked to get into groups for a project. You look around and see that your friend hasn’t been chosen to be in a group. Someone gives your friend a “nickname” that isn’t very nice. A kid in your class breaks the teacher’s stapler. When the teacher asks what happened, the kid blames your friend. When you’re finished, say, “Great job! Those were tough situations for sure. When your friends need help, you can stand up for them.”
Have you ever had a friend stand up for you? What happened? Is there a friend you can think of who needs someone to stand up for them? Are there times when you might need to get an adult’s help in order to stand up for a friend? (Yes; you should never put yourself in danger to help a friend. Sometimes speaking up to an adult is the best way to stand up for a friend.) Parent: Tell your child about a time when you stood up for a friend—or a time when a friend stood up for you. Tell your child how that made you feel. If possible, also tell how it made a difference.
Prayer Use this prayer as a guide, either after talking about the Bible story or sometime before bed tonight: “Dear God, please give us the courage we need to stand up for our friends—to say what’s right and what’s true. Help us to remember that friends stand up for one another. Thank You for standing up for US by sending Your Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. We love You! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”
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