Choosing Friends

This week’s Brite lesson (1 Samuel 20) is about David and Jonathan and the kind of friendship they had. Kids will see what it looks like to care about someone, stick with them and help each other follow God.

Friendships can be tricky at this age. Some kids are still trying to find their people, and others are dealing with friendships that don’t feel great. This week, we’re talking about what a good friend looks like. Someone who is kind, honest and helps you make good choices.

Take a few minutes this week to check in on your kid’s friendships. Ask who they like being around and how those friendships feel. It’s a simple way to help them think about the kind of friend they want to be and the kind of friends they want to have.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss it at home: 

Discuss: Share about how you met your best friend.

Discuss: What are some characteristics of true friends?

Discuss: What does God have to say about that?

Say: Friendships are very important and are a gift from God. We can all think of friends who have helped us in many ways. But you can likely also think of friends you have had who have gotten you into trouble. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says: Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” In other words, if we spend a lot of time with people who aren’t living like God wants them to, we are likely to end up not making great choices as well. Our friends influence us a lot, so it is important that we spend time with people who help our relationship with God. It is hard enough to follow God’s plan in our lives. Imagine how much easier it would be if you had a friend group who encouraged that? Show love to all people, but be picky in who your closest friends are.