Hands-on Faith for Families– week of 2/25/13
Promises Are Important
Joshua 23:14
Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.
Talking to God
Thank God for always keeping His promises. Ask Him for help so you can keep your promises, too.
Diving In
List some of the promises God gave people in the Bible and the way He kept those promises. Examples: putting a rainbow in the sky as a promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood; giving Abraham's descendants the land of Canaan; sending a Savior, Jesus; sending the Holy Spirit.
Going Deeper
The Bible tells the story of two young men, Jonathan and David, who became good friends. Because they loved each other, they made a promise to always be friends and exchanged gifts as symbols of their friendship. This story was written in 1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 1 Samuel 20:16-17. Twice, Jonathan saved David's life when Jonathan's father, King Saul, wanted to kill David. Later, after Jonathan died and David became king, David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (2 Samuel 9:1). David remembered his promise of friendship to Jonathan and was kind to Jonathan's son.
Talking to Each Other
• When do people make promises?
• What promises have others made to you? Did they keep their promises?
• What promises have you made to others? How hard was it to keep your promises?
• Why is it important to keep your promise to a friend?
From Focus on the Family's Thrivingfamily.com. © [2011] [Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress]. Used by permission.
