David and Jonathan Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free David and Jonathan Sunday school lesson teaches kids what a true friend is. Jonathan, King Saul's son, "loved him as his own soul" (1 Samuel 18:1): they made a covenant, Jonathan gave David his robe, sword and bow (18:4), stood up for him when Saul wanted to hurt him, and sent him a secret signal with arrows in the field (20:35–42). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class.

Choose your age level

• Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 3 pages: a hide-by-the-stone game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, an act-it-out arrow signal, and a shortened memory verse ("A friend loveth at all times") with a motion. Saul's anger is told very simply, with a teacher note on what to say if a child asks.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 4 pages: the Which Side? arrow game, the story in simple words from the covenant to the arrow signal and goodbye, five recall questions with answers, and the Pass the Arrow memory verse game.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (Jonathan's gifts, Saul's jealousy, the covenant renewed, the stone Ezel), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read parts of 1 Samuel 18 and 20 out loud themselves, then look at what Jonathan's faithfulness cost him (20:31; 23:17) and David's kindness for Jonathan's sake (2 Samuel 9:1). Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Proverbs 17:17 and John 15:13).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: 1 Samuel 18–20
• Main point: A true friend loves at all times and stays faithful.
• Memory verse: Proverbs 17:17 (KJV), with John 15:13 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about a secret arrow signal, or about what makes a true friend.
2. Bible story: Jonathan and David become friends and make a covenant, and Jonathan gives David his robe, garments, sword, bow and girdle. King Saul becomes jealous, and Jonathan stands up for David. David hides by the stone Ezel, and Jonathan's arrow shot beyond the lad tells him to go away. The two friends say goodbye in peace. Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
3. Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
4. Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Proverbs 17:17.
5. What this means for us: being a true friend, Jesus' greater love (John 15:13), the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
6. Activity: the David and Jonathan word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the David and Jonathan craft, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching David and Jonathan

• Read 1 Samuel 18:1 straight from your Bible: "Jonathan loved him as his own soul." Keep the Bible's words and explain them simply: Jonathan cared about David as much as he cared about himself. They were true friends.
• Keep to what 1 Samuel 20 says: Jonathan planned to shoot three arrows (20:20), then shot an arrow beyond the running lad (20:36), and only Jonathan and David knew what it meant (20:39).
• Tell Saul's anger gently. Every level says David got away and God was with him, and every level has a teacher note on what is left out.
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.