David and Mephibosheth Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free David and Mephibosheth Sunday school lesson teaches kids to show the kindness of God. King David asked, "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?" (2 Samuel 9:3), and he gave Jonathan's son Mephibosheth a place at the king's table "as one of the king's sons" (9:11). 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. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

• Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, a come-to-the-table game, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness") with a motion, and a cracker at the king's table with a drawing activity.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Set the Table verse game with six cards, and Kindness Plates.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (Jonathan's friendship, Ziba, Lo-debar, "a dead dog," and the land Ziba would till), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read 2 Samuel 9 out loud themselves, then discuss kindness that is given, not earned, how David answered "a dead dog," and keeping our word. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (2 Samuel 9:7 and Ephesians 4:32).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: 2 Samuel 9:1–13
• Main point: God is kind to us, and we show His kindness to others.
• Memory verse: 2 Samuel 9:7 (KJV), with Ephesians 4:32 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about finding someone, giving everyone a place, or kindness that isn't earned.
2. Bible story: King David looks for someone of the house of Saul, Ziba tells him about Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth comes from Lo-debar, David says "Fear not," and Mephibosheth eats bread at the king's table continually. 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 2 Samuel 9:7.
5. What this means for us: God's kindness we can't earn, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
6. Activity: the Mephibosheth word search, Kindness Plates, a drawing, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching David and Mephibosheth

• Practice saying the name before class: Me-FIB-o-sheth. Kids love saying it together.
• Speak kindly about Mephibosheth's feet. "Lame" is the Bible's word for someone whose feet could not walk. How he was hurt (2 Samuel 4:4) is in a teacher note, not in the story.
• 2 Samuel 9 names only bread at the king's table. Let kids imagine the rest, but teach what the passage says.
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.