Friends in the Bible - English

Friends in the Bible

ISBN: 978-1-928437-19-2

www.christianmediapublishing.com

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To: __________________________ With love fro : __________________________

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Contents 1. Ruth and Naomi

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2. Three friends in the oven

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3. A lame man and his friends

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4. Jesus loves children

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5. Mary’s gift

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6. Jesus and His friend, Peter

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7. Peter, John and the disabled man

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Friends in the Bible

1. R th and Naomi – Ruth 1–4 There was very little food in Bethlehem and people were hungry, so Naomi, her husband and two sons moved to Moab. The sons married Ruth and Orpah. But then sadly – Naomi’s husband and her sons died.

Naomi decided to go back home to Bethlehem. Orpah, stayed behind, but Ruth said, “Where you go, Mother, I will go. Your God is my God.”

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When they reached Bethlehem, Naomi wondered where they would find food. Ruth knew that God would help them. She went and picked up the grain leftover after the workers had finished for the day. Boaz, the farmer, saw her and he told his workers to help Ruth.

Later on God made them part of a family again. Ruth and Boaz were married and they had a baby boy; and Naomi lived with them.

That is how God took care of Ruth and Naomi.

Look and Learn What do you think the cat is looking at – is it the Bible?

The Bible teaches us that God takes care of us all the time.

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Remember the Bible story What happened in the story about Naomi and Ruth?

Do you remember the woman from Jericho, Rahab?

Well Boaz was her son. Boaz and Ruth’s son Obed, was the great-grandfather of David, the king of Israel.

And did you know that their names are all part of the family line of Jesus?

This is how God takes care of everything.

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Prayer Dear Lord, There is no end to Your love.

You fill me with wonder at Your kindness towards me.

You took care of Ruth and Naomi, and You take care of me every day.

Amen

Activity Tie a piece of string around your finger. Long ago people did this when they wanted to remember something.

When you look at the string, remember: God is taking care of me today.

Keep the string tied around your finger when you go to bed tonight.

What will you remember when you see it tomorrow morning?

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2. T ree friends in t e oven – Daniel 3, Psalm 91:11

One day Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are taken to King Nebuchadnezzar. He orders them, “Bow before my statue or burn!”

Without being the least bit afraid they answer, “We will not.

We only worship our God.” Nebuchadnezzar is so mad that he has the oven made seven times hotter than usual, and then he has the guards throw the men in.

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The heat instantly kills the guards!

Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar jumps up and cries out, “There are four people in the oven! One of them looks like an angel!”

He has the men taken out of the oven. There is not a single burn mark on their bodies, their hair or their clothes. They don’t even smell of smoke! Only God can do such a wonderful thing.

The three friends loved God and worshipped Him, even when the king wanted to kill them.

Look and Learn Look carefully and see if you can find the Bible?

The Bible teaches us that we must love only God.

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Remember the Bible story Tell the story of the three friends.

What were their names?

Which part of the story did you like best?

We must love God, in the same way that these three friends did.

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Prayer Dear Lord, Help me to love only You. Thank You that You send Your angels to watch over me.

Amen

Activity Is it sometimes hard for you to love only Jesus?

People might laugh at you, or maybe they will try and get you to do wrong things.

Draw an angel, and remember God’s promise whenever you look at your drawing.

The LORD will command his angels to take good care of you.

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3. la e an and is friends – Mark 2:1–12

In the town of Capernaum, four men carrying a bed, come walking down the street. Their lame friend is lying on the bed. They are taking him to the house where Jesus is. Many people are standing outside the house, because there is no room left inside.

What should they do?

They think of a plan and climb up onto the roof of the house.

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Then they make a hole in the roof and lower their friend on his bed down to where Jesus is standing.

Jesus looks up. He sees that the lame man’s friends really believe that He will make him better. So Jesus tells the lame man, ‘Stand up, take your bed and walk.’ And the man stands up! He picks up his bed and walks straight out of the house.

‘We have never seen anything like this before!’ the amazed people say. Jesus is a best Friend to everyone!

Look and Learn See how quickly you can spot the Bible in the picture.

The Bible teaches us that friends help each other.

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Remember the Bible story Pretend that you are one of the lame man’s friends.

Say what you and your friends did to make sure that Jesus saw your sick friend.

Turn to the previous page.

How many friends does the lame man have?

He doesn’t have four, does he? No, he has five!

Jesus is also the lame man’s friend.

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Prayer Dear Lord, Thank You for giving me friends.

Help me to be good and kind to my friends.

I want to help them, just like the four friends in the story helped their friend.

Amen

Activity Who are your best friends?

Talk about what you enjoy doing together.

Do you have a friend who does not have an easy life? Think of a way that you can help your friend today?

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4. Jes s loves c ildren – Mark 10:13–16 Jesus loves children. They always gathered around Him because they loved listening to all His stories. Children enjoyed being with Jesus, because He always had time for them. He was kind and loving towards them.

One day a group of mothers brought their children to Jesus.

They wanted Him to bless their children and tell them stories.

But Jesus’ disciples scolded them. ‘Jesus is tired. Leave Him alone!’

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Jesus heard His disciples and said, ‘Don’t send the children away, I want to talk to them.’ So the children ran to Him. He hugged them and stroked their hair. He said to them, ‘Do you know that God loves children?’

Look and Learn Look closely at the picture.

Can you see where the Bible is hiding?

The Bible teaches us that Jesus loves children.

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Remember the Bible story Talk about what happened when the mothers brought their children to Jesus.

Look at the pictures on both pages.

Are the children enjoying talking to Jesus?

Do you think Jesus enjoys talking to the children? Why?

Jesus loves you. He will always listen to what you want to tell Him.

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Prayer Dear Lord, Thank You for loving me.

You love all the children in the world.

I pray for children who are having a hard time.

Please help them.

Amen

Activity Look at the first picture again.

Place you finger on one of the children. Now pretend that it is you who is in the picture with Jesus. What would you like to tell Jesus? You can say it to Him now.

Jesus always has time for you because He loves you!

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ary’s gift – John 11:1–12:8

Jesus and His disciples are visiting their friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary in Bethany. Lazarus cannot stop smiling! A few days ago he was dead, but then Jesus did a wonderful thing and made him alive again!

Martha as usual is busy serving the food that she has cooked.

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Quietly Mary comes in carrying a small jar of very expensive perfume in her hand. She walks straight up to Jesus, pours all the perfume out onto His feet, and then dries it off with her hair.

The lovely smell fills the whole house! Jesus is pleased, and He says, ‘Nobody will ever forget how much Mary loves Me.’

Look and Learn Can you see the Bible in the picture?

The Bible teaches us that God is happy when we show Him how much we love Him.

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Remember the Bible story What did Mary do?

Why, do you think, she gave Jesus such a wonderful gift?

(Jesus’ mother’s name was also Mary, but this is a different Mary in this story.)

Who are all the people in the picture looking at?

How do they feel about what Mary is doing for Jesus?

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Prayer Dear Lord, You are wonderful.

Thank You for loving me so much.

I love You very much too.

Help me to give You my best.

Amen

Activity Think of the best gift that you have ever received, and why is was so special?

What did Mary want everybody to know when she gave her precious gift to Jesus?

Find a way to show God that you love Him? Draw a picture of what you are going to do. Then look at your picture tonight, and tick it off if you have done what you wanted to do.

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6. Jes s and is friend, Peter – Luke 22:31–34, 54–62

The soldiers captured Jesus and took Him to the High Priest’s house.

Nearby people were huddled around a fire trying to keep warm.

Peter, a ‘Jesus-Friend’, joined them.

Someone recognised Peter and said, ‘This man is a friend of Jesus!’

Because he was scared Peter answered, ‘That’s not true!’

Then someone else said the same thing. And again Peter denied that he knew Jesus.

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When yet another man said, ‘I am sure this man knows Jesus!’

Peter shouted, ‘I tell you, I have no idea what you are talking about!’

Then the cock crowed. And Peter remembered that Jesus had warned him that he would deny knowing Him. Peter lifted his head, and he looked straight into Jesus’ eyes. Peter burst into tears and ran away.

Look and Learn Help Amy and Sammy find the Bible in the picture.

The Bible shows us that when we do bad things to other people it hurts them; and it also makes us feel bad. But no matter what we do Jesus never stops loving us.

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Remember the Bible story How many times did Peter deny knowing Jesus?

What happened next?

Turn back to the picture on the previous page.

What all do you see in the picture? How are the people in the picture feeling? Why was Peter so upset?

How do you think Jesus felt? How did Peter feel?

Remember, Jesus did not stop loving Peter.

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Prayer Dear Lord, I am sorry if I have treated You or other people badly.

Thank You for loving me so much that You always forgive me.

Amen

Activity Look at the picture on this page again, what do you see?

Look at the children’s faces, how do you think each of them are feeling?

Have you ever felt like this? Why? What happened?

Remember just like Jesus didn’t stop loving Peter, so He will also never stop loving you.

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7. Peter, Jo n and the disabled

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– Acts 3:1–10

One day, two ‘Jesus-Friends’, Peter and John, are on their way to visit the Temple. They see a disabled man sitting begging. Peter feels sorry for him and says, ‘Look at us!’

The man holds out his hand thinking Peter will give him money.

Peter says, ‘I do not have money, but what I have I will give to you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!’

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Then a miracle happens. The man gets to his feet, he can stand!

When he realises what has happened, he begins to jump up and down.

Laughing with joy, he praises God. The people around him are amazed at the greatness and the goodness of God.

Look and Learn Help Amy and Sammy find the Bible in the picture.

The Bible teaches us that when God does something for us, we must be glad and thank Him for it.

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Remember the Bible story Turn back to the previous picture.

Tell the story that you see there.

How does the man who was disabled feel?

How do Peter and John feel?

How do the other people who see the man jumping around feel?

We must also say thank You to God for all the good things that He does for us.

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Prayer Dear Lord, I want to thank You and praise You for looking after me so well each day.

Thank You for everything that You do for me.

Amen

Activity Talk about everything that you have to thank God for. Think about things like your family, your friends and school.

The beautiful sunshine, enough to eat, and a warm bed.

Then play the ‘Thank You’ game with your friends. Sit on your haunches in a circle.

Each one in the circle has a turn to jump up and say, “I say thank You for...”

Keep this up until everyone has had three turns.

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Reg no 2010/008573/07 Author: © Ewald van Rensburg Illustrations: © Magriet Brink Layout: Zelda Botha Concept and Managing Editor: Noeline N Neumann First edition, first printing 2021 ISBN 978-1-928437-19-2

AN IMPRINT OF

CHRISTIAN MEDIA PUBLISHING

Friends in the Bible

ISBN: 978-1-928437-19-2

www.christianmediapublishing.com