a ministry of · We read last time in Luke 11:9–10: “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will . receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking,

a ministry of

LESSON 1:be a friend

Commit to your friendship and stick to it.

KEY FOCUS

PREPARE

• Note about the purpose of the bag• Materials list • Duct tape• Scissors• Practice the activity• Know the Scripture

Travel Bags:Each student will be given a bag. They will add a new item to it every week, through Lesson 4. Then they will give it to the person they want to bring to KidzFest. The bag will have the things you need to go on a trip (wallet, ticket, food, etc.).

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

—Proverbs 18:24, NLT

READ

Friendships are an integral part of God’s plan for the church. They are critical in communicating the Christian faith and essential as we build relationships

that lead to mutual benefit and growth. This Bring a Friend training is ideal for children and their circle of friends. It will teach kids to pray for their friends who

do not know Christ and show them how to invite their friends to an evangelism outreach. Being invited by a trusted friend and then attending an event together

are important steps in the process of people coming to faith and being discipled.

the strategyThis simple and effective resource for children’s ministry leaders introduces kids to their role in the upcoming event. There are four sessions—designed to take approximately 10 minutes each—for use where it fits best into your ministry.

bring a friend overview:

the idea

the 4 sessionsBe a Friend—Commit to your friendship and stick to it.

Pray—Keep on praying.

Invite—Invite someone to hear the Good News.

Bring—Bring your friend with you.

3

LESSON 2:pray

Keep on praying.

key focus

Remember to have students add this

lesson’s item to their travel bag.

prepare• Markers• Paper for prayer charts

read

Luke 11:5–12, a parable that talks about the importance of persistent prayer

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SAY

Real friends stick together. Duct tape is sticky—that’s how it works. You need to stick with your friends, to be there when they need you. The person you give your travel bag to should be someone you are committed to sticking with. Duct tape is also strong, just like the kind of loyalty that a strong friendship has. Duct tape wallets are not only fun to make but also fun to give away. Today we’re going to make a duct tape wallet.

DO

Each student will make a duct tape wallet to put in his or her invitation bag. To make the duct tape wallets:

1. Cut a strip of duct tape about an inch longer than the length you want your wallet to be. Cut another strip that’s the same length as the first strip. Lay them both parallel and sticky side up on the table. Then slide one over the other so there is a 1/4-inch band of overlap between the two. Attach. Then cut two more strips the same length and lay them sticky side down on top of the two other pieces. Smooth. You now have one side of your wallet. Repeat for the other side of the wallet.

2. Now place the two pieces parallel, about 3/4 inch away from each other. Cut another wallet-length piece and lay it down evenly between the two, attaching them. Pick this up, flip, and repeat.

3. Fold for two even sides.

4. With the wallet folded, cut two pieces of tape the height of the wallet. Place one strip on each end of the wallet, attaching about half the width of the tape. Turn your wallet over and fold the tape onto the back to close each end. For online images and directions on how to create a more sophisticated wallet (with ID and internal card pockets), go to wikihow.com/make-a-duct-tape-wallet.

Loneliness is all around us. Lots of people feel cut off or alienated from the world, but there is a way out of the loneliness. There is somebody who is with you always. God is always there to be a friend, and we are God’s examples for others. Do you know someone who needs your friendship? Ask God to show you the person you should befriend and give your travel bag to.

say

do

Prayer ChartHave the students each draw a prayer chart with themselves in the middle and a series of clouds or thought balloons around them. (Or you could draw a template to pass out to get them started.) Each student could add the names of people they are praying for. A separate cloud with their friend’s name on it could be added to the travel bag.

NOTE: Be sure to pray with the students. Say their friend’s name during the prayer.

LESSON 3: invite

KEY FOCUS

Invite someone to hear the Good News.

PREPARE

• Heavy paper cut into the shape of a plane ticket• Markers• Know the itinerary for KidzFest

Remember to have students add this lesson’s item to their travel bag.

READ

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. —Acts 8:4, ESV

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Have you ever asked God for something? (Pause for kids to answer.) How many times have you asked for it? (Answers will vary. Be sensitive

to children who may share a prayer that God hasn’t answered yet.) Sometimes when God doesn’t answer right away, we think He’s not listening. The Bible tells us that He’s always listening and He wants us to keep asking.

This week keep praying and asking that God will show you someone to befriend. If you already know the person you are going to invite, pray

that you are an example of love, the love that God gives us unconditionally.

DO

PASSENGER:

FLIGHT:KF1000

CLASS:FIRST

PASSENGER:

FLIGHT: KF1000

DEPARTURE:

DATE:

GATE :

AMINISTRYOFBILLYGRAHAMEVANGELISTICASSOCIATION ©2015BGEA

Do you know what “preaching the Word” means? It means sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Good News is simply that Jesus came down from heaven and died for our sins. He died so we could have eternal life with Him. You might feel uncomfortable about asking anybody to KidzFest, but remember, God can use us to tell others even when we’re uncomfortable.

We read last time in Luke 11:9–10: “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (NLT). Inviting somebody to an event can be a scary thing—we don’t know what they will say when we ask them to go with us. So keep praying that God will show you the right person to ask and the right way to invite them.

SAY

How to make your plane ticket: • Give each student a copy of the plane ticket (below). • Have the students put the date and time for KidzFest on the ticket. • Tell them to leave the name blank until next week, when the travel bags will be finished.

LESSON 4: bring

KEY FOCUS

Bring your friend with you to KidzFest.

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Remind students to add this lesson’s item to their travel bag. They should then give the bag to the person they want to bring to KidzFest.

PREPARE

Print out a copy of the following cookie recipe for each student.

(Ask an adult for permission before you start.)2 cups flour1 1/2 cups sugar1/2 bag chocolate chips (small)2 sticks butter, melted2 eggs

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.• Combine the ingredients and mix well. • Grease cookie sheet. Spoon-drop or roll out and cut cookies, put on cookie sheet, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.• Wrap up a couple cookies in colored packages.• Share them with your friend and bring him or her to KidzFest!

READ

Hand out the cookie recipe. Encourage the kids to bring a friend to KidzFest and remind them of the date and time.

DO

SAY

Traveling with someone is more fun than traveling alone. Your friend will probably be more interested in going to KidzFest if you go along with them. Going on a journey with a friend is much more fun than trying to figure out everything on your own. Bring your friend to KidzFest—it will be a lot more fun for both of you, and they will be much more likely to actually attend. Maybe you can think of other creative ways to share the journey with your friend, but here’s one: baking cookies. I have a cookie recipe for you to take home and use to bake cookies. Make sure you ask an adult for permission before you start.

If cookies are too tricky, you could use some other kind of food that friends typically share together—like popcorn, chips, gum, or something similar. Or maybe you could invite your friend over to make cookies together.

John 1:35–42, the story of Andrew bringing his brother to Jesus

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