The greatest example of loyalty is God, who is faithful to His creation.
God’s Word says that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Because we have experienced God’s faithfulness in our lives, we should, in turn, be loyal to our family, friends, and those all around us.
Use this preteen lesson, based on 1 Chronicles 12:33, to teach students that God is faithful to those who are loyal to His Kingdom. God rewards loyalty.
- Nick Diliberto, Preteen Ministry
PRETEEN MINISTRY LESSON ON LOYALTY
Written by Stef Litzler
Bible: 1 Chronicles 12:33, 38; Ruth 1:16; 1 Samuel 20:42; Matthew 6:33; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 117:1-2
Bottom Line: God is faithful to those who are loyal to His Kingdom. God rewards loyalty.
SUPPLIES
- 2 quarters
- 2 single hole punchers
- 2 pieces of card stock paper (loyalty cards)
OPENING GAME: LOYALTY FLIP
GAME PREP
Divide students into two teams of equal size.
Designate a “Heads” side of the room and a “Tails” side of the room.
Create a space for the “coin flip center” in the middle of the two designated sides of the room.
The coin flip center will also contain each team’s single-hole puncher.
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
Say: Today teams will be rewarded for their “lucky” loyalty.
The goal is to be the first team to receive 15 punches on their card.
When the game begins, the student holding the card stock loyalty card comes to the center and flips the quarter.
If the student is on the Heads team and flips a Heads, the student punches a hole in the loyalty card.
If the student is on the Heads team and flips a Tails, the student does not punch a hole in the loyalty card.
If the student is on the Tails team and flips a Tails, the student punches a hole in the loyalty card.
If the student is on the Tails team and flips a Heads, the student does not punch a hole in the loyalty card.
After the student is done with their flip, they take the loyalty card to the next team member on their side.
The next student moves to the center to flip the coin.
The first team to reach 15 punches (or a number appropriate for your team sizes) shouts “loyalty” and wins the game.
TEACH
Say: We live in a world that understands the benefits of loyalty.
Loyalty rewards are a common way to keep us coming back for more!
For example:
- Get free French fries or a FREE shake on your 5th visit!
- Earn so many points at Starbucks and get a FREE drink!
- See a certain number of movies and earn the chance to watch a FREE movie!
- Fill out a survey and receive a FREE appetizer!
- Use this specific method of payment and get points to stay at hotels or fly a specific airline!
Ask: What would be one of your favorite places to receive points or rewards?
Allow a few response from students.
Can you think of other words (synonyms) for loyalty?
Allow a few more responses from students.
These are all great words that help us understand the meaning of loyalty.
The greatest example of loyalty is God, who is faithful to His creation.
God’s Word says that He will never leave us or forsake us.
God is faithful to all generations.
Throughout God’s Word, we see the importance of loyalty and how loyalty is rewarded.
For example:
- Military groups are rewarded for loyalty to their people or their leader.
- Families are rewarded for their loyalty to one another.
- Friends are rewarded for their loyalty to one another.
- God’s people are rewarded for their loyalty to Him.
- God is loyal to His people and receives glory, honor, and praise!
Let’s look at examples from God’s Word for each of these types of loyalty.
Read 1 Chronicles 12:33 and 1 Chronicles 12:38.
“from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;”
“All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks.
They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over Israel.
All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king.
Say: These verses show just a small portion of the loyal men who desired to make David king over Israel.
This part of David’s story helps us understand the importance of loyalty.
The majority of the Israelite tribes desired for David to take over Saul’s Kingdom.
They offered all of their resources and time.
They left their families and the comforts of their home.
They were willing to fight for David’s victory.
This is loyalty!
The Israelites who fought with David were rewarded.
They were given victory over their enemies!
Loyalty to a team, a class, a group, or a leader is important.
When you join together with a group to accomplish a goal, loyalty is a necessary characteristic for success.
Be loyal to the groups you have committed to or the groups God has placed you in so that victory is possible!
Read Ruth 1:16.
“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
Say: In this verse, Ruth is showing loyalty to her mother-in-law.
The story of Ruth helps us to understand the value of loyalty to our family.
Ruth is willing to give up her home to be a support for her mother-in-law.
Though her husband has died, Ruth still recognizes the importance of loyalty to the family she has left.
Ruth’s loyalty is rewarded as a result of her move to Naomi’s homeland.
Ruth ends up marrying one of Naomi’s relatives!
She then has a baby boy who would end up being King David’s grandfather!
If Ruth had decided to selfishly stay in her homeland, she would not have a place in the genealogy of David (and Jesus)!
God wants us to be loyal to the families that He has given us.
Leave a legacy of loyalty so that your siblings, your future children, and your future grandchildren know that you were an important part of their life.
Read 1 Samuel 20:42.
Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
Say: David and Jonathan’s friendship is one of the greatest examples of loyalty between friends.
Jonathan was the son of King Saul, who wanted to kill David.
Johnathan and David’s friendship saved David’s life.
Their friendship was one that honored God.
They both desired to be obedient to God and serve others well.
They were each rewarded because of the loyalty they showed one another.
David’s life is spared, and he eventually becomes king.
Jonathan’s descendants are blessed because of David’s kindness.
Being a good friend requires loyalty.
Read Matthew 6:33.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Say: This teaching is the middle of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus is helping His disciples to understand the importance of loyalty to God.
He encourages them to be loyal to God’s Kingdom above anything else.
Just before this, He told His disciples to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
We are promised, “all these things” added to us when we are loyal to God.
God is the provider of our basic needs.
God gives us food.
God quenches our thirst.
God clothes us.
Jesus says the pagans worry about these everyday needs, but those who are loyal to God should not worry.
When we are loyal to God and put His Kingdom above all else, we are rewarded with what we need for life.
Read Deuteronomy 7:9 and Psalm117:1-2.
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.”
We serve a God who is loyal to His people.
He has promised never to leave us or abandon us.
He keeps His promise to all generations!
He has given us the way of salvation.
He has gifted us with the Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us.
He loves us and is always available to us.
God’s people praise Him for His loyalty!
Say: We’ve seen five different examples of loyalty in the Bible.
In each situation, loyalty was rewarded.
However, it would be silly to be loyal to someone or something JUST to be rewarded.
Think about that.
If you don’t like shopping at Kohl’s, then why would you want to receive coupons or rewards from them by signing up for their rewards program?
If you don’t drink coffee, it won’t make sense to sign-up for Starbucks Rewards.
If you don’t enjoy swimming, it won’t make sense to join a swim team just for access to the pool throughout the year.
In the same way, we don’t sign-up for relationships JUST to be rewarded.
When we are loyal to a team, it is because it is important to be faithful to commitments and use our skills.
When we are loyal to our family, it is because it is important to be grateful for the family God has given us and selflessly serve others.
When we are loyal to our friends, it is because we have a built a relationship of trust and we encourage each other and love each other well.
When we are loyal to God, it is because we know He is worthy of our praise, our time, our love, and our devotion.
God is loyal to His people.
He is the perfect example of loyalty.
God keeps promises.
He is unchanging.
God is always available.
He is devoted to His children.
Be someone who values loyalty.
Be faithful to your commitments, to your friends, to your family, and your God.
Don’t set out seeking rewards for your loyalty, but know that loyalty does come with its rewards.
Let’s pray together.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When you think of the characteristic of loyalty, who or what comes to mind?
- Can you think of a time when you committed to something but didn’t follow through with your commitment? Why did you not follow through?
- If you could create a loyalty rewards program, what kind would it be? Who would it benefit? How often would you offer rewards?
- Who do you know that is a loyal person? Why do you think they are loyal?
- Outside of the verses and stories we discussed today, can you think of an example of loyalty in the Bible? Can you think of an example where someone was NOT loyal?
- What causes you to want to be loyal to someone or something?
- Have you seen benefits or rewards in your life because of your loyalty?
- Why do you think loyalty is important? What makes loyalty difficult?
- What are some ways we can be loyal to our friends? Family? Commitments?
- What can you do this week to be a loyal follower of Jesus?
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