Friendship Trek Overview

Theme
Jesus, our Forever Friend Friends are great gifts from God… and the greatest friend of all is Jesus, our Savior!

Grab your gear and join Friendship Trek, an amazing hike through the Bible to meet Jesus, our Forever Friend. Kids find fun, faith, and friends at Friendship Trek. They experience Jesus’ friendship, enjoy meeting old and new friends, and learn to care for one another.

Kids explore five friend-filled Bible stories about Jesus. They run to follow Jesus as He reaches out to a new friend named Matthew. They go along as a centurion’s friends ask Jesus to heal the man’s servant—and He does! They traipse to the temple as Jesus heals a blind friend, then go to Bethany to see Jesus raise His friend Lazarus from the dead. Finally, they scurry to a locked room on Easter evening to witness the ultimate love Jesus showed by giving His life for His friends.

Site Activities

Each day begins at Trailhead Opening where kids meet their Friendship Circles and Circle Guides (small groups and leaders). They sing, pray, and start the day with Alex, a trail guide in the interactive Skit DVD. Four new friends join Alex on a mountain hike and experience conflicts that raise issues about the kids’ friendship with Jesus and one another.

Then kids hike their own Friendship Trek to five rotation sites where they unpack the Bible story and explore the friendship Jesus offers. Finally, everyone gathers at Friendship Summit Closing to sing, pray, and view the closing skit on the Skit DVD. Kids eagerly apply what they’ve learned to the skit hikers’ conflict.

Good Friend Challenge

Before they go, kids accept a daily Good Friend Challenge that puts what they’ve learned to work in their lives. They receive a super cool Friendship Flip featuring the day’s Main Idea, Bible memory verse, and forest friend. Kids love the irresistible collectibles and eagerly use them to tell their friends and family about Jesus.

Friends are great gifts from God, and Jesus is the greatest friend of all! God bless you as you share Jesus, our Forever Friend, with old and new friends this summer!

Day-to-Day Activities

Day 1

Lesson Title: Friends Reach Out

Bible Story: Jesus Calls Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13)

Main Idea: Jesus our friend reaches out

Bible Memory Verse: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. —1 Timothy 1:15

Crafts: Forever Friend Sand Art

Connector: Raya Raccoon

Raccoons reach out with their hands to do tasks or get food. Jesus reached out to Matthew and asked Matthew to follow Him & be His friend. Jesus, our friend, reaches out to make us His friends too. Raya means “friend.”

Snack: Reach Out Pudding

Day 2

Lesson Title: Friends Love

Bible Story: Jesus heals the centurion's servant (Luke 7:1-10)

Main Idea: Jesus, our friend, loves us

Bible Memory Verse: We love Him because He first loved us. —1 John 4:19 NKJV

Crafts: Friends Love Puzzle and Bag, Preschool Pals Paint Sheets, and Buddy's Friends Markers

Connector: Honey Bear

Bears love sweet foods like honey. Friends show love in sweet ways! There's nothing better than getting a big bear hug from a friend. Jesus, our friend, loves us and showed it when He healed the centurion?s servant and became our Savior.

Snack: Friendship Hearts

Day 3

Lesson Title: Friends Give

Bible Story: Jesus gives a blind man sight (John 9)

Main Idea: Jesus our friend gives gifts

Bible Memory Verse: The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.—Romans 6:23

Crafts: Jesus Gives Frisbee Flyer

Connector: Baldwin Eagle

Eagles have excellent eyesight. Jesus gave eyesight and faith to a blind man, two great gifts. Jesus, our friend, gives gifts to us too.

Snack: Crispy Gifts

Day 4

Lesson Title: Friends Care

Bible Story: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46)

Main Idea: Jesus, our friend, cares

Bible Memory Verse: Perfect love casts out fear.—1 John 4:18

Crafts: Friendship Frame, Preschool Pals Paint Sheets, and Buddy's Friends Markers

Connector: Buddy the Porcupine

A porcupine's quills can be very sticky. Friends stick together too! Jesus stuck with His friends and showed He cared by raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus, our friend, cares for us too.

Snack: Stick Together Campfires

Day 5

Lesson Title: Friends Share

Bible Story: Jesus died and rose (Luke 24:36-49)

Main Idea: Jesus, our friend, shares

Bible Memory Verse: Jesus “loved me and gave Himself for me.”—Galatians 2:20

Crafts: Trek Medallion

Connector: Rocky Ram

Bighorn sheep share food and protection with their friends. Jesus died and rose again to share forgiveness and new life with those who believe in Him. Because Jesus, our friend, shares, we can share this good news with our friends too!

Snack: Share S'More