Fruit of the Spirit · Lesson 7
Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
2 Kings 2:1-14; 1 Kings 19:19-21; Lamentations 3:22-23; Luke 16:10 Old Testament PrincipleFaithfulness
On the day God was taking Elijah to heaven, Elijah told Elisha three times, "Stay here." Three times Elisha said, "I will not leave you." Other prophets watched from far away, but Elisha stayed close to the end. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. God is always faithful to us, so His Spirit helps us stay loyal to Him and to the people He gives us, day after day.
Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. God is always faithful to us, so His Spirit helps us stay loyal, keep our word and keep going, day after day.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”
Lamentations 3:22-23 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s character
Elisha said, "I will not leave you," and kept his word for one long day. God says it forever: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus promised, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). Even when we fail Him, "if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). Our faithfulness is the Spirit's fruit, growing from God's faithfulness to us.
2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 1:9
The Big Story · Redemption
God kept His word through His prophets, passing His work from one faithful servant to the next until the greatest Prophet, Jesus, came.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Stay close
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Feed it every day
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Follow the leader
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God is faithful. I can be faithful.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: I will not leave you, Color the faithful helper
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Elijah told Elisha three times, "Stay here." Three times Elisha said, "I will not leave you!" He stayed close until God took Elijah to heaven. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. God always keeps His promises, and His Spirit helps us keep ours and stick with people.
Memory verse
“His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”
Adapted from Lamentations 3:22-23
Start here
Ask, "Have you ever made a promise and then not kept it?" Say, "Today we meet a man who made the same promise three times in one day, and kept it every time."
Bible story 6 min
Elijah was God's prophet. Elisha was his helper. For years, Elisha went with him. He even poured water on his hands.
One day God was going to take him to heaven. Elijah said, "Stay here. God is sending me on." Elisha said, "I will not leave you!" So they went on.
In the next town, he said, "Stay here." Elisha said, "I will not leave you!" In the next town, he said it one more time. "Stay here." And one more time, Elisha said, "I will not leave you!"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Stay or go? 8 min
- Play follow the leader. Every few steps, the leader turns and says, "Stay here!" The followers shout, "I will not leave you!" Change leaders and play again.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
On the day God took Elijah to heaven, Elisha refused three times to leave his master, while fifty prophets watched from a distance. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. It means being loyal and dependable to God and to people, day after day, because God is always faithful to us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: I will not leave you, Faithful chart
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Elisha had served Elijah faithfully for years, even pouring water on his hands. On Elijah's last day, he refused three times to be left behind, while fifty prophets watched from a distance. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. It is loyalty proven over time, built in small daily choices and rooted in God's faithfulness, which never fails even when ours does.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Faithful over time, Who am I standing far from?
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, at school, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Faithfulness
The same principle in other Bible stories.
In the BeginningNoah and the FloodGenesis 6:5-9:17God judged a world full of evil, but He made a way to be saved and kept His promise to Noah.Old TestamentFaithfulness
Seeing God's WorldLiving It OutDaniel 6; Romans 12:1-2Daniel was an old man in Babylon when jealous leaders tricked the king into banning prayer. Daniel kept praying three times a day, just as he always had, and God shut the lions' mouths. A biblical worldview isn't just how we see. It's how we live, every day, so we're ready when the hard day comes.Old TestamentFaithfulness
The Church BeginsTimothy Learns God’s Word2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Acts 16:1-3Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice taught him God's Word when he was little. He grew up to help Paul tell people about Jesus. In his last letter, Paul told Timothy to keep holding on to the Scriptures, because they come from God and point to Jesus.New TestamentFaithfulness
Crossing the JordanJoshua 3:1–4:24After forty years in the wilderness, God's people came to the Jordan River. It was flooding! When the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water, God stopped the river, and everyone crossed on dry ground. They stacked twelve stones so their children would ask about it. God is faithful, so we remember what He has done.Old TestamentFaithfulness
Joash, the Boy Who Became King2 Kings 11:1-12:16; 2 Kings 8:19; 2 Samuel 7:16; Luke 1:32-33God promised King David that a king from his family would rule forever. When wicked Queen Athaliah tried to destroy the whole royal family, Jehosheba rescued baby Joash and hid him in the house of the LORD for six years. Then Jehoiada the priest brought the seven-year-old out, crowned him, and the people shouted, "Long live the king!" Joash did what was right while Jehoiada taught him, and he repaired God's temple. Faithfulness means staying true to God, and we can trust Him because He always keeps His promises, even when people don't.Old TestamentFaithfulness
With NatureStay Connected: Jesus Is the VineJohn 15:1-17; Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:8-11Jesus said He is the vine and we are the branches. A branch can't grow fruit by itself; it stays connected to the vine, and the vine's life flows into it. When we stay close to Jesus, He grows love, joy and faithfulness in us.New TestamentFaithfulness