Make time for friendship
God created us for relationships. The people we choose to surround ourselves with are incredibly important, but in 2024 the social fabric of our church is thinner than ever. Many of us are isolated, lonely and disconnected, but we may not even be aware of how negatively this is affecting us.
Beginning on 2nd June 2024 we’ll learn about how good friends (and bad friends) can impact our lives, our relationship with God and our future. We want to fight the trend towards loneliness by weaving ourselves together into healthy friendships and communities.
Keep reading for the Bible reading plan and group discussion guide for this series.
Bible reading plan
Week 1 (from Sunday 2nd June)
Rediscover the lost art of friendship and become the friend you need to be by reading and talking about the following Bible passages this week.
Day 1: Proverbs 13:20
Day 2: Proverbs 17:17
Day 3: Hebrews 10:19-25
Day 4: James 5:13-20
Day 5: John 15:9-17
Day 6: John 13:34-35
Day 7: Proverbs 27:5-6
Week 2 (from Sunday 9th June)
Take steps toward building relationship with the friends you need by reading and talking about the following Bible passages this week.
Day 1: Acts 9:26-30
Day 2: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Day 3: 1 Samuel 23:15-18
Day 4: Proverbs 27:5-6, 17
Day 5: 2 Samuel 12:1-10
Day 6: Proverbs 22:24-25
Day 7: Proverbs 12:26
Week 3 (from Sunday 16th June)
Strengthen your friendships and learn more about the importance of community by reading and talking about the following Bible passages this week.
Day 1: Acts 2:42-47
Day 2: Romans 15:1-7
Day 3: Ephesians 2:19-22
Day 4: John 13:34-35
Day 5: Acts 4:32-37
Day 6: Proverbs 13:20
Day 7: Genesis 2:18
Week 4 (from Sunday 23rd June)
Take steps to keep yourself from being influenced by the wrong friends by reading and talking about the following Bible passages this week.
Day 1: Proverbs 12:26
Day 2: 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
Day 3: John 13:31-35
Day 4: Matthew 16:21-23
Day 5: Genesis 39:1-12
Day 6: Proverbs 22:24-25
Day 7: Amos 3:3
Group discussion guide
Week 1 (from Sunday 2nd June)
- How has social media impacted your friendships for better or for worse?
- Of your close friends, which one would you classify as your closest friend? How has their friendship benefited your life?
- There is a saying, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” How have you experienced this truth in your life?
- Read and discuss Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 17:17, and Hebrews 10:24-25.
- How present are you in your friendships? How transparent are you? If there is one of these things you need to work on, what is it and what are you going to do about it?
- What are some of the things that keep you from having truly authentic friendships?
- Next steps: What’s one thing you can do this week that will help you be more present or more transparent with your friends?
Week 2 (from Sunday 9th June)
- What friend from your past has significantly impacted your life?
- Read and discuss Acts 9:26-28, 1 Samuel 16:12-13, 23:15-16, and Proverbs 27:5-6.
- Describe a time when a friend told you the truth when you needed to hear it. How did you respond to it and how did hearing this truth affect you?
- We need friends who will help us become better, find strength in the Lord, and tell us the truth. What type of friend are you missing right now?
- What’s your next step to develop the relationship with the person you need as a friend?
- Next steps: What’s one thing you can do this week to appreciate the friends in your life that are making you a better person?
Week 3 (from Sunday 16th June)
- What do you think is the major cause of relational poverty in your life?
- Read and discuss Acts 2:42-47, Romans 15:7, and Ephesians 2:19-22.
- Which long-term friendships have proven to be the most beneficial to you?
- What does your great community of friends look like? Is it your small group or another type of group?
- In what way do you need help from your group to fight the lions that you’re facing?
- Next steps: What steps will you take to strengthen your great community of friends?
Week 4 (from Sunday 23rd June)
- Talk about a time when someone in your life influenced you to go in the wrong direction.
- Read and discuss Proverbs 12:26, 1 Corinthians 15:33, and John 13:34-35.
- Is there a friend who is tempting or distracting you? What are you going to do to redefine that relationship?
- Who do you need to show the unconditional love of God to? How are you going to do it?
- Do you feel your core of friendships is strong enough for you to reach out and friend those that don’t know Christ? Why or why not?
- Next steps: What’s one thing you’ve learned from this series that you’ll put into action to strengthen your friendships?
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