Happy Monday everyone! I so enjoyed yesterday as we explored what the Old Testament Wisdom Book of Proverbs teach about real friendship. Our Sunday evening Small Group Life (SGL) Tailgate Party was a wonderful way to practice what we studied on Sunday morning!
Here are a few questions to consider in your small group or with a few others that will help us all to better establish and development meaningful friendships.
- Character is being honest (“Upright”) and consistent in all we say and do. Why is this quality so important to developing meaningful friendships?
- Commitment or loyalty is another indispensible quality for attracting and developing deep friendships. Describe a time when a faithful friend stuck with you through a challenging time. What did that mean to you? How did his/her faithfulness affect the outcome of the situation?
- The Bible teaches that what we say or don’t say carries enormous potential for good or ill. (e.g., Prov. 11:13; 18:21). Why is confidentiality so important to deep and lasting relationships? Without naming anyone, share a time when a confidence was broken (and it shouldn’t have been). How did it make you feel? Is it helpful to remember that feeling when we are tempted to break a confidence?
- Speaking the truth in love is a biblical value that fosters both personal and corporate maturity (e.g., Eph. 4:14-25). Why is it so hard at times to speak truthfully to another? What are the dangers of remaining silent? Discuss the difference between making judgments and being judgmental (see Jesus in John 8 and how He made a judgment on the woman caught in adultery “Go and sin no more” without being judgmental “Neither do I condemn you”).
May we all make the value of gathering together a priority in our lives and church family. And, may our great God help us to foster meaningful relationships that go the distance in life!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Frank
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