March 8th & 9th - Circle of Friends

Core Scripture(s):
John 15:12-13 (AMP) “This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.”

Proverbs 17:17 (MSG) “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Read verse 9-12 for more study)

Memory Verse:
Proverbs 18:24 (NLT) “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.”

Discussion Questions:

• Think about your friends/best friends… how many friends do you have 5, 10, 20, 100? Now how many of those people can you really share your deepest secrets with? Why is that person different from the rest?
• What is a friend? What qualities do you think define a friend?
• What does God think of friends? Can you think of anything in the Word to back that up? (Try David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18:1-3)
• How do your friendships line up with what the Word of God has to say about friends? The same, different, a little better, where are you at?
• What changes can you make in your friends or relationships to make them more beneficial for you to follow God’s plan for your life?

Bottom Line:
We need to be wise and put all of our relationships in proper perspective. One of the best ways to do this is to think of “circles of friendship”. All of our friends fall into one of three categories: best friends (people who influence me), friends (people I influence) and acquaintances. Good friends are wise friends. Good friends know the difference between right and wrong. Good friends make good decisions. And it will always be easier for you to do the right thing when you are with the right people.