Ending Friendships | Friends | Drew Moore

Have you ever experienced the end of a friendship? Friendships come in seasons, and how they end can have lasting impacts. You can choose to leave and lose them or send them with encouragement. This week, consider Paul and Barnabas' example to send your friend well (Acts 13-15). 

KEY VERSES

  • Acts of the Apostles 2:44-46 - And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity

  • Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35 - All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

  • Genesis 1:27-28 - So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

  • Genesis 2:15 - The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

  • Luke 12:15 - Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

  • Luke 12:21 - “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

  • Luke 12:42 - And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.

  • Luke 12:48 - But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

  • Acts of the Apostles 4:32 - All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.

  • Acts of the Apostles 4:32 - All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.

  • Acts of the Apostles 4:34-35 - There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell themand bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.

Recap

+ Reconnect

To begin the study, each person answers these questions:

  • What are you thankful for?
  • What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
  • What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?

+ Recap

  • Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
  • Did you live out your response from last week?
  • Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?

Discovering What God Is Saying

+ Read and Retell the Bible Story

  • One person reads the story out loud to the group.
  • Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.

+ Read and Look

  • Read the passage again (different version if possible)
  • What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?

+ Read and Look Again

  • Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
  • What does this passage say about people in general?

Doing What God Is Saying

+ Consider

  • What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
  • How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
  • Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.

Sharing what God is saying

+ Praying Together

  • Take prayer requests
  • Pray together

+ Share

  • Who in your life needs to hear this story?
  • Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?

Become a Partner

Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.

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