Finding Friends | Friends | Drew Moore

Who are you walking with? Are you surrounded by people who seek after Christ or their own interests? Proverbs 13:20 says, "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." God created people for friendships — you were never intended to be alone. This week, take a look at the quality and character of your friendships, seeking those who will walk toward God with you.

KEY VERSES

  • Proverbs 13:20 NLT - Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

  • Genesis 3:8 NLT - When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

  • Genesis 5:23-24 NLT - Enoch lived 365 yearswalking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

  • Genesis 6:9 NLT - This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

  • Psalms 1:1 NLT - Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

  • Psalms 1:2-3 NLT - But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

  • Matthew 7:20 NLT - Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

  • Galatians 5:22-23 NLT - But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulnessgentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

  • John 2:23-25 NLT - Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people.No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.

  • Luke 6:12-13 NLT - One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names

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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