4 – Friends [Re]Build Trust

Big Idea: show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.

Theme verse: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  ¹² 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.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12)

1.  Trustworthiness is rooted in a willingness to forgive.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.… Read the rest

3 – Friends Come First

Big Idea: Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.

Theme Verse: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  ¹² 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.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12)

Once you learn that the world doesn’t revolve around you, you will become a better friend.… Read the rest

2 – Friends with your Fam

Big Idea: Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.

Theme Verse: Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  ¹² 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.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12)

Sacrifice – Loyalty – Love

1.     No family is perfect.

•  Favorite kid syndrome

“Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age.… Read the rest

1 – Who is in Your Circle?

Big Idea: Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.

Theme Verse: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  ¹² 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.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12)

• Allies: people that cooperate with or help each another in a particular activity.

4 – Comparison

Theme Verse: “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

Christ hasn’t called us to want other people’s lives, or to compare our lives to theirs; He has called us to follow Him.

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God.… Read the rest

3 – Criticism

Theme Verse: “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…”  (Hebrews 12:2)

We can either focus on what people who don’t really know us think about us, or we can focus on what God, who has always known us, thinks about us.

“Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by ⁶⁷ and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.… Read the rest

2 – Circumstances

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

Big Idea:When all you can see are your circumstances, you miss out on what Jesus is doing all around you.

“Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. ²³ After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. ²⁴ Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. … Read the rest

1 – Character

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

Big Idea: If all we focus on is how we measure up, we will never be able to have a relationship with Jesus. But if we take our eyes off of ourselves, and begin to look at Jesus, He can show us what a relationship with Him will do for us.

“One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. … Read the rest

3 – Our Greatest Love

Speaking about Jesus (the ways of Jesus) into other people’s lives in a way that shows God’s love for them.

Who or what is your greatest love? What do you give most of your time, energy, money and attention to?

1. We all have idols.

“So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, ²³ for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.” (Acts 17:22-23)

Contemporary idols: possessions, careers, relationships, hobbies, sports, entertainment, goals, greed, addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, etc.… Read the rest

2 – Words in Action

Theme for Week 1: Speak the truth in love.

Truths about truths…

• Truth is Honesty.

“ But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:21)

Stop DOING things you think Christians should do and start BEING a follower of Jesus.

• Truth is Freedom.

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. ³² And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32-32)

Being a Christ follower isn’t about obeying the rules, but about living in freedom from sin.