Dude, where's my friend?

Small Group Leaders,

Well, this week begins a new series titled: “Dude, where’s my friend?”  This is going to be a fun way to have students examine their existing friendships and where those friendships may be headed.  Remember: “He who lies with dogs gets fleas.”  OR as Proverbs 13:20 puts it:  “He who walks with the wise, grows wise.  But a companion of fools suffers harm.”  

Let me be clear.  We are not asking students to “dump” friends who may not believe in God.  We absolutely do not want to give that impression.  Instead, we want students to ask this question:  “Am I being influential in this friendship or am I being influenced?”  Our desire is to have students who are influencing their peers and their friends for Christ.  Removing them from those friendships doesn’t allow them to be influential.  It simply allows them to become outsiders with no chance of reaching their lost friends.  As I read the teachings and practices of Jesus…he was a part of culture in a major way…and made friendships with people who weren’t followers (yet), but he stayed committed to his standards, priorities, disciplines and his God.  That’s how we want to lead these students over the next few weeks.  

In the mean time, if you want to read up on some friendship principals, check out 1 Samuel 20.  This is a great story about an amazing friendship between David and Jonathan.  It should give you some good fuel in the weeks to come.  Also, begin to examine some of your own friendships and friendships from your past so you’ll have some lessons and examples to pass on.  

Have a great week off if we don’t see you this weekend.  We’ll be back at small groups on the 6th of November.

In Christ,
Scott