FUEL: Refuel your Friendships
Matthew 2:1-16
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out— what did God do in and through you (Phil 2:13)? Celebrate those together!
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Read: Matthew 2:1-16
Review: Remind the group of the focus of this series:
o This series looks at what Scripture says about health in various areas of our lives— places where the truth and grace of God can shine through and sustain us as well as those around us.
o This weekend, we looked at refueling in the area of our friendships. How do we recognize a friendship where we can refuel?
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflect:
Read John 13:34-35. Discuss this passage.
o What are some differences you see between Christ’s command to “Love each other as I have loved you” and culture’s mandate to “tolerate each other without comment”?
o Scripture says Jesus was “full of grace and truth”— talk about ways where these two facets of God’s character have impacted your own life in God-honoring friendships.
Discuss the following Scriptures— how do they help us to build our ability to recognize a godly, healthy relationship?
o Eph 5:21-25;
o John 15:5, 15:13;
o 1 Cor 13:4-7;
o Prov 12:26, 27:6, 27:19
Read Matthew 7:1-6, 15-23. Discuss the following questions
o In Matt 7:1-6, What is Jesus warning people about, and how will we recognize “something’s wrong here”?
o In Matt 7:15-23, what is Jesus equipping people to do— what is the problem He is helping them resolve?
o What is the difference between hypocritical condemnation and humble discernment?
Read Galatians 6:1-5. Discuss the following questions
o Is this calling people to be judgmental or to exercise good judgement?
o How do you recognize humility when “helping someone get back on the right path”?
The message ended talking about what can prevent us from refueling in the area of our friendships. Discuss each area:
o How does Scripture help us to have a controlled response to fearful situations— what scriptures can you think of that deals with this? How do these Scriptures help us navigate our response to fear (and the isolation it can bring)?
o What does the Bible say about unforgiveness? What scriptures can you think of as a group that make the command to forgive clear (even people whom we do not/cannot trust)?
Respond:
o The ability to discern health in a friendship, the power to overcome fear and unforgiveness— these are all supernatural things! Break out into groups of 2-3 and share with each other any struggles you are having in “refueling” in these areas of friendship specifically. Bring them to the Lord in prayer together.
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