Study 1:
WHAT MAKES A GOOD FRIEND – Exploring who God is to me
We can probably all think of a best friend from some point in our lives.
What were some of the things that made that person so special to us?
What makes a a good friend?
When I think of some of my best friends from my life I think of friends:
- We can have fun with
- We can Trust
- A good listener
- Someone who is reliable
- Someone who supports us
- Someone who is loyal
- Someone we can share our problems with
Who is our ultimate friend?
God is all of that for us
and more….
Check out these verses about God’s relationship with us
God wants to have a deep and meaningful relationship with us. He wants to be the one we turn to for help. He should be our instant go to in any situation. It’s easy to neglect God and to use him as our emergency life line, only ‘making the call’ when we are in trouble.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:31-32
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ‘
Romans 8:38-39
Where is your “friendship” with God?
Study 2
God: The Ultimate ‘Friend’- Exploring who God is to me
It is easy to get side tracked by life and forget our best friendship…. our one with God….
What are some of the things that get in the way of our relationship with God?
At home?
At school?
In the weekends?
other causes….
A good way to assess this is to think what is the first thing we think about or do in the morning and the last thing we think about at night. Often that is an indication of what our heart is desiring. It may be something we are worried about and need to pass over to God or it may be something that is taking our heart or attention away from focusing on God (Like a phone)
How can get around these distractions?
- Set a time aside each day to pray and read God’s word. Make it a habit.
- Use a bible app or subscribe to a reminder to have our quiet time with God. If it’s the technology that’s distracting you- Don’t read the bible on your tablet or phone. Use a written copy so you aren’t tempted by Facebook or games.
- Have wisdom in who you form close relationships with. If you feel your friends are distracting you from God, try to spend more time socialising with friends that uplift you in your walk with God. Look at joining a bible study together or praying together about your week. It could even be over the phone.
- Remember at the end the day no matter what you have on, God needs to take precedence. He is the God of all things and demands to come first in our life.
- Feel like your prayers are only hitting the ceiling? Try writing your prayers down and keeping a record of all the ones God answers. It’s easy to overlook all the little answers He provides for us daily. Also ask for God to help you understand His word and to highlight what He wants you to take away from the reading for the day. Prayer and quiet times are like a muscle. The more we exercise it the stronger it will become and the easier we will find it to see God in our day to day life and hear Him speaking to our hearts. God isn’t always a roaring lion. Sometimes He speaks in quiet whispers.
Read 1 Kings 19:12
Read Psalm 34:17-19
This is one of the 5467 promises God makes to his people . We are commanded to cry out to God for help and he will deliver us from our trouble. This verse doesn’t promise life will be easy but it does promise that God has got our back when stuff gets hard. Like peer pressure or bullying
“We love Him because He first loved us” 1 John 4:19
There are many verses in the bible about having a personal relationship with God. We are called to have our OWN relationship with God.
What are some ways your relationship with God could improve today?
and how?
Study 3
Knitted together like a cable knit sweater- Living a life that reflects our holy creator
Lots of people who have grown up in a Christian home will have heard the question what is the chief end of man? And will know the response: “The Chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” But what does that actually mean?
Read Psalm 139:13-14
We have been created by God. He knew us before anyone else. He knows our inner most being and what makes us tick…. Even more than we know ourselves. He created us to bring Glory back to himself.
Our lives need to reflect that Glory… Think about someone you know who you would say is a real godly example, why did you choose them? Why would you say they are ‘godly’?
What does the bible say?
read these verses and note the key aspects that display a Godly life:
Matthew 6:33-34
Proverbs 31:26
Proverbs 31:30-31
Philippians 2:3-5
Colossians 3:23
But is it easy to live as a godly example? Living as a godly example to others can be hard, especially when we are surrounded by the world. But we are called to be as salt and light in the world.
Read Matthew 5: 13-16
Salt is used to preserve food and keep it from becoming rotten. It is also used to enhance flavour. This is how we are called to be in the world but we need grace to do that.
We bring glory to God through out actions, behaviour and speech. It’s not always easy and that is why we also need to live by grace.
God was and is gracious to us by sending Jesus while we were still sinners to die on the cross for our sin but the grace did not stop there….
We live by grace everyday. Everyday we slip up as we walk the path to becoming more like Jesus. Everyday we need God’s grace a new in our lives. Everyday we need to ASK God to help us with our walk. We need to have our own personal relationship with Him so we can turn to God for the help we need.
