March 26 – April 1

Weekly Reading for March 26 – April 1

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Gardens and Graves
Sermon Title: From the First Garden in Paradise to Exile

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on April 2, 2023:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Friendship
Sermon Title: Spiritual Strength in a Fractured World
Delivered On: March 26, 2023

VIEW SERMON NOTES

Memorize and Reflect

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s life for one’s friends.”


Prayer Direction

Ask the Lord to make you the best friend ever by showing you where you can grow, and thank him for the friendships you already have.


“Live It!” Challenge

Do a self assessment: how “real” am I with friends and family? Am I the kind of friend I want in my life? Ask God to show you how to plumb the depths of the relationships you have and make them even richer.


Small Group Discussion

  1. Read: Ecclesiastes 4 and share how “two are better than one” works in your life.

  2. Share with the group about the very first “best friend” you had and what made that relationship special?

  3. From your point of view, how does God connect us in relationships?

  4. Read: Psalm 133. Talk about verse one and what “good” and “pleasant” mean in this context.

  5. Read: Job 42. Discuss when someone wasn’t truthful with you and the impact. Was the relationship damaged, broken, or restored? If restored, if so how?

  6. Read: Proverbs 22:11. How would you assess your own heart in these terms? How about speaking gracious words? How is that going?

  7. How has the church provided opportunities for relational connections for you?

  8. Have you had a serious trial in a friendship? Was it with a fellow believer? In your church? Share the trajectory of the situation and its outcome.

  9. If it’s hard for you to connect on the friend level, share why you think that is, and if you want change. If you want change, how can the group help?