7th & 8th Bible Workshop: FRIENDSHIP

Source: Notes by Mr. T.

WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP?

  1. Define the word friend.
  2. When God created man, He saw the importance of friendship for us as human beings.
  3. Genesis 2:18—
  1. Psalm 133:1—
  1. Read the following texts and summarize why friendship is important to us.
  2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
  1. Proverbs 17:17
  1. Proverbs 27:9
  1. Proverbs 27:5-6
  1. Proverbs 27:17 & 19
  1. To have friends is important, but also who we have as friends is important. Why is this so important? (Refer bact to Number 3 to answer)
  1. Read Proverbs 1:10-16. What advice and warning is given to us about our friends in these verses?
  1. List three ways in which friends can a be a positive influence and a negative influence in our life.
  2. Positive
  3. Negative
  4. The Word of God speaks about qualities of a good friend. List what qualities are found in the following verses:
  5. Romans 12:10
  6. Romans 12:15
  7. Proverbs 17:9
  8. Proverbs 11:3
  9. Proverbs 17:7
  10. Amos 3:3
  11. Romans 15:2

EXTRA CHALLENGE QUESTIONS

  1. Friendship has various degrees of depth. Some levels of friendship include:
  2. Acquaintance
  3. Comrade
  4. Companion
  5. True friend
  6. Why does it become increasingly more difficult to develop deeper or closer friendships?
  1. Before man fell in the Garden of Eden, do you think it was difficult to establish true friendship? Why or why not?
  1. Why does friendship take commitment?
  1. Read John 15:12-14. Who is the Friend spoke of here? Why does the love and friendship of Jesus to His people transcend the deepest human friendship ever established?

WHAT IS AN ACQUAINTANCE RELATIONSHIP?

  1. Define the word “acquaintance:”
  1. To form an acquaintance with someone who was a stranger before is not always easy. List a few possible reasons for this difficulty:
  1. What guidance does Proverbs 18:24a give for developing friendships?
  1. What is the root cause of loneliness as experienced often today?
  1. Look up the following texts. How do these verse provide guidance in developing a sense of “do’s” and “don’ts” regarding our relating with others:
  2. Matthew 20:26-27
  3. Philippians 2:3-4
  4. Proverbs 17:9

EXTRA CHALLENGE QUESTIONS

  1. What does the second Table of the Moral Law require of us?
  2. By nature we judge others actions toward ourselves and toward others by their words and actions. God, however, judges by the inmost thoughts and motives or the heart.
  3. Why is spiritual conversion necessary to love our neighbor in God’s sight?
  1. Read Galatians 5:19-26. Contrast verses 19-21 with verses 22-23. Why are the fruits of the Holy Spirit necessary in our heart and life to truly love our neighbor?
  1. From what source of love can God’s children love and forgive their fellow man? Read Colossians 3:12-13
  1. When the love of God is in exercise, is it possible not to love one’s neighbor? See 1 John 4:20.
  1. When an acquaintance treats us kindly we can easily think that we love him or her. Why is it a better time to judge our love when they have mistreated us or committed some action against us?

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