Close Friends Practice week

Anyone who is great at something went through practice.

Kobe

F1 Drivers

Divers

Builders

Practice leads to growth - Same is true with our faith.

The goal of practice isnt to become the best , but we do want to grow

Build on the rock or sand? Put Jesus’ words into practice, or in one ear and out the other.

TALK

Past 3 weeks - Studying close friendship

Week 1 we talked about how BEING A FRIEND MEANS SERVING YOUR FRIENDS

We want to shift our focus from what are my friends doing for me, to, what can I do for my friends?

We looked at Jesus’ example in John where he washed his disciples feet (Practice).

Week 2 - We talked about how THE FRIENDS YOU CHOOSE IMPACT THE FUTURE YOU WILL HAVE

Proverbs - we were challeneged to be intentional

Seek the good influence of friends

Week 3 we talked about how BEING A FRIEND MEANS WALKING AWAY FRIENDLY

Sharp disagreement, moving away, regardless we need to Model Jesus’ love in our breakups.

What if we did this? Today we are going to practice:

Hearing from God through scripture.

***Praying to God by talking to God

Talking about God with Others

Living for God through worship and service

HEAR

GODS WORD DOESNT JUST GIVE US INFO - IT GIVES US DIRECTION - slow down

One of the easist ways to miss what God is saying is to rush through what he has already said.

Intro Verse Mapping:

Circle words that stand out to you

Highlight anything that feels powerful

Underline things you want to remember

Write questions in the margins

What did you notice?

What word or phrase stood out most—and why?

How does this verse apply to your friendships right now?

What’s one thing you want to remember or try because of this verse?

PRAY

Prayer is simply talking to God. Sometimes, writing things down helps us express what we’re really feeling and thinking. 

Friendships bring out a lot of emotions. Some are great—like laughter, joy, and feeling seen. Others are harder, like confusion, hurt, or disappointment. And when you’re in the middle of that, it can be tough to figure out how to talk to God about it.

So tonight, we’re going to try something simple: we’re going to write a letter to God. You don’t have to have perfect words or polished prayers. Just be honest. Tell Him what you’re thankful for in your friendships, what’s been hard, what you need, or what you’re hoping for.

NOTECARDS

TALK

Sharing your story and hearing someone else’s builds connection, empathy, and trust.

So tonight, we’re doing Storytime. This is your chance to share parts of your friendship story—and to hear from others in your group, too. You don’t have to have a perfect memory or a perfect point. Just be real.

Here are a few story prompts to choose from. You don’t have to answer all of them—just pick one or two that stand out:

Tell a story about a time a friend showed up for you in a big way.

Share a moment when a friendship changed, and how you handled it.

Talk about a friendship that helped shape who you are today.

What’s a time you learned something important because of a friendship mistake?

What’s one of your favorite memories with a friend, and why does it stand out?

This is a space for listening, not judging. You can pass if you’d rather not share, but if you’re up for it, your story could help someone else feel less alone in theirs.

Every friendship tells a story—some are still being written, and some have already left a mark. What you just shared matters. And the way you listen and care for each other? That’s friendship that reflects Jesus.”

LIVE

Living out your faith means choosing to love and serve others—even when no one’s watching. One powerful way to do that is by giving without expecting anything in return.

So much of friendship can become about getting—getting attention, getting included, getting something back. But Jesus flipped that mindset. He showed us that love is most powerful when it’s given without expecting anything in return.

So tonight, we’re going to practice that by giving anonymously. 

DO THIS (FOR SMALL GROUP)

Pass out blank notecards, small gift bags, or paper for notes.

Provide a few ideas or prompts to get students started:

“You may not know this, but…”

“I see ___ in you and it matters.”

“Just a reminder: You’re not alone.”

“You’re making a bigger impact than you realize.”

Optional twist: Have a station (or the duffle bag!) where they can drop the note/gift to be delivered later.

Or let them keep it and challenge them to deliver it sometime this week—no credit, no signature, just kindness.

Wrap up - Invitation