In Sunday School and in the sermon this week, we started a new series: A Church That Cares. This week we focused on ministering through friendship. As a family, review the Sunday School Scripture (Job 2:11-13) and sermon notes and Scripture.

Review the MEMORY VERSE: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 NIV

In our corporate worship service, Pastor Jamey taught us to:

1.     Practice incarnational ministry - Be in God’s presence and BE God’s presence for others

2.     Practice an involved ministry - Be with God’s people physically and connected emotionally

3.     Practice intentional ministry - Meet both physical and spiritual needs

4.     Practice illogical ministry - Be willing to befriend the friendless no matter who they are or where you meet them.

As we learned today, the ministry of friendship may sometimes be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and messy, but we are called to love others just like Jesus did.

READ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

DISCUSS:

According to Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, why are “two better than one”?

Let’s notice a few things from this passage about friendship. First, in verse 9, we are told that two are better than one because they have a “good return for their work.” This phrase literally means that friendship is a wise investment that yields profitable dividends! Friendship is worth the investment of your time and energy because the reward will be great.

Second, two are better than one because backup is always available (verse 10). No one can do it all, and everyone falls down at some point. When the going gets tough, it’s nice to have a friend to call in for backup. When you become weak and weary, it’s a blessing to have a hand of help from a friend.

Third, verse 10 tells us that a friend can provide comfort in the cold. Now, most of us are probably not worried about the possibility of being stranded in a blizzard by ourselves. But, we can all agree that the world is sometimes a cold, cruel place, and thing happen beyond our control. When we’re stuck in the “cold,” enduring challenging circumstances, it’s always helpful to have a friend there to comfort you.

Fourth, two are better than one because a friend can help protect you from the enemy (verse 11). Now again, the majority of us will not be engaging in hand-to-hand combat anytime soon, but the verse can still apply to us. We are all at war against a very real spiritual enemy, who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). To avoid temptation, flee from sin, and fight Satan, we need the support and accountability of friends.

DISCUSS:

Do you invest your time and energy in stuff or people?

What are some of the possible rewards from investing in friendships?

How has a friend ever helped you, comforted you, or fought with you? Have you thanked that person?

THIS WEEK:

1.     Thank God for the friends He has placed in your life.

2.     Send a card or message to a friend, thanking him/her for the times he/she helped you.

3.     Look for and act on opportunities to invest in friendship.

In Sunday School and in the sermon this week, we started a new series: A Church That Cares. This week we focused on prayer. As a family, review the Sunday School Scripture (Acts 12:5,11-17; James 5:16, Matthew 6:9-13, and Job 42:10) and sermon notes and Scripture (Matt 21:10-22). 

Review the MEMORY VERSE: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 NIV

In our corporate worship service, Pastor Jamey taught us to:

1. Pray with clarity
   
2. Pray continually
   
3. Pray congregationally
   
4. Pray compassionately
   
5. Pray with conviction
   

Pastor Jamey emphasized that a church that cares will pray for one another. And a church that prays for one another will show they care. Have you prayed for your church family today?

READ John 15:1-8, then finish by reading verses 7 & 8 carefully again.

DISCUSS:

What promise does Jesus make regarding prayer in verse 7?

What are the conditions for this promise in verse 7 (the IF statement)?

According to verse 8, why does God answer prayer?

In his book Desiring God, preacher and author John Piper discusses the issue of prayer using the passage from John 15. Piper points out that “we are really paralyzed. Without Christ, we are capable of no good. But according to John 15:5, God intends for us to do something good – namely, bear fruit. So Jesus promises to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. How do we take part in this? We pray! We ask God to do for us through Christ what we can’t do for ourselves – bear fruit. Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing. And prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that he will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy and exalts God as wealthy.”

DISCUSS:

Why don’t we pray as much as we should? What are the obstacles to prayer in my life?

What are the benefits to prayer?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

As Christians, we are called to pray continually, without ceasing. Prayer is not an event with a specific starting and stopping point. Prayer is a lifestyle. It’s like breathing – in and out, all the time. What can you do to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer?

THIS WEEK:

Make an effort to add prayer into your daily schedule. If you already do this, add more times of prayer. Attempt to make prayer such a priority in your life that prayer becomes more of a lifestyle than an activity. When are some practical time during your day that you could pray? (Ideas: in the car, with the kids, on the phone with a friend, out loud when a person requests it, etc)