Current Series: Yolo...life is short, don't waste it.
Title: Week 1 - "True-Faced BFF"
Main Thought: Friends determine the direction of your life, so choose wisely.
Scripture: Proverbs 13:20, 17:17, 18:24, 12:26, 27:6
Message Explanation: To make friends that last…
1. Be wise in choosing friends.
The people closest to us shape who we are. "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble" Proverbs 13:20. Avoid just “drifting” into friendships or be desperate. We sometimes latch onto someone who may not be a good fit for us, so take time building friendships that you can trust.
2. Be authentic in your friendships.
Nobody wants a fake friend. If you cannot be free to become who God wants you to with the people around you, they aren’t authentic friends. "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." Proverbs 17:17. Our love for others should not be based on what they can do for us but on how we serve others. "There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother" Proverbs 18:24.
3. Be willing to be held accountable.
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17. Jesus was the ultimate picture of a friend. He wept with those who were hurting and remained trustworthy to his disciples. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends…John 15:15. A real friend helps their friends know Jesus. They lay down their life in every way so that their friends know Christ. We need to be the type of friend that I wanted others to be for me!
Element of fun: We had a video opener called, "Frienemy." It was a message teaser to help students see how NOT to be a friend to others. Check it out!
Music: Not Ashamed, Search my heart, God is Able, King of Days, Only to You.
Favorite Moment: Hearing about students who decided to build better friendships by committing to the "Back 2 Back" challenge in finding an accountability partner.
We used a HABITS tool to give out to students for them to learn how to build growing friendship.
What’s Next: We are moving into the second week of the Yolo series. Week 2 is "Guy Talk" where we will talk about what a real man of God looks like and how he should relate to girls.
