Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 4, Monday Counterfeit Friendships

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READ PROVERBS 17:9, ROMANDS 16:17-18, 2 TIMOTHY 3:2-5; SOAP: ROMANS 16:17-18

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. PROVERBS 17:9 NLT

For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:2-5 NLT

Paul’s Final Instructions

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people. Romans 16:17-18 NLT

The early church and our current churches face a similar problem: people who are only interested in serving themselves.

Read the rest of the LGG devotional

–What’s your takeaway from today? Feel free to leave your response in the reply bar

Personal Reflection Question: How can you ensure you are not a friend who creates obstacles and conflict in your relationships?

You can also check out today’s blog

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3, Friday The Need for Forgiveness

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READ: COLOSSIANS 3:12-14, EPHESIANS 4:32, AND PROVERBS 17:17; SOAP COLOSSIANS 3:12-14
Colossians 3:12-14 New Living Translation

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Ephesians 4:32 New Living Translation

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Proverbs 17:17 New Living Translation

A friend is always loyal,
    and a brother is born to help in time of need.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE-AWAY?

All of our friendships will require forgiveness at some point or another. – 

Read the rest of the LGG devotional here

You can read today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post at Love God Greatly – Online Women’s Bible Study Blog

REFLECTION QUESTION: WHY IS FORGIVENESS IMPORTANT IN FRIENDSHIP?
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3, Thursday Friends Who Sharpen

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READ: PROVERBS 27:9 AND 17; SOAP PROVERBS 27:17

Proverbs 27:17 New Living Translation

As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:9 New Living Translation

The heartfelt counsel of a friend
    is as sweet as perfume and incense.

What’s Your Take-away? Leave your answer in the reply box

Friends can be instruments of God’s Grace – read how into today’s devotional by Love God Greatly

https://lovegodgreatly.com/devotional-friendship-w3d4/

REFLECTION QUESTION: ACCORDING TO TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL, HOW CAN A FRIEND SHARPEN A FRIEND? Answer in the Reply Box

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3, Wednesday A Friend Who is Trustworthy

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READ: PROVERBS 11:13; SOAP: PROVERBS 11:13

Proverbs 11:13 New Living Translation

A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE-AWAY? Would love to hear what you think – simply use the reply box

Gossip can cause more damage than we realize –

read the full devotional

And don’t miss the latest Love God Greatly Blog Post

https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

REFLECTION QUESTION: WHAT DO WE RISK DESTROYING WHEN WE GOSSIP? Answers are welcomed in the Reply Box

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3, Tuesday Speak the Truth in Love

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READ: PROV. 27:5-6 AND 28:23, AND EPHESIANS 4:15-16; SOAP: EPHESIANS 4:15-16

Proverbs 27:5-6 New Living Translation

An open rebuke
    is better than hidden love!

6 Wounds from a sincere friend
    are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 28:23 New Living Translation

In the end, people appreciate honest criticism
    far more than flattery.

Ephesians 4:15-16 New Living Translation

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

What’s Your Take Away?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the reply box

In today’s reading, Paul encouraged the Ephesian Christians to practice truth in love – find out more from the LGG Devotional

https://lovegodgreatly.com/devotional-friendship-w3d2/
REFLECTION QUESTION: WHAT BENEFITS DO YOU THINK CAN COME FROM CHRISTIANS LEARNING TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE? Share your answer in the reply box

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3, Monday — The Golden Rule

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READ: LUKE 6:31-36; SOAP: LUKE 6:31

Luke 6:31-36 New Living Translation

Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE AWAY? (scroll down and leave a reply)

Don’t forget to read the Blog and Devotional from Love God Greatly

REFLECTION QUESTION: HOW DO YOU WANT OTHERS TO TREAT YOU?

Feel free to share your answer in the comment bar
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3 Preview

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So far we have seen how God created us for relationships (wk.1) and we have learned the Biblicalness of Friendship (wk.2). This week we will see how our friendships can be a blessing and what the secret ingredient is.

CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S MEMORY/FOCUS VERSE -COLOSSIANS 3:14 – IT’S SHORT AND EASY – LET’S GO FOR IT! POP QUIZ ON WEDNESDAY 

Weekly Challenge: Make a commitment to be a completely trustworthy friend. Work intentionally to build habits that foster love and trust in friendship instead of dissension.

LGG Friendship Study Journal prompt

You can find week one and two under my previous blog post here at Mefromthensideout.com

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 2, Friday –Support In a Broken World

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Read: Hebrews 10:24-25 and Ruth 1:16-17; SOAP: Hebrews 10:24-25
Hebrews 10:24-25 New Living Translation

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Ruth 1:16-17 New Living Translation

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

We can be an encouragement by our persistent friendship!

Read the full devotional

Don’t forget to check-out the blog

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 2, Thursday Lifting Each Other Up

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Read: Galatians 6:1-10; SOAP: Galatians 6:2
Galatians 6:1-10 New Living Translation

We Harvest What We Plant

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Our relationship with God should flow into the way we treat others.

Read the full devotional here

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 2, Wednesday Thicker Than Blood

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Read: 1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 1 Samuel 20; SOAP: 1 Samuel 18:1-4
1 Samuel 18:1-4 New Living Translation

Saul Becomes Jealous of David

 After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

1 Samuel 20 New Living Translation

Jonathan Helps David

David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?”

2 “That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “You’re not going to die. He always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know my father wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!”

3 Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the Lord and by your own soul!”

4 “Tell me what I can do to help you,” Jonathan exclaimed.

Read David’s plan and the rest of the story

David and Jonathan are good examples of how strong a friendship can be when it’s rooted in a mutual love for God.

Read the full devotional here

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