Hook (15mins)

Instructions (in – brief)

• Cut the 12 sets of characteristics out (Clarence will provide the sheets of characteristics)

• Ask kids to rank in order of importance to them (as their best friend’s character traits)

• Leaders should discuss the top 2 and bottom 2 characteristics and also ask why it was chosen to be there.

• How does these traits make a good friend

• How will it contribute to friendship

• We will next proceed to examine James

  
  

Character traits:

Compassion, Intelligence, Good looks, Good conversationalist, Lots of free time, Dependability, Good listener, Generosity, Sense of humour, Same age as you, No other friends, Very talented

Start: Opening prayer and General Sharing (5mins)

Read James 4:4.

1. What does the passage mean by using the words “adulterous people”

Immediately explain if your kids are not familiar. In the marriage context it refers to people who are unfaithful. In this case, it refers to those who are spiritually unfaithful and disobey God – because they love something in the world more than God.

2. The Bible says that friendship with the world is the same as hatred towards God, and calls Christians who do so adulterers. Why do you think "friendship with the world" is so serious? mean to be friends of the world?
   

The world indulge in things against God (Eg. Choosing to be selfish and engaging in vices). To be friends with the world is to be ONE and the SAME with them... doing what they do. This would make you turn your back against God to follow the world in its daily sinful ways.

3. Does this mean that we avoid our non-christian friends?

Let's find out. Read Luke 15:1-10

Qn 1) Who do you think are the 99 sheep and the 9 silver coins? -> Those who are followers of Christ.

Qn 2) Who do you think the lost sheep and lost coin refer to? -> anyone who has sinned and have turned away from God, not allowing God to direct their lives.

What does Luke 15 tell us? God desires everyone to repent and be saved.

We can't invite our friends to know Jesus if we avoid them!

Now Read John 3:16

Qn 3) Who/What does the “world” refer to when used in this passage?

The “world” used in this passage refers to humanity (I.e. all sinners/people that have fallen short of the glory of God).

Contrast this verse with how the word “world” used in James 4:4. John's words seems to contradict James’s: God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16).

Are we suppose to love the world or reject it?

When the word “world” refers to humanity, we ought to love it as God loves people. But when the “world” means the prevailing attitude of hostility toward God and his ways, we should reject it. If we are tolerant about such attitudes against God, we open ourselves to spiritual danger.

Since God so loved us sinners that he was willing to send Jesus to die for our sins, in gratitude and acknowledgment of these unconditional sacrifice, we would then be spurred on to love others/our friends (be it Christian or non-christian but at the same time to ensure that we do not follow them when they do things that disobey God – sin).

In short: God loves man -> man loves God -> man would then be compelled/motivated to love others as well.

Conclusion: We hate the sin but love the sinner!

Overall, no matter what different sets of characteristics our friend possesses (whether good or bad), we should not avoid them, but instead, we should love them just as Christ has loved us. This would mean to take a genuine concern about their lives and to correct them in love if they have committed any act that displeases God. This understanding and application of God’s love for us would go a long way in helping us be the best friend that we can be and to enjoy the fullest out of our friendships! :]