Rooting Path · Christian Living · Lesson 5: Friends and Neighbors · Iron Sharpens Iron
This lesson in one sentence: To put down roots you need at least one companion who will tell you the truth; iron sharpens iron.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Discussion30 min
- This Week10 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
Who is the friend you have known longest? How did you meet?
Read Together
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 · WEB
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 · WEB
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
Proverbs 27:17 · WEB
Discussion
- “A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17)—which of your friends showed up when you were in trouble?
- “The wounds of a friend are faithful” (Proverbs 27:6)—when did you last hear a hard truth from a friend? How did it feel?
- “Iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17)—in what area would you like a companion to ‘sharpen’ you?
- Why do people today have so many friends, yet so few they can open their hearts to?
- “love your enemies,” “pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you”—is there someone this week you could pray for, but never have?
This Week
Arrange to meet or call a friend—not to get something done, just to see how each other is. If you don’t yet have a Christian friend you can open your heart to, pray about it, and take a first step toward one person.
Each person names the friend they will contact this week; those who don’t yet have a companion can think with the group about whom to take a first step toward.
Closing
In pairs, pray one sentence for the friend your partner will contact this week.
Tips for the leader
- This lesson is a good moment to pair up in the group: two people as companions for these seven lessons, ideally of the same sex.
- ‘Telling the truth’ is not a license to criticize; remind everyone that the truth is to be spoken in love, and that we first learn to hear it ourselves.
- If someone feels they ‘have no friends’, don’t press them in front of the group; you can meet with them privately afterward.
- Loving enemies does not mean pretending not to be hurt, or staying in harm’s way. If someone is being harmed or is in danger, this is not a matter for group discussion: stay with them privately afterward and contact local emergency help or a pastor they trust.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.