The Art of Being a Friend

Parent Recap – Week 1

What Makes a Good Friend?

This week we started our new youth series called “The Art of Being a Friend.”

Just like art, friendship is something that is developed over time. It takes intentional choices, character, patience, and practice. The friendships students build now can strongly influence who they become, how they make decisions, and how they grow in their faith.

So we began the series with an important question:

What does the Bible say a good friend looks like?

Instead of focusing on finding the “perfect friend,” we challenged students to think about something deeper:

Am I becoming the kind of friend God wants me to be?

During the lesson, students explored 10 biblical qualities that shape strong and healthy friendships. They first reflected on the friendships around them and then took time to honestly evaluate themselves.

The Building Blocks of Great Friendship

1. Loyalty: A true friend stays committed through both good and difficult seasons.

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times.”

2. Honesty. Good friends speak truth with care, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

3. Encouragement Friends help each other see their value and remind one another of their strengths.1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Encourage one another and build each other up.”

4. Trustworthiness: A good friend can be trusted with personal struggles and private conversations. Proverbs 11:13 – “A trustworthy person keeps a secret.”

5. Kindness Friendship grows when we respond with patience, grace, and compassion. Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another.”

6. Forgiveness: Healthy friendships learn to work through conflict and choose grace instead of holding grudges. Colossians 3:13 – “Forgive one another.”

7. Support in Hard Times. Real friends show up when life is difficult and help carry each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens.”

8. SelflessnessFriendship means caring about others and not always putting ourselves first. Philippians 2:4 – “Look not only to your own interests.”

9. Accountability The best friends help each other grow and pursue God.

Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron.”

10. Presence. Sometimes the most powerful thing a friend can do is simply show up. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 – “Two are better than one.”

What Students Practiced

Students were asked to think about two important questions:

1. Are these qualities present in the friendships around me?

2. Am I showing these qualities to others?

The goal was to help students realize that healthy friendships don’t happen by accident,  they are built through intentional choices and Christ-like character.

Continue the Conversation at Home

Here are a few questions to help continue the discussion:

1. Which of the friendship qualities stood out to you the most? Why?

2. Which quality do you think is hardest for students your age to practice?

4. Which quality do you think God might want you to grow in right now?

5. What is one practical way you could be a better friend this week?

Family Challenge This Week

Ask your student to choose one friendship quality and intentionally practice it this week.

It could look like:

• Encouraging a friend who feels discouraged

• Checking on someone who is having a hard time

• Apologizing and choosing forgiveness

• Showing up for a friend who needs support

• Praying for a friend

Friendship is an art that takes practice, and every small step helps students grow into the kind of friend who reflects the love of Christ.