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Going Places: a 4-Week Teaching Series for Youth Ministry TOPIC: Friendship SCRIPTURE: Gospels DECORATING THEME: Road Trip AGE GROUP: Students Our friends are some of the most important people in our lives. They know us best! They're the people we've spent countless hours with telling stories, laughing, and creating memories together. We all know having great friendships means a lot more than just having people to hang out with, but how do you find friends like that? How do you build the kinds of friendships that last? And what do you do if you feel like your friendships aren't everything you'd want them to be? In this four-week series from the Gospels, we'll take a look at how Jesus treated the people he cared about to learn how we can better treat our friends. Through Jesus' example, we'll discover that friends don't miss a chance to care for each other, aren't afraid to challenge each other, don't let differences divide them, and aren't afraid to talk about what they believe. BIG IDEAS & BIBLE STORIES Friends don't miss a chance to care for each other. (Jesus feeds the five thousand: Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 6:31-32, Hebrews 13:16) Friends aren't afraid to challenge each other. (Jesus walks on water: Matthew 14:22-33, Hebrews 10:24, Ephesians 4:31-32) Friends don't let differences divide them. (Jesus prays for all believers: John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12, Psalm 133:1, Romans 12:16-18) Friends aren't afraid to talk about what they believe. (Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah: Matthew 16:13-23, 1 Peter 3:15-16, James 1:19) WEEKLY CURRICULUM SUMMARIES: This week, we'll see Jesus show compassion when he fed the five thousand and hear him teach about love. There's something powerful about being seen when you're hungry, hurting, or just needing someone to care. Jesus noticed the needs of the crowd and responded with compassion, turning a simple meal into a moment of connection. Great friends pay attention and they act on what they see, because friends don't miss a chance to care for each other. This week, we'll explore the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water and hear the words from Hebrews on inspiring others. Sometimes we need a push to take a step we wouldn't take on our own. This week, Jesus invites Peter into something bold. And when Peter starts to sink, Jesus reaches out and lifts him up. Real friends don't just cheer from the sidelines; they walk with us through the scary stuff. That's because friends aren't afraid to challenge each other. This week, we'll focus on unity through Jesus' prayer and the words of Paul and David. Friendship isn't about being exactly the same. It's about choosing connection even when we're different. Jesus prayed for His followers to be united, not divided by status, background, or opinions. Paul and David echoed that idea, too: real unity comes from love, not sameness. Great friends know that listening, learning, and sticking together is worth the effort. That's why friends don't let differences divide them. This week, we'll see Peter share who he thinks Jesus is and hear how Jesus shared difficult truths with his disciples. Conversations with friends aren't always easy, especially when you're talking about what really matters. But those hard conversations can be the most important ones. This week, we'll see Jesus and Peter have one of those talks. It was full of bold questions, real answers, and honest reactions, because friends aren't afraid to talk about what they believe. MEMORY VERSE: "For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them." Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

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