Restorative Community | One Another | Week One

Opening:  

Encourage your group to share how this week’s message spoke to them. How has their approach to friendships—whether healthy or unhealthy— impacted their spiritual well-being or sense of community? Ask them to reflect on any recent situations where they felt tempted to withdraw, avoid vulnerability, or handle struggles alone instead of inviting others in. 

Main Idea: 

Jesus-centered friendships are essential for spiritual growth, emotional well-being, and a strong witness to the world. These friendships require intentionality, humility, and mutual support, but they are often affected by obstacles like individualism, isolationism, and narcissism. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are called to humbly restore one another with grace, carry each other's burdens, and cultivate authentic, restorative friendships that reflect the love of Christ. 

Overview:  

Scripture: John 13:34-35; Galatians 6:1-5 

Jesus gathered His disciples the night before his crucifixion and gave them a new commandment—to love one another as He had loved them. This love, sacrificial and enduring, would become the defining mark of His followers. Jesus-centered friendships, rooted in His love, are meant to serve as a powerful witness to the world. However, these deep, restorative relationships are often hindered by cultural obstacles such as Western individualism, self-isolation, and modern narcissism. These traps prioritize self-reliance, foster emotional withdrawal, and promote self-centeredness, all of which oppose the kind of community found in friendships that reflect the Gospel. 

Paul expands on this theme in Galatians 6, calling believers to gently restore those caught in sin, carry each other’s burdens, and walk in humility. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus are equipped to cultivate friendships that value restoration over condemnation, empathy over judgment, and shared vulnerability over isolation. When believers embrace Jesus-centered friendships, they experience personal transformation, build stronger communities of faith, and offer the world a tangible reflection of the command to love one another. 

Discussion: 

Challenge Your Group To:  

Each day, take a few minutes to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where you’ve prioritized independence or self-reliance over meaningful connection with others. Ask Him to soften your heart toward building Jesus-centered friendships and to show you opportunities to invest in others. 

Identify someone in your community—a friend, family member, or fellow believer—who may be carrying a burden alone. Reach out to them this week to offer encouragement, prayer, or practical support. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words and actions to reflect Christ’s love. 

Be intentional about practicing vulnerability this week. Share a personal struggle, prayer request, or area of growth with someone you trust. Ask God to help you embrace authentic community and to release any fear or pride that keeps you isolated.

Closing: 

End with prayer, leading your group into a moment of reflection on their current friendships and any barriers—like self-reliance, isolation, or pride—that may be hindering Jesus-centered connection. Encourage them to repent and surrender these obstacles to God, asking Him for the courage to pursue deeper, Spirit-filled relationships. Give your group a moment to lay down any fear, hurt, or distrust that keeps them from engaging in community. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill their hearts with love, humility, and a desire to build friendships that reflect the love of Christ and testify to His grace.