Going Deeper in “Who's Influencing You?”
Read the following slowly a few times:
Gen 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Proverbs 23:20; Hebrews 10:24-25
Reflect on the following:
1. Abraham was intentional about finding a godly spouse for Isaac. Why do you think he was so concerned about the people who would influence Isaac's future?
2. Can you think of a friend who helped you grow closer to God? What did they do that made a difference?
3. Have you ever been influenced in a negative direction by a friend, coworker, or group? What did you learn from that experience?
4. Proverbs 13:20 says, "Walk with the wise and become wise." How have you seen this principle play out in real life?
5. What qualities do you look for in a close friend? Are those qualities helping you become more like Christ?
6. Are there relationships in your life that consistently encourage your faith? How can you invest more deeply in those friendships?
7. Are there relationships that regularly pull you away from God, compromise your values, or weaken your witness?
8. How can you remain loving and caring toward unbelievers without allowing unhealthy influences to shape your life?
9. If your five closest friends were to describe your faith, what would they say influences you most?
10. In what ways are you influencing others? Are you helping people move closer to Christ or further away from Him?
Weekly Challenges
1. Evaluate Your Circle - Take inventory of the people who have the greatest influence on your life. Are they pulling you toward Christ or away from Him?
2. Seek a Faith-Sharpening Friendship - Reach out to a mature Christian friend, mentor, or small group member this week for encouragement, prayer, or accountability.
3. Be an Influence - Choose one person this week to encourage, pray for, or help grow in their faith. Be the kind of friend you hope to have.