Friendship with Jesus

The young people will see that a friendship with Jesus is nurtured in the same way that human friendships are.

The young people should be able to relate getting to know a friend with getting to know Jesus.

• Slips of paper with scenarios on them for prayer starters

• Review with the young people how friendships are nurtured, and discuss how friends share their lives with one another.
• Remind the young people that since Jesus is our friend, we can go to him with our joys and sorrows.
• Divide the young people into groups of three or four, and assign each group one of the scenarios below. Ask them to reflect on how they would share with Jesus after experiencing what is described in their scenario. How would they address him? What would they say?

Possible scenarios:

You are watching a beautiful sunset on a crisp autumn afternoon.

You spend the afternoon with your best friend, who has just learned that her dad has cancer.

Your friends have gone to a movie that your parents won't allow you to see. You know your parents made this decision because they care about you, but you feel lonely and left out.

Your little brother barely missed being hit by a car when he ran out into the road to get a ball.

After the small groups are finished, ask volunteers to share their reflections with the entire group.

People Smart, Word Smart

Choose prayer starters that are appropriate for your group.