Real Friends Series

Real Friends Series: 6‑Week Youth Ministry Curriculum on Friendship

In a culture of followers and surface connections, it’s easy for students to be surrounded by people yet still feel lonely. Real Friends helps teens reframe what a good friend is and how to be one. This six‑week youth ministry curriculum unpacks the qualities of biblical friendship and empowers students to build a circle that fosters growth, accountability, and Christlike love.

Series Overview

Each session explores a different aspect of friendship, with engaging discussion prompts and practical next steps. Students will discover how to choose wise friends, speak truth in love, navigate conflict, and cultivate a community rooted in Jesus.

What Students Will Learn

• Week 1 – Real Friends Have Integrity (Matthew 5:33-37)
  Students see that real friends say what they mean and mean what they say because they’re people of integrity.
• Week 2 – Real Friends Love (Matthew 5:43-48)
  Help students understand that being a real friend means loving their neighbor as a reflection of God’s love toward us.
• Week 3 – Real Friends Pray (Matthew 6:5-13)
  Students discover that while prayer may sometimes feel awkward, the sign of true friendship is going before the throne together and for one another.
• Week 4 – Real Friends Fight Well (Matthew 7:1-5)
  They discover healthy ways to address hurt, offer forgiveness, and pursue reconciliation when friendships are fractured.
• Week 5 – Real Friends Confront (Matthew 7:7-12)
  Teens explore what it means to stick by their friends in tough times, sometimes saying hard things from a place of love.
• Week 6 – Real Friends Are Humble (Matthew 7:13-14)
  Students learn that true friendship requires humility.

Why Choose Real Friends?

• Gospel‑centered & practical: Helps teens build friendships that reflect Jesus’ love and truth.
• Relational focus: Encourages vulnerability, accountability, and spiritual growth within small groups.
• Leader‑friendly: Includes teaching outlines, small‑group discussion guides, and relevant applications.
• Transformational: Equips students to resist isolation, handle conflict biblically, and build a mission‑minded community.