Some relationships may imitate friendship, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Exploring the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible, we’ll identify some distinguishing features of friendship that are often overlooked and discover how to infuse our relationships with these essential ingredients. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Who would you say is your closest friend? How do you “measure” that closeness with them? What qualities or experiences distinguish this friendship from other relationships? 2. Who are the people in your life that you’d like to experience a greater level of closeness with? Considering the list below, in what area(s) do you see opportunities to grow closer with those people? (If you’re discussing in your small group, what is an area you could you grow in together?) Spiritual Intellectual Emotional Vocational (work) Recreational (play) Creative Service 3. Read 1 Samuel 18:1-4 again. In a display of vulnerability, Jonathan handed his clothing and weapons over to David. What might make it difficult to let the people you care about into your life? What “armor” do you use to keep people at a distance? What would it feel like to begin letting go of those things? 4. Considering your answers to the questions above, what does friendship with Jesus (see John 15:15) look like for you? In what ways do you experience closeness with Him? In what areas do you desire to grow closer with Him? Without feeling judgement or shame, what areas of your life do you feel more comfortable keeping Him distant from and why? 5. Psalm 139 illustrates how intimately God knows us, yet David asks God to “search him” in verse 23. If God already knows our thoughts and feelings, why is this invitation important in growing our friendship with God?