Friendships with other women are as important to our mental, physical, and spiritual health as rest, exercise, and prayer. We don’t just want friends—we need friends. God created us for relationship. Yet despite being more connected than ever before, we struggle to feel connected. From the false intimacy of social media to busyness and relational conflict, there are many challenges to developing authentic relationships. If you’ve ever been hurt by a friend, struggled to balance friendship with everyday life, seen a friendship end too early, or longed for deeper and more authentic friendships, this Bible study is for you. As Natalie leads you in a deep exploration of timeless truths in the Old and New Testaments, you will learn how to develop and nurture the kind of enriching and satisfying friendships that build up the body of Christ and bring honor to God. Personal testimonies and stories of successes and failures add a level of authenticity that is refreshing and insightful. As you learn to cultivate God-honoring relationships, you will become more like Christ and demonstrate His love to a broken world. Study participants will find deep study of Scripture's principles for God-honoring friendships; help for navigating conflict, setting boundaries, and learning to forgive; in-depth study of Scripture with testimonies and stories that "ring true," the do's and don'ts of authentic friendships; and Bible-based guidance for building stronger and deeper relationships. The Leader Guide contains six session plan outlines, complete with discussion points and questions, activities, prayers, and more—plus leader helps for facilitating a group. Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Participant Workbook, DVD with six 16-20 minute sessions, and boxed Leader Kit. “Becoming Heart Sisters is a beautiful reminder of how powerful walking hand in hand with a loyal friend can be. After completing this study, you will be better equipped to be this kind of God-honoring friend. Thank you, Natalie, for the charge to sacrificially love and serve our friends.” —Lysa Terkeurst, New York Times best-selling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries Dig into God's Word and experience friendships like God intended. NATALIE CHAMBERS SNAPP is an author, blogger, and speaker known for her refreshing authenticity and practical approach to life and God’s Word. Not choosing to follow Jesus until the age of twenty-seven, she is passionate about sharing the grace, mercy, and truth of God’s love with others “regardless of your track record.” Her transparency and humor endear her to women of all ages. Natalie is the author of the book Heart Sisters: Be the Friend You Want to Have, and Becoming Heart Sisters: A Bible Study on Authentic Friendships. She has written for various blogs and online devotionals, including Proverbs 31. Natalie lives in the Midwest with her husband and their three children. Becoming Heart Sisters - Women's Bible Study Leader Guide A Bible Study on Authentic Friendships By Natalie Chambers Snapp Abingdon Press Copyright © 2017 Abingdon Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5018-2122-6 Contents About the Author, Introduction, Leader Helps, Week 1: Why Do We Need Girlfriends and Where Do We Find Them? Understanding Our Need for Friendship with Other Women (Matthew 22:37-40), Week 2: Getting Right with God Addressing Spiritual Issues that Affect Friendship (2 Chronicles 7:14), Week 3: Clash of the Titans Honoring God Through Relational Conflict (Romans 12:18), Week 4: The Forgiveness Business Letting Go and Being Free (Colossians 3:13-14), Week 5: Blurred Lines Establishing Healthy Boundaries (Galatians 1:10), Week 6: Heart Sisters Do's and Don'ts Putting It All into Practice (Psalm 37:4), Planning a Mother-Daughter Heart Sisters Group, CHAPTER 1 Week 1 WHY DO WE NEED GIRLFRIENDS AND WHERE DO WE FIND THEM? Understanding Our Need for Friendship with Other Women Leader Prep Theme and Scripture Overview This week's theme is love. We know Jesus' commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. This points us to relationships; we have to be in relationship with other people in order to love them. Authentic friendships with other women are so important — not only to fulfill Jesus' command but also to meet some very basic needs. Memory Verse Matthew 22:37-40 Key Scriptures Day 1 Genesis 2:5-15, 18-25; 10:32; 11:3-9; Luke 1 Day 2 Matthew 5:13-16; 22:34-40 Day 3 Matthew 16:27-28; 17:1-13; Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-44; 12:1-8 Day 4 Joshua 2; 6:22-25; Judges 4:1-9; 2 Samuel 11; 12:15-24; 1 Kings 1:15; Proverbs 27:17 Day 5 Ruth 1; Luke 1:26-38; 2:16-19; John 19:25-26 Weekly Readings Recap Review the key themes of the week: Day 1: Women were created to be in relationship with others, which is why we can feel as if we're going to break when our relationships start to crumble. Day 2: We don't just want friends; we need friends. We were created to