A Bible Study in Proverbs is not easy, because the proverbs are often fairly common-sensical, but they are meant to be chewed on and pondered, and a group discussion is a chance to do just that and think through their application to our lives. 

Before starting, listen to this talk from Vaughan Roberts  

True friendship is Close 

Read Prov. 18:24 

• Proverbs often draw a contrast in the two halves of the verse.  What are the contrasts implied here between a man’s companions and a true friend? 
• What in today’s world makes close friendship hard? 

True friendship is Constant 

Read Prov. 17:17, and note the contrast with the fair-weather friendship of Prov. 19:4-7 

• Why do we find it hard to show constancy in friendship? 
• What would it look like in practice? 

True friendship is Candid 

Read Prov. 27:5,6,9 

• What keeps us from speaking the truth to our friends? 
• What keeps us from accepting the truth from our friends? 

Read Prov. 27:9,17 

• As well as candid rebuke, friends offer constructive counsel. How practically can we seek to be “as iron sharpening iron” in our friendships? 

True friendship is Careful 

Read Prov. 16:28, 17:9, 29:5 

• What spoils true friendship? What other things might we add? 

True friendship is Christ-centred 

Read John 15:13-15 

• How does the friendship of Jesus meet our needs? 
• How do we see in him the qualities mentioned above? 
• What is the particular challenge to us to be a better friend?