Fake Friends Sermon Prep / Various Proverbs

SOAK

Pray

- Lord, give me speed, clarity, and creativity. Help me to be motivated. Don’t let this work and time be wasted.

Just Meditate

Questions for the passage / first illumination

16:28

Not only does a whisperer affect your view of them, but they affect your view of others.

Deceit and suspicion ruin relationships. Begin with a charitable trust.

It spreads

17:9

In every true relationship, you will be given mistakes and secrets. What you choose to do with those will prove whether or not you are a true friend

To cover an offense is to mirror the gospel

When the matter is repeated it is less likely to be repeated accurately

18:24

Beware of the person who is liked by all and known by none.

Better to have a few brothers than many companions

A friend can be closer than a brother because you choose your friends

Mood/Emotion of the Passage

- Motivating and clarifying

Word-studies

None for now

Cross References / Passages that illustrate

The example of Judas

COMMENTARY

Context / Overview

Proverbs are principles not promises

Versus

16:28

Things are not always as they seem.

“The Hebrew word used here refers to grumbling or slanderous talk John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Pr 16:28.”

“Twisted, perverse people love to sow strife the way a farmer sows seeds. When there is much strife, there is some perverse person sowing the strife.” - guzik

17:9

“The Hebrew word used here, which signifies covering or forgiving, implies that love can overcome a past wrongdoing and bridge an estranged relationship.” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Pr 17:9.

“doesn’t mean to excuse sin; rather, it means a person isn’t out to destroy you by using your transparency against you.Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 2019), 726.”

“There is a time and a place for the exposure of sin (Ephesians 5:11), but often the sins of others should be tactfully and lovingly covered. The exposure of all belongs to God, not man” - guzik

18:24

“The first friends are neighbors or companions, who may be attracted by money David K. Stabnow, “Proverbs,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 982.”

“A word-play is intended here, for the Hebrew word for companion is re’eh and the word for break in pieces is is ra’a.” - TBKC

The transition between the plural (friends) and the singular (a friend) is significant. “It is better to have one good, faithful friend than numerous unreliable ones.” (Ross)

APPLICATION

Relational application (love your neighbor)

if rumors and whispers are tempting to separate you from a close friend, go to them for clarity / 16

Thinking application (mind)

Explain the difference of ignoring and absorbing a wrongdoing (true forgiveness) / 17:9

Feeling application (heart, soul)

Action application (strength)

Cover when they’ve wronged you or haven’t directly wronged the person you’re talking to. / 17

You don’t need many who are closer than brothers, even one will do. / 18

SUPPLEMENTS

Verbal Illustrations

“Friendship seems as necessary an element of a comfortable existence in this world as fire or water, or even air, itself. A man may drag along a miserable existence in proud solitary dignity, but his life is scarcely a life.” Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 841.

the telephone game / 17:9

Sticky things leave their mark

the great gatsby who died with no one / 18:24

Visual Illustrations

squeegee and a sponge

AUDIENCE

pains/problems

Some may be bad at identifying fake friends

Some are fake and need to be corrected

They are in a season of ever-evolving friendships

passions/purposes

many want to get real friends

Questions/arguments they may have for the text

what if a fake friend wont leave me alone?

What if i’m scared to change friends?

What if there don’t seem to be any good friends?

PRE OUTLINE POINTS

Main Ideas of the text

Misuse of words can destroy friendships

what we do when were wronged will influence our friendships

So what?

Friendships influence every aspect of your life. Make sure the ones you have a real and strong.

What would this look like lived out?

They will know how to identify and respond to fake friends

Title ideas

Fake friends

Potential Outlines

Done