Sermon (2)

Intro

US Surgeon General

In 2023 the US Surgeon General declared loneliness and isolation to be an epidemic in America. In his forward to the report on loneliness, he writes: “People began to tell me they felt isolated, invisible, and insignificant. Even when they couldn’t put their finger on the word “lonely,” time and time again, people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, from every corner of the country, would tell me, “I have to shoulder all of life’s burdens by myself,” or “if I disappear tomorrow, no one will even notice.””

Deeper dive into John 15.

John 15:9–17 NIV

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Selective

Share openly

Sacrifice

We are to display these Vertically and horizontally

Vertically if we are friends of God:

Share openly

Sacrifice

This type of Friendship in not intended to be exclusive between you and God

1 Samuel 18:1–4 (NIV)

1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

Not homosexual

Deep friendship

Make a covenant to be there for one another through thick and thin

David gets accolades, Saul —Jealous

David runs

1 Samuel 23:16–18 (NIV)

16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

Jonathan selected David

Jonathan & David shared openly with one another

Jonathan Sacrificed for David

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Are you the type of friend that sticks closer than a brother? all of us long for a friend like Jonathan

BE THE FRIEND YOU LONG TO FIND

John 15:12–13 NIV

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:11 (NIV)

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Dec 12 pray @ New life