Faithful Friendship
Notes
Transcript
The Important Decision of Friendship
The Important Decision of Friendship
Studies suggest that on average we make about 35,000 decisions a day
Thats 2,000 decisions a minute
The people you choose to associate with and call “friends” will directly effect your life for either good or bad.
It is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lives.
Proverbs is a Gold Mine of Friendship Advice
Proverbs is a Gold Mine of Friendship Advice
Let’s analyze just a few of them.
Proverbs 1:10–16 (NIV)
My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”— my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
If you are comfortable, give an example where you did not heed the warning Solomon presents in this passage.
Let’s Talk About This Word Sin For a Second
Let’s Talk About This Word Sin For a Second
Sin is often explained as missing the moral mark.
But at it’s root it can be defined as an active rebellion against authority.
In this case…God
Do we really want surround ourselves with those you are deliberately self-absorbed and defiant against God authority?
No…we want to be surrounded by “True Friends”
God knows we need companionship and friendship. That is why he gave Adam Eve and said that man can no do life alone.
1. Friends Shape Your Future: Choose Wisely
1. Friends Shape Your Future: Choose Wisely
What does the Bible say a Friend is?
What does the Bible say a Friend is?
Proverbs 20:6 (NIV)
Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?
A true friend is faithful in their goodness and love.
There are man people who you may meet and even become close to that will ending up failing you at some point.
Here, Scripture tells us that a true friend is a unwaveringly faithful person.
They are with you through the ups and downs of life.
Proverbs 17:17 (ESV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A true friend can be compared to that of a blood sibling, in that they are so close that they should be inherently relied on even in time of adversity.
There will not be many in your lifetime that you will find who will be able to fit this bill.
As Christ followers, we should be wise to allow only those who will aide you in your walk with Christ and not cause harm
2. True Friends: Faithful in Love and Steadfast in Trials
2. True Friends: Faithful in Love and Steadfast in Trials
Jesus’s Life Can Provide An Example of Friendship
Jesus’s Life Can Provide An Example of Friendship
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.
Jesus new that he was able to call His disciples friends as He confided in them to know what only few should know — His father’s business.
Even a step further, Jesus had only a few disciples that he was extremely close with Peter, James, and John. They were there on the Mountain during the transfiguration where Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah.
Jesus taught 120 followers, befriended 12, and was even closer to 3.
No Matter How Close Are Friends Are They Most Likely Will Let us Down At Some Point
No Matter How Close Are Friends Are They Most Likely Will Let us Down At Some Point
The reality is no matter how much you follow Scripture and God’s guidance in choosing friends they still may fail you.
Even though Peter was one of Jesu’ inner three, he still denied Jesus three times.
It is your hope that this will never happen, but it may.
But there is a friend that will never let you down and His name is Jesus!
Invitation
Invitation
Proverbs—Wisdom that Works Who Is Our Truest Friend Always?
C. S. Lewis, in his essay on friendship, says that a new friendship starts out like this: “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.” Friends do not need to be alike. They just discover how much they have in common.
Guess what you have in common with Christ?
Everything you care about the most!
He cares about you
Here cares about your sin
He cares about your future
He thinks about you
He understands you
He loves you
Your not alone
He is here and you can receive him now
3. Jesus: The Ultimate Fiends Who Never Fails
3. Jesus: The Ultimate Fiends Who Never Fails
Will you let the eternal friendship begin for you today?
