Untitled Sermon (8)

PLMGSS CHAPEL

Wednesday, 2nd April 2025

Topic: Friendships that Lift You Up

Scripture passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - “ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Introduction

Good morning PL! It’s good to be with you this morning to share a devotion.

The topic that has been given to me is something that is relevant to us all, and I want to share about “Friendships That Lift You Up”.

Before I begin, can we pray?

Introduction

When I was 15 years old, which is some of your ages, I was sent to Australia to study alone. So imagine this with me - I was living alone, far away from my family, in a boarding house; and having to start a new life, in a new school, and with no friends and knowing absolutely no one.

How many of you know that’s a pretty scary thought and a very scary situation to find yourself in, especially as a 15 year old.

I remember my first day at school, feeling super awkward and like a stranger in a foreign land. And very lonely, because I had no friends and I looked so different as this asian kid in an australian school.

And it was even more awkward during our lunch break. Have you ever watched the movie Mean Girls before? You have all these different tables made up different sporting clubs and groups and cliques of friends. And you’re this new kid walking in, and not sure where to sit or who you can eat with.

So I took my lunch and I went to a corner of the school to eat my lunch, and threw myself a pity party.

On the second day, I was dreading the lunch break, and prepared to do the same. When, as I was walking with my lunch, I heard a tap on my shoulder and this guy was asking me if I was the new kid in the school and if I wanted to sit and eat with him and his friends.

That day, I made my first friend in Australia and in my new school. And 22 years later, he and I are still friends. Even though we live in different continents, we’re still good friends and keep in touch with one another.

And perhaps the question I want us to consider today is, “What makes a good and true friend or friendship?”

Big Idea

Well, the Bible gives us a picture of what true and good friendships should look like, in 1 Thess 5:11. Let’s read it together:

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

And this is the big idea I want to share with us today in our short time together: Good Friendships should encourage you especially in tough times, and it should grow and build you to be a better person.

The Power of Encouraging Friendships

Let’s start by looking at the first part of the verse today, and the power of encouraging friendships.

Do you know the Bible tells us that our words have power and an impact on others - both negatively and positively?

Proverbs 18:21 - “The tongue has the power of life and death.”

Some of us have may have encountered toxic and negative people that may drain and discourage us every time they open their mouth.

I’m not sure about you, but I can think of some people I’ve encountered that fit that description.

Their words sting and are often harsh. And they often compare and put others down and disparage others, just so they can feel better about themselves. Instead of trying to improve themselves, they try to put others down instead.

And how many of us know they’re just exhausting and tiring and unenjoyable to be around.

But on the flip side, perhaps we know of friends who are always encouraging and positive in the way they speak. They are quick to encourage and always speaks life and hope into you.

Good friendships learn to speak life into one another. They are quick to offer kind words.

The Bible tells us there is power when we learn to encourage and offer kind words.

Proverbs 12:25 – “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

And you’ll find that people naturally want to gravitate towards you, because who doesn’t like to be encouraged and lifted up?

Do you know there is a man in the Bible, whose name is Barnabas? And his name literally means “Son of Encouragement”. What a name to be given! And Barnabas was best known for encouraging his friend Paul, especially when no one else believed in him, Barnabas did. And do you know what happened? Paul became one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament. Encouragement can be really powerful when we choose to speak life in our friendships.

I want you to consider this question this morning - “Do I have friends that encourage me? Am I a friend that encourages others?”

Surround yourself with friends who encourage you. But also be that friend that encourages others around you.

The Impact of Friendships that Builds

The second part of the verse tells us to “Build one another up” as friends.

The word “Build” actually means “to strengthen and grow”. We need friends who strengthens us and grows us to be better people.

The Bible tells us that in Proverbs 27:1 - “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We are called to grow and help one another become sharper in who we are.

Friendships have a way to influence our choices, attitudes, values, and our future.

Studies found that teenagers are more likely to engage in risky or positive behaviors based on what their close friends do.

Other studies indicate that friendships can shape our ethical values - adolescents tend to adopt the values of their closest friends over time.

The “peer effect” suggests that the behaviors, attitudes, and habits of our friends influence our own choices, sometimes more than family.

Example of being peer pressured to bleach and dye my hair orange against better judgment when I was young. And the moment I did it, I questioned my choice of friends and listening to their advice.

Who you hang out with matters for your character and for your future. We must surround ourselves with people who bring out the best in you and who pushes you to grow in the right ways - in character, wisdom and in faith.

The second question I want you to consider today is, “Are my friendships pushing me towards wisdom and growth, or leading me towards potential disaster? Am I a friend that pushes others towards wisdom and growth?”

Find friends that bring out the best and not worst in you. But also be the kind of friend that strengthens and brings out the best and not the worst in others.

Summary

Choose Wisely - be intentional about the friends you surround yourself with. Do they bring you closer to becoming a better person?

Speak Life - be proactive in encouraging and speaking life and hope to the people around you.

Remember you have a True Friend in Christ - Jesus models for us what we have read in 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

He speaks words of encouragement and life to us - reminding us that He is with us and we have hope because of Him.

He never tears us down, but sees and wants the best in us

He carries our burdens and promises us to never leave us.