Gospel Friendships

The Good Life

TLK 3

Bottom Line: Good friendships are gospel-centered

Intro

Week 3 of our series called, The Good Life→ we are launching from John 10:10→ what type of life Jesus died and rose again to give us and we live this life out in every area of our life

Week one we laid the foundation of the entire series talking about how the good life is lived in wisdom and that there is a counterfeit to the wisdom→ two ways to build our lives→ go over slides

Last week we talked about finances and yall showed back up! Awesome! But we also made this distinction that there is no such thing as sacred and secular… as a christian everything is sacred…

The next two weeks we are going to be talking through the two most impactful relationships we have because→ the good life requires us to have right relationships→ not just with Jesus but with our friends and our spouse or future spouse

We are built for relationships→ to be known→ talked about this before… there are biological consequences to being isolated and alone

This week we are diving into friendships…. Everyone has at least one story that starts with this statement… I had a friend one time… what usually follows is something that you hope your grandmother never hears… These stories usually are more frequent during our HS and YA years because wisdom and common sense were not as common as one would hope during that time in your life…. For example… a friend throwing an axe body spray can into a fire surrounded by families.

Friendships have consequences… actually friendships carry a great deal of weight according to scripture

Truth

We have been looking to the book of Proverbs during this series→ wisdom literature

Proverbs unlocks the door to understanding the good life Jesus has sacrificed to give us

Proverbs mentions friendships directly or indirectly 50 plus times… there are only 31 chapters of the book→ why does is talk so much about friendships?

Close companions… those who know you know you!

Proverbs 22:24-25→ not just a warning about angry, hot tempered people… it is a window into the reality that relationships are the cornerstone of discipleship

You become who you are around… show me your three closest friends and i’ll show you your future→ those we chose to have access into our lives impact the direction and quality of our spiritual life

The good life requires good friendships

One friendship in particular is critical to this→ Proverbs 18:24 speaks of this friend→ pointing to Jesus… the perfect friend… this word is the same greek word used in both the septuagint and in John 15:12-17

Good friendships start with the Good Shepherd→ walking in a relationship with Jesus

Not only do we walk in a relationship with Jesus but we are called to then live like Jesus→ Philippians 2:3-5

Good friendships are gospel-centered friendships→ ones rooted in love and zeal for the things of God

But remember, we have a thief, who steals, kills, and destroys→ counterfeiting what God has given… I want us to see the differences between the friendships

Gospel centered vs counterfeit

Committed/Convenient→ Proverbs 17:17/Proverbs 19:4→ examples

Tell the truth/only flatter→ Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 28:23/28:22→ examples

Care about growth of faith and character/normalize and facilitate living in sin→ Proverbs 27:17/Proverbs 13:20

Gospel-centered friendships strengthen your relationship with Jesus

Counterfeit friendships weaken your relationship with Jesus

The good life requires good friendships→ good friendships are gospel-centered friendships

Ones that stir up your zeal and passion for the things of God… enrich, encourage, and energize you to continue to walk with the Lord

Application

One challenge for everyone today when it comes to friendships→ 3 steps

LOOK!

Look up→ relationship with Jesus

Look around→ who is in your inner circle? Do you have good friends?

Expound upon

Look forward→ what type of friend do you want to be? Are you a good friend?

Expound upon

How could you experience more of the good life Jesus has for you with the good friends you surround yourself with?