Life Giving Friendships
Series: Life Giving Relationships • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 viewsBased on small group video series from Influence
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
When Jesus was asked which law was the most important, He replied by quoting:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
He added to that: Love your neighbor as yourself
Why is loving others so wonderful and difficult at the same time?
Why is loving others so wonderful and difficult at the same time?
It is in the context of community that we learn to be like Jesus
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
During your childhood and/or teen years, who was your best friend? What caused you to be such good friends? What caused you to stay connected?
During your childhood and/or teen years, who was your best friend? What caused you to be such good friends? What caused you to stay connected?
Let’s hear from some church leaders as they reveal what they have learned about relationships as followers of Jesus — DVD
What traits of lifegiving friendships did these leaders point out?
What traits of lifegiving friendships did these leaders point out?
LET’S LEARN SOME LIFEGIVING TRUTH TOGETHER
LET’S LEARN SOME LIFEGIVING TRUTH TOGETHER
if we desire to experience any of the promises of God, it alway come down to understanding and obeying what He says in His Word
Future tense - HIStory continues to bring hope and light to all who worship Him alone. Past Tense -Jesus' sacrifice brought hope and light into a dark world.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
What does this passage reveal about who we are and what we have received?
Future tense - HIStory continues to bring hope and light to all who worship Him alone.
What do you think it means to “bear with each other?”
What do you think it means to “bear with each other?”
How can having a friend that knows how to “bear with” you help to create a lifegiving relationship?
How can having a friend that knows how to “bear with” you help to create a lifegiving relationship?
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4
List as many positive characteristics of friends as you can from this passage
List the negative characteristics
Gossip can drain the life out of a relationship
The only way we can be an effective life giver in relationships is through the power of the Holy Spirit
Based on our discussion, what do lifegiving friendships look like?
What is one thing you need to change (with the Holy Spirit’s help) that would make you a more lifegiving friend?
Let’s pray for one another
Over the next week:
When you think of your 3 or 4 closest friends, would they be more life-draining or more life-giving? Rate them on a scale between those two possibilities.
How would those friends rate you?
Make a list of things you can do to be a more life-giving friend
Pray for God’s help in your relationships
Memorize this truth
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Daily devotions
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday — Write down what God has shown you during the week about lifegiving relationships and write down some things you will do because of what God has shown you.