Will you be my friend?

Today, Listen for someone else

Guilty in church of don’t think about who needs to here this like a crabby spouse

Pastor needs to tell a person - What do I need to with this message? What am I going to get out of it?

If you review many preaching series they will promise to change your life by telling you how God will can guide you to something wonderful.

There’s truth but there is a strong focus that we in our culture have and my uncle, you works with a lot of these pastor’s told me.

Uncle Sealy describing the state of the individual Christian in the nation today

Why come to church today?

TO find out what this God thing is about

To make a transaction with God

to worship God

If you think right answer - I want to broaden you answer today and for everyday.

Who or what brought you hear for the first time?

What brings you back?

God brings us in community for friendship

Hebrews 10:23–24 CSB

23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,

Church should be a place of great friendship

It’s the loss of great friendship that is impacting the church as my uncle alluded to but also are whole society.

David French, an favorite author of mine wrote a fascinating article today about the dismisal state of friendship in America. 15% of american men and 10% of american women have no close friendships. Opiod deaths/drug related deaths increase dramatically in men 18 and over who have only a high school diploma and are single. His allegation was that the rise of men marching in the streets, fighting on both political sides is a way for men trying to express some sense of togetherness, yet in the most toxic way because unlike true friendship, there is a purity test in politics. Either your woke enough or Trump enough to be in, otherwise out.

Friendship is at the heart of who God is

John 15:12–13 CSB

12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

let’s look at a specific example of how faith intersents with friendship, how Paul address a Christian who he writes a letter too and see if this doesn’t describe a good or a great friend.

Philemon 4–7 CSB

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Look at all he does for his friends

(read again)

Let’s go through them.

I am so convicted by this. Convicted means I see what I am not doing and I’m ready to change how I do my life. Guilt is where we see what we are not doing, feel bad about it, do something to make us feel better, and keep not doing what we feel bad about. So I hope God allows you to celebrate what you are already doing or be convicted today but discard any guilt.

Anyway I see right off, Paul was led to pray for the guy this letter was written to

praying for another not because of illness or need but out of gratitude

Don’t raise your hand but have you thought about having a time set aside where you just thank God for each of your friends? Thank God for what they mean to you? and what they do?

Thank God for the friends who encourage our faith

Ever been thinking you should pray and don’t \know what to pray about this is it.

Just start listing them. People who encourage you, who uplift your faith who are generous.Prayers of gratitude to God for them.

Write that down. Tattoo this on your hand. Put in your cell phone for reminders.

thank God for those who encourage me

Philemon 4–5 CSB

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.

This is the opposite of saying I don’t care what people say about me.

What did he hear? Heard of his Generosity

What is the other thing he heard?

Because of faith in Jesus

The two things this person is known for: generosity and faith

What are you known for?

I discovered this week it was not for being the hot one as my wife alerted me that when given a choice to be Chris Pine and me, it wouldn’t be me?

But Two or my kids do say I could be none for the best dad jokes

Thankfully attraction fades, laughter is great, but generosity requires no wealth, it requires seeing what is in your life - money, time, space, wisdom, ability to listen, ability to go alongside, to be there and then just do it. That is generosity.

Faith doesn’t require intense Biblical knowledge. It requires believing the answer lies in following God. And then living with that answer as truth.

Is this what goes before you?

Is this your reputation one of generosity and faith?

It could be. Through the power of Jesus to change us, this can be us when we see that Friendship, how we treat others, how we love them is right after how we treat God, how we love God.

The letter went on about Philemon

Saints have been refreshed through Him but it is reciprocal. Meaning those who have game see game. That’s me being the old dad I actually am. Those who live in faith, recognize the person who lives in faith and want to build him up too.

Look how the prayer is describes his prayer,

Philemon 6 CSB

6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.

Did you notice that this isn’t just a prayer but an action statement. Look at the last part, “every good thing that is in “us”.

What good thing do you know about Jesus because of someone else?

What good thing does someone know about Jesus because of you?

Every person here is capable of living out these verses today. Because He, the Holy Spirit is continuing to do a good work in you until you are completed.

My friends be a friend.

Thank God for your friends

Live Generously to your Friends

Let your Faith shine out to your Friends.

I can remember so many criticisms of pastors who criticized that people didn’t care about knowing God, they only cared about having a community center.

I tell you friends that my number one headache when it comes to church is not people having a lack of love for God, it’s a lack of love for others.

It’s not seeing the immense responsibility they have to God to truly show Godly loving friendship with all others. To sacrifice to make this loving friendship happen.

David French, who is a Christian, attended a conference of thinkers who came up with big plans for the church to engage people in friendship when someone spoke up with another idea.

This is how David French wrote it,

“Then one pastor spoke up with an idea at once more simple and more difficult. “What if our strategy,” he said, “was the fruits of the spirit?”

That’s it. That’s the focus. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” That’s how we engage. And it made my mind jump tracks entirely, from the political to the personal. How do we repair our politics? The answer is almost impossibly complex, but here’s a powerful start. Friendship. Cultivate and sustain genuine friendship. Why? Because friendships don’t just enrich and restore our lives, they also enrich and restore our land.”

Philemon 4–7 CSB

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.