Sermon Tone Analysis

Pray

Everyone needs a nick

Well, he was born in March of 1985 to Chris and Charlene Swan.

The middle of 3 siblings, and the only boy, Nick always had sought a life of adventure growing up.

As he grew older, he would go on to soon faithfully serve his country in the US Army where he would serve 6 years with heroism and dedication.

Nick would go on to have a family of his own, while in the the military, he would meet his wife Steph.

They would go on to marry after he came home from being deployed in Iraq.

they would have children settle down in Northeast New Hampshire and nick would begin to serve as a manager at an electrical supply store.

Nick enjoys time with family and friends, he loves a good bonfire, hanging out at the beach and lighting off fireworks from time to time and investing in the lives of students, what’s most impressive is his personality.

You see, Nick went on to give his heart to the Lord in 2015.

After having a dream one night, Nick realized that God asking him to surrender his life to the Lord.

In time, Nick would go on to develop his love for the Lord, he would begin attending Crown Collegewhere he would pursue a degree in Christian Ministry, he would go on to start serving as a volunteer at Journey Church in Conway New Hampshire, where he was impactful in the lives of youth and the families that attended the church.

This morning, to you, Nick is a stranger.

Other then the details that I’ve briefly shared with you, no one here this morning (other than my family) knows Nick Swan.

This picture (show here) is the first picture you’ve ever seen of Nick, his background is new to you, his story is new to you and yet, he’s been significantly impactful in my life.

Nick has been there when my lights wouldn’t turn on in my house and I needed help fixing the problem.

Nick has been there when my on demand water heater stopped working and he saved me hundreds of dollars by fixing the issue, nick has helped me move stuff to the local dump when just before moving I had quite a bit of random things that had to be thrown away, nick has been there when I ran out fuel for the generator and he let me borrow fuel and heaters to keep my family warm from the new England cold, nick has been there as my right hand guy at youth group through leading games, teaching lessons and covering for me when I was absent.

And perhaps less important by effort, but equally important by impact, nick has been there for me in conversation.

He’s the type of guy that you can trust, that you can call at anytime of the night, that is there when you need him… Nick is a friend, but really so much more.

If asked about during a phone interview for a job hire, I wouldn’t be able to explain his strengths and quality of character in just a few minutes.

And for the sake of your time this morning, I’ll limit my time of talking about him now… but friends, his impact, nonetheless has been indiscernible.

He’s the type of person that I would do anything for.

Our relationship is mutual, he has my back and I have his.

And although I never had a brother by blood, Nick would be the closest thing.

Here's my point this morning.

Everyone… needs a Nick.

And listen, you need to be a nick to someone else.

If you have your bibles with you this morning, turn with me for a moment to 1 Samuel 18.

And as you’re turning there.

We’re going to primarily look at someone in scripture that you are familiar with.

We’re primarily going to look at the story of David and Jonathan and see how this type of godly friendship is what the Lord has in store for us this morning.

You see Moses had Aaron, Joshua had Caleb, Naomi had Ruth, David had Jonathan, Jesus had Peter, James and John.

And this morning friend… you need a nick.

Perhaps another title would be that Everyone needs a friend.

By the way, Next week, we’ll see - everyone needs a mentor.

Key people that God puts in our lives!

If you have your bibles turn with me to 1 Samuel 18, and as you’re turning there, there are 3 sermon points we’ll uncover together this morning.

1.

A Nick Is a friend.

2. Someone you can rely on (dependable / trust) 3. Grieves with you.

(By the way this started as 5 points, and really it could be that and more… but I felt like these 3 were the ones I needed to cover today.)

As you’re turning to 1 Samuel 18, I want to unpack the events which surround our story this morning.

For the sake of this message, there are 2 main characters.

One of course is David, who you’ll recall was the youngest of his 7 brothers, who was a shepherd, a warrior, as we recall from David and Goliath, and ultimately God has chosen him to be the next king, as David is a man after God’s own heart.

The 2nd character by the name of Jonathan.

Jonathan, you’ll remember was the oldest son of King Saul, naturally as the oldest son, he’s the rightful heir to the throne.

Like David, we’re told that Jonathan is strong, he’s a determined warrior who’s victorious on the battlefield.

But he doesn’t use his strength or status as the king’s son to Lord it over David, instead he’s a friend and comrade to David.

Point 1.

A nick is a friend

If you’re not there already, if you could turn with me to 1 Samuel 18. 1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became one with the soul of David.

Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 Saul took David that day, and would not let him return to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan made an agreement with David, because he loved him as himself.

4 Jonathan took off his long coat and gave it to David.

He gave him his battle-clothes, his sword, his bow and his belt also.

5 David went everywhere that Saul sent him, and did well.

Saul had him lead the men of war.

And it was pleasing to all the people and to Saul’s servants.

6 When David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, playing songs of joy on timbrels.

7 The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

8 Then Saul became very angry.

This saying did not please him.

He said, “They have given David honor for ten thousands, but for me only thousands.

Now what more can he have but to be king?” 9 And Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on.

We realize for a moment that David has great success on the battlefield.

That from slaying the philistines that he’s fighting against, to his reputation and fame with outsiders… David begins to gain momentum with everyone.

By the way, this shouldn’t surprise us this morning as 1 Samuel 18:14 tells us: “In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.”

And yet, despite this success.

There’s a problem… as King Saul feels threatened.

Now ultimately, we know this is of the Lord, and that David would go on to be the next king… but here in these pages, we start to see tension as King Saul begins to feel the effects of David’s success,

Yet notice in these moments, that Jonathan is there as a friend to David.

The bible told us in verse 3 and 4 That 3 Then Jonathan made an agreement with David, because he loved him as himself.

Interestingly enough, the name Jonathan by definition means, “God has gifted".

And in verse 4 we’re told: “4 Jonathan took off his long coat and gave it to David.

He gave him his battle-clothes, his sword, his bow and his belt also.”

But what God gifted David with was far more than, a coat, battle-clothes and weapons… Listen, God gave David a friend, who was on the similar mission; on the same team.

You see these 2 have similar personalities, similar interest, a love for one another, and a love for the Lord.

I wonder this morning, who are those in your life that God has gifted you with?

Who are those in your life that are sacrificial to you?

Who has God has placed in your path that are on a similar mission, that if needed, would give you the shirt off their back?

You see, here’s the distinction… there are many friends, that we have in this life, but how many are on the same mission.

You see, along these lines we start to talk of the value of shared Community, and to give an example, I’ve had the privilege of attending and even helping with my kid’s little league baseball and softball.

But to illustrate, I think of my daughter Taylor this morning….

You see, it’s one thing to say that you go to Kenton elementary school, this establishes a sense of community, but another is to say that you play softball for Kenton Little League, and still a deeper level of connection when you say that you go to Kenton elementary, that you play softball and you’re on the same team; the wildcats…

It works the same way with us this morning.

Show of hand’s if you love the United States this morning… Keep your hands up if love the mid-west… Now, this is where it gets fun, keep your hands up if you love the state of Michigan.

How about the Michigan wolvers?

Okay, we lost some on that one… How bout hands for those that love Ohio?

How about those that love the buckeyes?

You see, here’s the point… the more we have in common, there is this tighter sense of community.

In the case of Jonathan and David, we see that not only are they Israelites, not only are they fighting for the army, they’re also similar in age, they’re also family, and they’re also on the same team…

Friend, who is your Jonathan this morning?

Who is your nick?

Who is that person that God has brought you together with for a shared sense of purpose?

I’m reminded of Mark 10:9 is speaking of a relationship between a man and women… and it states: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

and as I love my wife, and God brought us together with a shared loved and purpose… and while this is true, God also puts other Christians in our lives, that he desires us to have as friends, because ultimately we need them.

And there’s a number of reasons for such friendships, but ultimately, we need them.

I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:12 that states: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Friends, we need people like this in our lives, we need friends.

Friends, do you have a person like that this morning?