Friends
What Friendship is All About
Last Week
we looked at the parts we and our parents have in the relationship and the benefits that result when we both do our parts.
Today
we need wisdom in how to be a good friend and in how to choose good friends
Need for Wisdom in Friendships
Characteristics of True Friendship
Co-ed (non-dating) Friendships
Need for Wisdom in Friendships
1. Friends affect our relationship with God
1Co 15:33-34
Pro 1:10-16
2. Friends also affect our life
Pro 18:1
Heb 10:24-25
Psa 1:1
Pro 23:20-21
Pro 22:24-25
we need wisdom in friendship
relationships
Pro 13:20
Pro 2:10-15
Pro 12:26
Summary
1. we need wisdom in making good friendship relationships
2. Friends affect our relationship with God
a. they can draw us closer to God or they can draw us further from God
Summary
3. friends also affect our life
a. we need godly people in our life
b. we need to be careful when choosing friends
Application
1. do you always get along with your fiends?
2. do the friends you have bring you closer to God or do they seek to draw you from Him?
3. do you make friends with just about anyone or do you choose your friends carefully?
Characteristics of True Friendship
1. Initiation
1Sa 18:1-3
1Sa 20:16-17
2. Encouragement/Support
1Sa 20:2-4
1Sa 23:14-18
Ecc 4:9-12
Heb 10:24
Pro 17:17
Pro 18:24
Pro 27:10-11
3. Risk
1Sa 19:1-2
1Sa 20:24-34
4. Spirituality
1Sa 23:13-18
Pro 27:17
Pro 12:26
Psa 119:63
Gal 6:1
Phi 3:17
5. Humility/ Selflessness
1Sa 23:17
Eph 4:1-2
Rom 12:10
Phi 2:3-5
6. Growth
1Sa 20:1-2
Pro 27:5-6
Pro 28:23
Pro 27:9
7. Sharing
Gal 6:2
8. Mutual Exchange (works both ways)
9. Trust/Loyalty
1Sa 19:4-5
1Sa 20:9
1Sa 20:13-15
Job 19:19
Pro 11:13
Pro 16:28
Pro 26:18-22
Pro 25:19
10. Honesty
Rom 12:9
11. Sensitivity
Pro 25:17
Pro 27:14
12. Forgiveness/ Restoration
Pro 19:11
Pro 10:12
Eph 4:31-32
1Th 5:14-15
Mat 5:23-24
13. Love
1Sa 20:17
1Sa 18:1
Mat 22:39
Gal 5:22-23
1Co 13:4-8
Summary
13 Characteristics that tell us
how to be a good friend and
that tell us what to look for
when choosing good friends
1. Initiation
2. Encouragement/Support
3. Risk
4. Spirituality
5. Humility/ Selflessness
6. Growth
7. Sharing
8. Mutual Exchange (works both ways)
9. Trust/Loyalty
10. Honesty
11. Sensitivity
12. Forgiveness/ Restoration
13. Love
Application
1. are you encouraging and supporting your friends?
2. do you help your friend grow in their relationship with God?
3. do you keep your friend accountable to prayer, bible study, fellowship?
4. do you place other’s needs above your own?
5. do you look out for your friends personal interests too?
6. do you tell your friend what they NEED to hear not what they want to hear?
7. do you help them out when they are in need (Acts 2:44-45)?
8. do you gossip about your friends?
9. can your friends trust you to tell them the truth in love?
10. are you honest with your friends?
11. are you quick to forgive and forget a wrong or do you keep a record of wrongs?
12. do you love your friend as yourself?
13. is your love for your friend patient, kind, believing and hoping the best, enduring and everlasting?
Co-ed (non-dating) Friendships
Perhaps one of the most difficult friendships to have
Must guard purity of the mind as well as the physical body
Matt 5:28
Job 31:1
Psa 101:3-4
Phi 4:8
Must choose to do whatever it takes to stay pure
1Pe 2:11
Jam 1:14
2Ti 2:22
Pro 4:23
1Ti 5:1-2
Psa 119:9
Treat them as someone else’s wife or husband
1Ti 5:1-2
Summary.
1. co-ed friendships are one of the hardest kinds of friendships to have
2. guard purity of the mind
3. choose to do whatever it takes to stay pure
4. think of younger women or men as someone else’s wife or husband
Application
1. are you guarding your mind?
2. are you doing whatever it takes in God’s strength to stay pure?
3. are you thinking of your female friend as your sister or your male friend as your brother?
The greatest friend we can have is God Himself.
If you have only one friend in this life, make it the one that matters the most.
Can you call Jesus your friend?
Can He call you His friend?