Pastor Steve Williams : Friends Forever

Instamacy · 44:54 · Recorded May 14, 2017

#Friends Forever

Colossians 3:11-15 (NLT) …Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

1. Stay anchored in God’s enduring validation.

Proverbs 18:24 (HCSB)  A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

You’re chosen personally, set apart specially & loved completely!

John 15:15-16 (NIV) “I have called you friends…You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit.”

Proverbs 14:26 (TEV) Reverence for the LORD gives confidence and security to a man and his family.

2. Trade off your selfishness for a growing Christlikeness.

Relationships will thrive on these five:

Heartfelt compassion.

Simple kindnesses.

Matthew 7:12 (MSG) “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.”

Easygoing humility.

Careful gentleness.

Proverbs 27:6 (NRSV) Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts, but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Patience that goes the distance.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (TLB)  If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

3. Make the efforts to keep friends close.

Proverbs 27:10 (NIV) Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you – better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

Exchanging big doses of acceptance & forgiveness.

Working at being in harmony.

4. Value the place friends hold in your life.

3 John 14-15 (TEV) “I hope to see you soon…All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.”

See Paul’s list of friends in Romans 16!

Luke 22:28 (NJB) “You are the men who have stood by me faithfully in my trials.”

What people should I contact after today?

Study & Discussion Questions
  • What is your best memory of a Mother’s Day?
  • Read Proverbs 18:24. What kinds of friends can we be harmed by? Who has been a friend who’s stuck with you over time? Why do you think that’s happened?
  • Read Colossians 3:12-15. Notice the various virtues and practices that Paul says we’re to be “clothed” in every day. How are each of these distinguished from the others? How are they similar or interconnected? Who is someone that comes to mind who “looks” like that in their relating to others?
  • Read Proverbs 27:6. When have you had to do the hard, uncomfortable task of confronting someone (without giving their name) about a wrong they’d done or “garbage” that had built up between you? When has someone confronted you? What did you learn from the experience that was valuable? Would you have preferred that never had happened?
  • How do you work to keep your friendships strong and vital? What do you feel you should begin doing that you’re not?
  • What will be your biggest take away about our social media age from this Instamacy series?
  • Parents, your elementary aged children are learning about Joy throughout the month of May. We are defining Joy as Knowing how good God is. Today we learned that we should tell everyone how good God is. This news is too important to keep it to ourselves! Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples was to go and make disciples of all nations. That instruction applies to each of us today in the same way it applied to the 11. To find out the rest of the story, talk it over with your child and check out their student handout. Early childhood families, be sure to see what is going on in your child’s classroom by picking up and reading the Parent Cue.

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