Part 4: Spiritual Friendships
COMMUNITY: BUILDING CONNECTIONS
PART 4
Proverbs 13:20; 17:17; 18:24; 27:5,6,17; 29:5
Proverbs: You will not live a wise life unless you are great at choosing, developing, and keeping spiritual friendships.
1. SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIPS ARE POWERFUL.
“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)
“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)
2. YOU NEED SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIPS.
A friend is someone who is always there for you.
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)
A friend never lets you down.
“An open rebuke is better than hidden love!” Proverbs 27:5 (NLT)
“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Proverbs 27:6 (NLT)
Friends save us from self-destruction.
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
“To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.” Proverbs 29:5 (NLT)
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
3. WHERE DO WE GET THE POWER TO BE THE FRIEND WE NEED TO BE?
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 (NIV)
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
__________________________________
This Week’s Reading Plan and Blog/Podcast:
YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
“Jesus People: Better Together” (5 Days)Blog and Podcast: “Wise Counselors”