Through Thick & Thin - Part 1 [Notes]

Relationships are so important, and yet they can be so difficult. The pandemic, social media and a divided country have not helped. How do we develop new relationships? How do we strengthen the ones we have? How do we repair the ones that seem broken? Why does it even matter?  

Join us for our series titled, Through Thick & Thin. We will explore ways to develop the kinds of friendships that will enrich our lives.

Today's Takeaway // Friendship matters.

 Friendship Matters.

Friendship Matters

• God designed us for it 

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth,  and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God;  He created them male and female.
– Genesis 1:26-27 (HCSB)

The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat  from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper as his complement.”
– Genesis 2:15-18 (HCSB)

“The image of God refers to the immaterial part of humanity. It sets human beings apart from the animal world, fits them for the dominion God intended them to have over the earth, and enables them to commune with their Maker. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially... Socially, humanity was created for fellowship. This reflects God’s triune nature and His love. In Eden, humanity’s primary relationship was with God, and God made the first woman because “it is not good for the man to be alone.” Every time someone marries, makes a friend, hugs a child, or attends church, he or she is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.”
– Gotquestions.org

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
– Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (HCSB)

Friendship Matters

• God designed us for it 
• Jesus demonstrated it

Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every  disease and sickness. These are the names of the 12 apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
– Matthew 10:1-4 (HCSB)

 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus.
– John 13:23 (HCSB)

Friendship Matters

• God designed us for it 
• Jesus demonstrated it
• Jesus died for it

Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests  with them. But the Pharisees and their scribes  were complaining to His disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus replied to them, “The healthy don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
– Luke 5:29-32 (HCSB)

As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask  the Father in My name, He will give you. This is what I command you: Love one another.
– John 15:9-17 (HCSB) 

Friendship Matters

• God designed us for it 
• Jesus demonstrated it
• Jesus died for it

Brother // Evidence // Good Grace // Let It Be Real (I'm Ready)

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