Through Thick & Thin - Part 2 [Notes]

April 23rd, 2023

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 // Be the friend you want to have.

If you get the sense that it's way harder to make friends as an adult than it was when you were younger, you're on to something.
The difficulty isn't that you're uncool or awkward. It's that the essential building blocks of friendship are harder to come by when you're older.
Sociologists have identified the ingredients that need to be in place for us to make friends organically, and they are continuous unplanned interaction and shared vulnerability.
As we become adults, we have less and less environments where those ingredients are at play. Adults with jobs, kids, and a collection of other responsibilities also simply have less time available for making friends.

– The Scientific Reason It's So Hard to Make Friends as an Adult (and What to Do About It)

Be the friend you want to have.

Be the friend you want to have

Do you love people well?

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
– Proverbs 17:17 (HCSB)

Friends are not a dime a dozen. They are not the same thing as allies, colleagues, neighbors, relatives and acquaintances.
Friends require a degree of intentionality and self-donating love that goes beyond friendliness and supporting each other in some act or enterprise...
Friends mutually and naturally supply support, sharing, counsel, fun, encouragement, growth, and a sense of being uniquely chosen and valued.

– Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, p.175

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
– 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (HCSB)

This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.
– John 15:12 (HCSB)

Be the friend you want to have

Do you love people well?
Do you lift people up?

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
– Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

When iron is rubbed against another piece of iron it shapes and sharpens it. Similarly people can help each other improve by their discussions, criticisms, suggestions, and ideas.
– The Bible Knowledge Commentary

The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.
– Proverbs 13:20 (HCSB)

The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.
– Proverbs 12:26 (NLT)

Don’t make friends with an angry man, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
– Proverbs 22:24-25 (HCSB)

Be the friend you want to have

Do you love people well?
Do you lift people up?
Do you let people in?

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
– Acts 2:46-47 (HCSB)

Vulnerability – a willingness to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known; willingness to risk being emotionally hurt.
– Dictionary.com

Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
– Galatians 6:2 (HCSB)

Be the friend you want to have

Do you love people well?
Do you lift people up?
Do you let people in?

Discussion Questions //

1. As a group, see how many “friend” related things that you can come up with from culture, past or present (i.e. Friendly’s restaurant).
2. Be the friend you want to have.

Which of these main points stood out to you the most and why?
- Do you love people well? Proverbs 17:17
- Do you lift people up? Proverbs 27:17, 13:20, 12:26, 22:24-25
- Do you let people in? Acts 2:46-47, Galatians 6:2

3. What is one practical way that you can apply the message and discussion to your life and friendships this week?

Worship Setlist //

Friendship // Take You at Your Word // Same God // Firm Foundation (He Won't)

Devotional //

Get More From the Message | Each week, a new devotional will be available. This devotional is based on the previous Sunday's message, and it aims to take the message further and help you dive deeper into the topic. You can find the devotionals at the link, or sign up to receive weekly emails.

Devotional

Catch Up //

You can watch or listen to past messages online!

Past Messages

Give //

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Posted in through thick and thin, friendships, relationships, friends