Hello there Family, Here is a sermon I preached about Choosing Friends. It also relates to the choose your friends wisely bible verse..
Let me know what stands out to you from this sermon in the comment section.
Here is the sermon as it was preached live.
“Friends”
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
This evening I would like to speak a message that I believe the Lord has placed on my heart.
The title of the message is “Friends”
When I was in high school there was a song by a rap group named whodini and the name of the song was called Friends.
The chorus went like this:
[Hook]
Friends – how many of us have them?
Friends – ones we can depend on
Friends – how many of us have them?
Friends – before we go any further, let's be
Friends
The Bibles says in John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
That is a heavy scripture on Friendship.
Here are a few quotes on Friendship:
William Shakespeare – A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.
Jess C. Scott – Friends are the family you choose.
Oprah Winfrey – Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
In the time we live in today, there are a lot of different definitions of what we call friends.
Whether it be the one who follows us on Facebook.
Whether it be our followers on TikTok.
Whether it be someone we haven’t ever seen before, but they are on our friends list and we chat with them on social media.
Whether it be a group of people that we took a selfie with and we call them friends.
Did you know today in this generation it is a little harder to stay someone’s friend.
Let me explain to you why.
This generation is so used to clicking a button and getting a preconceived response.
This generation has more technology than any previous generation and technology gives you a predetermined response.
Example:
When I click the app on my phone I know what to expect.
When I click the button on my computer I know what to expect.
When I click things on my iPad I know what to expect.
So, when this generation runs into a response they didn’t expect, it can make them not want to associate with that person. We just simply unfriend them. Come on Somebody…
In this generation there are different concepts when it comes to friends, but tonight I would like to look at what the Bible says about Friends.
What does the Bible say about Friends?
1. The type of friends we hang out with will determine who we are.
I Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
If you and I hang around with the wrong friends, they can get you to do things that you shouldn’t be doing.
I remember growing up I used to always hear the saying, tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who will be.
I didn’t understand what that saying meant until I got older.
Basically, it is saying that you and I will become like who we hang around with.
If I hang around with someone who is a gossiper, then I will become a gossiper.
If I hang around with someone who likes to play sports, then I will start liking sports.
If I hang around someone who is lukewarm for God, then I will become lukewarm.
Did you know that, that saying tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you will become is not just a saying, but it is also biblical?
The Bible says, do not be deceived bad company corrupts good character.
2. Friends will tell you what you need to hear.
Proverbs 27:5-6 –
5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Have you ever had to ask someone – How does this suit look on me and they told you try another one or how does this dress look on me and they told you something that you didn’t want to hear.
See a true friend will tell you the truth.
Now there are people who will say oh you look good in that dress or you look good in that suit and when you wear it they talk about how you look.
Weelllll….
Even though what a friend tells us may hurt at the time they tell us, it will pay off in the long run.
The Bible says that the wounds of a friend can be trusted.
I guess the challenge is do we allow our friends to speak the truth to us or do we just want to be around people who tell us what we want to hear.
I know we like to hashtag things with BFF but here is a quote that I think is pretty good.
Henry Ford – My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.
Ok let’s go on to the next one.
3. A friend is there to help you in times of adversity and when you have made some mistakes.
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
If you want to know who your real friends are, just see who is around when you have no money.
See who is around you when you have made a mistake.
See who is around when you are in a tough situation.
The Bible says two are better than one, because if one falls his friend can help him up.
How many know there are going to be times in our lives when we all need someone who is going to be there to help us up?
There are going to be times in our lives when we need someone who can pick us up when we are down?
That is what true friends do.
Quote about Jackie Robinson from the book Leadership:
Jackie Robinson was the first black American to play major league baseball.
Breaking baseball's color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium.
While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error.
The fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered.
Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him.
He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd.
The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.
Job 2:11
11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.
Jobs friends came out of their houses to go and visit job. They came and comforted him.
A friend will be there when you are in need.
How many know it feels good when you are going through something and to have someone come along side you and encourage you.
Have someone come along side you and say I am praying for you.
Have someone come along side you and say it is going to be alright.
4. A Friend will support you and back you up in what God has called you to do.
I Samuel 14:6-7 NIV
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
2 Samuel 23:8-12 (NIV)
8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated,
10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.
12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
II Kings 2:2 NIV
Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
Have you ever shared with someone what you feel God has called you to do and they got excited for you?
They encouraged you to go for it.
That is what a friend will do.
A friend will back you up and support you in what God has called you to do.
The best examples I can think of are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
The stood together in what God had called them to do.
The Bible says in Daniel 3:16 – 18
Daniel 3:16 – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
Daniel 3:17 – If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand
Daniel 3:18 – But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
That is heavy that this verse says, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king. It doesn’t say that one of them spoke up, but all of them.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were friends who stood together.
If they would have had a cell phone back then, they may have taken a selfie standing in front of the king and hash tagged it Squad Goals.
You may say what do mean by Squad Goals:
They were a group of friends who had the same thing in common and that was to be all that God had called them to be.
They wanted to be sold out for God and they supported each other in this effort.
See a true friend will support you in what God has called you to do, so you want to hang with a squad that will encourage you to do that, but if the squad we hang out with now only gossips, complains, and is negative then I wander if it’s time for a new squad.
A true squad will tell you what you need to hear, will help you in times of adversity or when you make a mistake and will encourage you to go after all that God has for you.
This evening I want to encourage you, if you want to go after all that God has for you, then hang out with friends who are going after all that God has for them.
If the Squad you hang out with now only complains, gossips, and puts people down and all they want to do is be Luke warm and rebellious, then it might be time for a new Squad, crew or clique.
Whatever you want to call it.
It may be time to hang out with that friend that is going to encourage you to serve God.
1. The type of friends we hang out with will determine who we are.
2. Friends will tell you what you need to hear.
3. A friend is there to help you in times of adversity and when you have made some mistakes.
4. A Friend will support you and back you up in what God has called you to.
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