FRIENDING—1 WHY ARE FRIENDSHIPS DECLINING?
THE FOUNDATION OF FRIENDSHIP
Most important studies we ever do! Burden on my heart.
Get friendships right—set you up for success in every important area.
Get them wrong—more pain and destruction than you can imagine.
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 SHOW ME YOUR FRIENDS AND I’LL SHOW YOU
YOUR FUTURE.
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers
harm. Prov 13:20
Any success I have—result of God using right friends influence me.
Almost every time I got into trouble—wrong friends.
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LIST YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS
(Outside family. Imaginary friend doesn’t count)
1) ___________________ 4) _____________________
2) ___________________ 5) _____________________
3) ___________________
You’re avg of 5 closest friends: finances, wild thang, spiritual focused.
Like it or not—become like those you run with.
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FRIENDSHIP DEFINED
A friend is someone you may or may not know well who accepts your
friend request on Facebook. This person is born to like and comment
on your posts to make you feel good about yourself. Prov 17:17 FBV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of
adversity. Proverbs 17:17
Am. Sociological Review: avg Am has only 2 close friends. 25% none.
1) INCREASING WORK HOURS.
2) RISING DIVORCE RATES.
3) EXPLOSION OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
Acknowledge social media has redefined meaning of friend.
Before FB/Twitter/Insta—no one called friends—breakfast. Post a pic.
Obsessed w/controlling perception: 140 characters or less.
Post a picture of ourselves—filter and frame.
More followers, more likes, more FB friends and feel more alone.
Illusion of intimacy. Counterfeit to what God intended.
More I use social media—more I crave
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Upcoming weeks Week 2: One Friend Away
Week 3: One Community Away
Week 4: Unfriending (Right life wrong friend)
Friend you need to have—Friend you need to be.
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REDISCOVERING THE LOST ART OF FRIENDSHIP
 BE PRESENT.
I will—develop my friendships—face to face—not thumbs to thumbs.
Jesus didn’t say—read this book. Follow me. Be present.
Kids know something is not right!
More children complaining about parents on phones than vice versa.
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and
good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some
people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of
his return is drawing near. Heb 10:24-25 NLT
 There is power in presence. WHAT KIND OF FRIEND WILL I BE?
34
Death—I didn’t say anything. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
Praying for you—Praying with you.
Don’t know I believe what you believe—want what you have.
You changed my whole block.
Not just present physically—emotionally! Know our church. Know LG by love. Know me by love.
End of your life—how much will it matter how many likes selfie? 26
The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. Prov 12:26 NLT
5
Put phones down at lunch. An open rebuke is better than hidden love! 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses
from an enemy. Prov 27:5-6 NLT

My life—I do have the right friends—almost no time with them.
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 BE PRESENT.
 GET OPEN.
Tons afraid to use phone—can’t predict direction.
Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and
endanger your soul. Proverbs 22:24–25 (NLT)
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we
will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. Romans 5:10 (NLT)
 EVERY FRIENDSHIP ENDS UP SOMEWHERE. FEW FRIENDSHIPS END UP
SOMEWHERE ON PURPOSE.

Raboam’s friend.
We impress people with our strengths 13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do
but we connect with people through our weaknesses. what I command. 15 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 15:13-15
Share weaknesses to a group. Don’t know how to do it one on one.
6 Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? Prov 20:6 NLT
16
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you Apologize to everyone on facebook—can’t in person.
may be healed. James 5:16 NLT Instead of, “Will you like me?” How can I love you?

John 13:34Love one another.

Playboy in bathroom—Life Group Story Rom 12:10Be devoted to one another.
Rom 5:7 Accept one another just as Christ accepted you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rom 15:14Instruct one another.
Gal 5:13 Serve one another in love.
Eph 4:2 Bear with one another in love.
Courage to acknowledge—what we are doing isn’t working! Eph 4:32 Forgive one another, just as Christ forgave you.
God wants more for us! Rom 16:16Greet each other with a holy kiss

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