Building True Friendships Through Sacrificial Love
Summary
In today's gathering, we celebrated the joy of welcoming new members into our church family, the Montez and Rex families. This moment of unity and fellowship reminds us of the importance of relationships in our lives, especially as we continue our series on relationships. Today, we focus on the profound concept of friendship, as exemplified by Jesus in John 15, where He calls us His friends if we follow His commandments. Friendship, as we explore, is not just a casual connection but a deep, sacrificial bond that reflects the love Jesus has for us.
True friendship is a blessing, a sentiment echoed by Francois de La Rochefoucauld, who described a true friend as the greatest of all blessings. This kind of friendship is characterized by sacrificial love, as Jesus demonstrated by laying down His life for us. It requires us to go above and beyond for one another, even when it involves personal sacrifice. This sacrificial love is the foundation of true friendship, where we support each other through life's challenges and joys.
Moreover, friends help each other grow, as Proverbs 27:17 illustrates: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." In our church community, we see this growth through prayer, support, and accountability. Friends hold each other accountable, encouraging one another to live out the teachings of Jesus and to be His hands and feet in the world. This accountability is crucial in our spiritual journey, helping us stay true to our faith and purpose.
Supporting and caring for one another is another vital aspect of friendship. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us that two are better than one, for if one falls, the other can lift them up. In times of need, true friends are there to offer a helping hand, a listening ear, or a comforting presence. This support is not just about being there in times of crisis but also about investing in relationships, being intentional in our actions, and showing love and care consistently.
As we reflect on these aspects of friendship, let us strive to build relationships that embody sacrificial love, growth, accountability, and support. May we be true friends to one another, as Jesus is to us, and may our friendships transform lives and bring glory to God.
Key Takeaways:
- Sacrificial Love: True friendship is marked by sacrificial love, where we are willing to go above and beyond for one another, just as Jesus did for us. This love requires us to put others' needs before our own, demonstrating the depth of our commitment and care. [41:59]
- Growth Through Friendship: Friends help each other grow by encouraging and challenging one another to be the best versions of themselves. This growth is facilitated through mutual support, prayer, and accountability, as we strive to live out our faith together. [45:54]
- Accountability in Friendship: Holding each other accountable is a vital aspect of friendship, helping us stay true to our faith and purpose. Through accountability, we encourage one another to live according to God's Word and to be His hands and feet in the world. [49:35]
- Support and Care: True friends support and care for one another, offering a helping hand, a listening ear, or a comforting presence in times of need. This support is not just about being there in times of crisis but also about investing in relationships and showing consistent love and care. [52:45]
- Intentional Relationships: Building true friendships requires intentionality, where we actively invest in relationships and show love and care consistently. By being intentional, we can create friendships that transform lives and bring glory to God. [54:55]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction of New Members
- [03:30] - Prayer for New Members
- [05:00] - Relationship Series Overview
- [06:30] - Focus on Friendship
- [08:15] - Scripture Reading: John 15
- [10:00] - The Meaning of True Friendship
- [12:30] - Sacrificial Love in Friendship
- [15:00] - Growth Through Friendship
- [17:30] - Accountability in Friendship
- [20:00] - Support and Care in Friendship
- [22:30] - Intentional Relationships
- [25:00] - Jackie Robinson's Story
- [28:00] - Obedience and Blessing
- [30:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 15:12-14
- Proverbs 27:17
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 15:12-14, what does Jesus say about the nature of friendship and how it relates to His commandments?
2. How does the sermon describe the role of sacrificial love in true friendship? [41:59]
3. According to Proverbs 27:17, what metaphor is used to describe the impact friends have on each other, and how was this illustrated in the sermon? [45:54]
4. What example from the sermon illustrates the importance of support and care in friendship, as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10? [52:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of sacrificial love in friendship challenge our modern understanding of relationships? [41:59]
2. In what ways can the metaphor of "iron sharpening iron" be applied to our spiritual growth within a community? [45:54]
3. How does the sermon suggest that accountability among friends can help us stay true to our faith and purpose? [49:35]
4. What does the story of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese teach us about the transformative power of friendship? [57:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when a friend demonstrated sacrificial love towards you. How did it impact your relationship, and how can you reciprocate that love in your friendships? [41:59]
2. Identify a friend who has helped you grow spiritually. What specific actions did they take to encourage your growth, and how can you do the same for someone else? [45:54]
3. Consider your current friendships. Are there areas where you could be more intentional about holding each other accountable in your faith journey? How might you initiate this conversation? [49:35]
4. Think of a friend who might be going through a difficult time. What practical steps can you take this week to offer them support and care, as described in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10? [52:45]
5. How can you be more intentional in building relationships that embody the qualities of true friendship discussed in the sermon? What specific actions will you take to invest in these relationships? [54:55]
6. Reflect on the story of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese. Is there someone in your life who needs a friend to stand by them in a challenging situation? How can you be that friend? [57:11]
7. What steps can you take to ensure that your friendships are not just casual connections but are rooted in the principles of sacrificial love, growth, accountability, and support? [54:55]
Devotional
Day 1: Sacrificial Love in Friendship
True friendship is marked by sacrificial love, where individuals are willing to go above and beyond for one another, just as Jesus did for us. This love requires putting others' needs before our own, demonstrating the depth of our commitment and care. Sacrificial love is not about grand gestures but about the everyday choices we make to prioritize the well-being of our friends. It is about being present, offering support, and sometimes making personal sacrifices to ensure the happiness and growth of those we care about. [41:59]
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you show sacrificial love to today, and what specific action can you take to demonstrate this love?
Day 2: Growth Through Friendship
Friends help each other grow by encouraging and challenging one another to be the best versions of themselves. This growth is facilitated through mutual support, prayer, and accountability, as individuals strive to live out their faith together. In a true friendship, there is a shared commitment to personal and spiritual development, where friends inspire each other to pursue their goals and dreams. This growth is not just about personal achievements but about becoming more Christ-like in character and actions. [45:54]
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a friend who has helped you grow spiritually. How can you express gratitude to them and continue to support their growth?
Day 3: Accountability in Friendship
Holding each other accountable is a vital aspect of friendship, helping individuals stay true to their faith and purpose. Through accountability, friends encourage one another to live according to God's Word and to be His hands and feet in the world. This involves having honest conversations, offering constructive feedback, and being willing to confront each other when necessary. Accountability is not about judgment but about love and a shared desire to see each other thrive in their spiritual journey. [49:35]
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need accountability? Who can you trust to hold you accountable in this area?
Day 4: Support and Care in Friendship
True friends support and care for one another, offering a helping hand, a listening ear, or a comforting presence in times of need. This support is not just about being there in times of crisis but also about investing in relationships and showing consistent love and care. Friends are there to celebrate the joys and navigate the challenges of life together, providing a sense of belonging and security. This kind of support requires intentionality and a willingness to be vulnerable and open with one another. [52:45]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a friend who is going through a difficult time. How can you offer them support and care today?
Day 5: Intentional Relationships
Building true friendships requires intentionality, where individuals actively invest in relationships and show love and care consistently. By being intentional, friendships can transform lives and bring glory to God. This involves making time for one another, being present in each other's lives, and prioritizing the relationship amidst the busyness of life. Intentional relationships are built on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to growing together in faith and love. [54:55]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take to be more intentional in your friendships this week? How can you prioritize these relationships in your daily life?
Quotes
A true friend, one that we can call, one that's there, one that we can count on, one that pours into us, one that calls us out, a true friend is the greatest of all blessings. [00:38:32] (16 seconds)
And so the first one is, friends love sacrificially. Friends love sacrificially. In the passage that we read today, Jesus said, hey, this is my commandment. You love one another as I have loved you. [00:40:12] (20 seconds)
And the beauty of that passage, the strength of that passage, and the challenge in that passage is he loved us to the cross, where he gave his life. For us, he knew what was ahead, and he was preparing them, and he was telling them, hey, a friend will lay down their life for one another. [00:40:32] (22 seconds)
And what he meant is that we will sacrifice. We will give up everything to do all we can to come alongside our friend. That's what true friendship is, to have sacrificial love, no matter what the cost, no matter what has happened in the relationship. Sometimes there's tension and conflict in the relationship. [00:40:54] (26 seconds)
We move past that because love is sacrificial. We go above and beyond for the other individual. The couple I mentioned to you earlier, they provided for meals time and time again. I went above and beyond to welcome our whole family with two kids, staying there at times, and the sacrifice of helping us out as we moved all over eastern North Carolina. [00:41:26] (33 seconds)
As we live the model that Christ taught us to follow him, to live by his example, to be his. hands and feet we set an example for our friends or we do the opposite we don't do that right and so we're called to do just that to live out the faith to encourage one another when someone's down when someone's experiencing a hard time to encourage them that hey this too will pass hey let's take this to the lord let's walk together you're not alone how can i help you you uh iron sharpens iron i observe it every day here at asbury i observe it when people lay hands on one another and pray for someone in need i observe it here at asbury when someone's family's going through a tough time or or they've been to the hospital recovering [00:44:00] (57 seconds)
And so friends help each other to grow. So important for us to get that. We need others. We can't do this alone. We need others to help make us be all that we can be, to help get us through the tough days, to help strengthen us and undergird us. [00:45:33] (22 seconds)
Another thing that friends are, are they help with accountability. They help hold us accountable to this life of faith. And I think that's something that through the years we've taken for granted as Christians. [00:45:54] (16 seconds)
We're called in following Jesus to help hold each other accountable. The disciples, the 12, did that for one another. And when one of them got off, they would go to Jesus. To sort it out and straighten it out. [00:46:10] (18 seconds)
And we're called to come alongside each other because this book, living out the scriptures as we take a vow in this church is a difficult thing. We've got to understand what it means, how to live it out in our world today. [00:46:28] (18 seconds)
Friends, if we go at it alone, we become self -centered, inward focused, thinking about ourselves, just our families, about our inner circle. But we're called to be more than that. [00:48:51] (14 seconds)
And so how can we be true Christian friends? To come alongside one another in support, in encouraging. When someone, hey, is losing sight of coming to church, call them up, say, hey, I miss you in church, right? When someone is failing to live out the gospel, to be able to come alongside them. alongside them and say, hey, there's a better way. And that is to do it with Jesus. [00:49:01] (30 seconds)
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