Choosing Friends Wisely: The Impact of Influence

Devotional

Day 1: The Influence of Our Circle

Our friendships have the power to shape our character and decisions. The Bible warns us that "bad company corrupts good character," highlighting the importance of choosing our companions wisely. When we surround ourselves with people who engage in negative behaviors, we risk adopting those habits ourselves. It's crucial to be mindful of the influence we have on our friends and strive to set a positive example. By doing so, we can create a community that encourages growth and positive change. [03:00]

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life is influencing you the most right now? Are they leading you closer to or further from your values and goals?

Day 2: Resisting the Pull of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can be a powerful force, convincing us that we are missing out on something essential. The story of Adam and Eve illustrates how temptation can lead us astray, and we must be aware of the influence of peer pressure. By making conscious decisions to resist it, we can avoid making poor choices that compromise our integrity. It's important to remember that true fulfillment comes from aligning our actions with our values, not from succumbing to external pressures. [06:20]

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit,' do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths." (Proverbs 1:10-15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a situation where you feel pressured to conform. How can you stand firm in your values and make a decision that aligns with your beliefs?

Day 3: The Power of Positive Companions

Choosing the right companions is essential for personal growth. When we surround ourselves with wise and positive influences, we create a supportive community that fosters success and well-being. Friends who encourage us to make good decisions can help us achieve our goals and become the best version of ourselves. By being intentional about the company we keep, we can cultivate relationships that inspire and uplift us. [14:34]

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a friend who consistently encourages you to grow. How can you invest more in that relationship to strengthen your support system?

Day 4: Embracing Authenticity in Friendships

Authenticity in friendships allows us to connect on a deeper level. By being genuine and vulnerable, we can build stronger relationships and support each other in our personal journeys. Encouraging authenticity means creating a safe space where friends feel comfortable being themselves. This openness fosters trust and understanding, leading to more meaningful and fulfilling connections. [21:33]

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you be more authentic in your friendships? How can you encourage your friends to do the same?

Day 5: Aspiring for Greatness Together

Surrounding ourselves with people who share our goals and aspirations can inspire us to achieve greatness. By fostering friendships with those who have similar ambitions, we can motivate each other to reach our full potential. These relationships provide encouragement and accountability, helping us stay focused on our goals. Together, we can create a community that supports and celebrates each other's successes. [23:10]

"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: Who in your life shares your aspirations and goals? How can you collaborate with them to encourage each other towards greatness?

Sermon Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the concept of friendship through a humorous lens, focusing on how to be a bad friend. We began by examining the movie "Hot Rod," where the protagonist's friends encourage him to engage in reckless stunts without considering his safety. This serves as a metaphor for how bad friends can lead us into poor decisions. The Bible warns us about the influence of bad company, as seen in 1 Corinthians, which states that "bad company corrupts good character." This is a reminder that our actions and habits can significantly impact those around us.

We delved into the idea of openly displaying bad habits, such as procrastination or dishonesty, and how these can encourage others to follow suit. The concept of FOMO, or the fear of missing out, was also discussed, using the story of Adam and Eve as an example of how temptation can lead us astray. Peer pressure often convinces us that we are missing out on something essential, leading us to make poor choices.

We also shared personal anecdotes about how friends can lead us into questionable situations, emphasizing the importance of choosing our companions wisely. The story of a reckless adventure with fireworks highlighted how group dynamics can push us into making foolish decisions. The importance of surrounding ourselves with wise and positive influences was underscored by various examples of successful friendships, such as Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who encouraged each other to achieve greatness.

Finally, we discussed how to be a good friend by setting a positive example, encouraging authenticity, and surrounding ourselves with the right people. By doing so, we can inspire others to make better choices and create a supportive community that fosters growth and success.

Key Takeaways

1. being. [14:34]
4. Authenticity in Friendships: Encouraging authenticity in friendships allows us to connect on a deeper level. By being genuine and vulnerable, we can build stronger relationships and support each other in our personal journeys.

5. Aspiring for Greatness Together: Surrounding ourselves with people who share our goals and aspirations can inspire us to achieve greatness. By fostering friendships with those who have similar ambitions, we can motivate each other to reach our full potential.

** [14:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Introduction to Bad Friendship
[02:30] - Movie Clip: Hot Rod
[03:00] - Bad Habits and Influence
[05:00] - FOMO and Temptation
[06:20] - Peer Pressure and Poor Choices
[08:00] - Personal Anecdote: Fireworks Adventure
[10:00] - Movie Clip: Zoolander
[12:00] - Distractions and Meaning
[14:34] - The Impact of Bad Company
[16:00] - Proverbs on Foolishness
[18:42] - Self-Reflection on Friendship
[20:00] - Tips for Being a Good Friend
[21:33] - Authenticity and Vulnerability
[23:10] - Successful Friendships and Aspiration
[25:00] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Sermon Clips

"Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character. So if your goal is to corrupt the people around you, well, the Bible says that's absolutely possible in first Corinthians. This is something Paul wrote, uh, to the church in Corinthians. So let's, let's look as we go through this as how to be a terrible friend by being a poor example to those around us." [00:03:00] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

"All a lie, of course, right? But that's what they want you to think, because the truth is, when we get pulled down into something that we're like, oh man, I kind of feel guilty about this. The most common thing for us to do is to grab a buddy and pull him down there with us, because when we have friends down it, I don't know. the bottom of these bad activities, we feel better about ourselves. And that stinks, but if that's your goal, then by all means, get into it." [00:07:47] (28 seconds) Edit Clip

"was having sort of a moment where they're thinking ah you know what life seems a little empty I don't know maybe there's more to this what would a good friend do tell me about that what you know tell me about that have you where do you where do you find meaning oh I don't know where to find meaning well guess what if we're Christians we know exactly where to find meaning in life right but a lot a lot of times we you know get in those situations we feel a little awkward Satan makes our phone ding right oh oh yep there's a distraction right and we're kind of like Derek Zoolander or his buddy sometimes and we jump in to the distraction rather than leaning in to things that are truly on our friends hearts right these are moments God -ordained moments I believe where we as good friends can either lean in or we can do what the world does and just chase another ding on our phone and another distraction" [00:15:21] (63 seconds) Edit Clip

"So, you lie down with dogs, you get the fleas. Let's go. So, here's Proverbs, a verse that's right in the middle of the Bible. It says, you know, Proverbs is full of so much wisdom. They're almost like little fortune cookies. It says, he who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed. Don, what's next? This is it. So, the Bible has a lot to say about fools. Here we go. This is kind of like a machine gun of Proverbs verses. We're gonna open a bunch of little fortune cookies about fools here. A fool despises wisdom." [00:17:14] (36 seconds) Edit Clip

"Because what does the Bible say? Fools create fools, right? As you hang out with fools, you somehow start to become more foolish. All right, so here we go. Let's look. Here's some tips on how to actually be a good friend. Set a good example, guys. You know, this is something, and I talk to my kids, and I talk to a lot of people y 'all's age about this. Man, when we get together in a group, it seems like people are just on their phones. I was like, yeah, because you're on your phone, too." [00:18:53] (33 seconds) Edit Clip

"Convince them that they don't need to prove themselves. Guys, we walk around with the big old things. There's a lot of insecurity. I know that. And it's very comforting when a good friend says, hey, man, I don't, you don't have to, you know, cut the act, cut the bravado, cut the whatever it is. Just let's get down to the real you. And so as a friend, go first. Scrape off that, you know, scrape off that insecurity and encourage each other to be actually authentic around each other." [00:21:33] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

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