Intentional Relationships: Growing Together in Faith
Summary
### Summary
Hello Grace Digital Campus, it's Pippa from the Grace Riverside team. Today, we explored the profound impact of providential relationships on our spiritual growth. Many of us are here because someone once shared their faith with us, and these relationships often feel like divine appointments. Our series, "Growth," aims to help us grow in our faith, and today we focused on the importance of the people we surround ourselves with.
We need people who can guide us, cheer us on, and sometimes challenge us. These providential relationships are those that seem to appear at just the right time, often shaping our faith journey in significant ways. I shared personal stories of people who have been pivotal in my life, like my grade seven teacher and a girl from my university who invited me to church.
We looked at the biblical example of David and Jonathan, whose friendship was marked by humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness. Jonathan, despite being the crown prince, supported David, knowing he was anointed to be the next king. This friendship exemplifies the characteristics of Jesus, who was intentional in his relationships, humble, self-sacrificing, and faithful.
Jesus valued community and was intentional about the people he surrounded himself with. He knew that relationships are fertile soil for life change. We, too, need to be intentional about our relationships, asking ourselves if we are being good friends and if we are surrounding ourselves with people who help us grow spiritually.
I shared my own experience of coming to faith through a friend who persistently invited me to church and became a significant influence in my early Christian walk. This relationship, though it didn't last forever, was crucial for that season of my life.
We must pursue and cultivate healthy relationships while being mindful of the unhealthy ones. Jesus was intentional about his friendships, and we should be too. We need to ask ourselves if we are being intentional friends, growing in humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness.
In closing, I encouraged everyone to reflect on their relationships and to be intentional about fostering those that help us grow in our faith. Let's pray for God to bring the right people into our lives and to help us be the kind of friends who reflect Jesus' love and character.
### Key Takeaways
1. Providential Relationships: These are the people who seem to appear in our lives at just the right time, often shaping our faith journey in significant ways. They are not mere coincidences but divine appointments orchestrated by God to help us grow spiritually. [05:56]
2. Biblical Example of David and Jonathan: Their friendship was marked by humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness. Jonathan supported David despite knowing he was anointed to be the next king, showing that true friendship transcends personal ambition and is rooted in a shared commitment to God. [08:55]
3. Jesus' Intentional Relationships: Jesus was intentional about the people he surrounded himself with, knowing that relationships are fertile soil for life change. He valued community and was a humble, self-sacrificing, and faithful friend. We should strive to emulate these characteristics in our own relationships. [16:48]
4. Personal Testimony: Sharing personal stories of how providential relationships have impacted our faith can inspire others to seek and cultivate similar relationships. My own journey of coming to faith through a persistent friend highlights the importance of being intentional in our friendships. [13:56]
5. Practical Steps for Intentional Friendships: We need to regularly evaluate our relationships and ask if we are being intentional friends. Are we growing in humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness? Are we surrounding ourselves with people who help us grow spiritually? These questions can guide us in fostering relationships that reflect Jesus' love and character. [18:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[04:24] - Introduction to Growth Series
[05:56] - Providential Relationships
[07:22] - C.S. Lewis on Friendship
[08:55] - David and Jonathan's Friendship
[10:26] - Jonathan's Loyalty
[12:35] - Characteristics of Jesus in Friendships
[13:56] - Personal Testimony
[15:22] - Importance of Healthy Relationships
[16:48] - Jesus' Intentional Friendships
[18:23] - Practical Steps for Intentional Friendships
[19:55] - Prayer and Reflection
[21:29] - Questions for Reflection
[22:58] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (David and Jonathan's Friendship)
2. 1 Samuel 19:1-7 (Jonathan Warns David)
3. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (Bad Company Corrupts Good Character)
#### Observation Questions
1. What characteristics marked the friendship between David and Jonathan according to 1 Samuel 18:1-4?
2. How did Jonathan demonstrate his loyalty to David in 1 Samuel 19:1-7?
3. According to 1 Corinthians 15:33, what is the impact of bad company on good character?
4. In the sermon, what personal stories did Pippa share to illustrate the impact of providential relationships? [05:56]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why was Jonathan's friendship with David significant, especially considering Jonathan's position as the crown prince? [08:55]
2. How does the example of David and Jonathan's friendship reflect the characteristics of Jesus' relationships? [12:35]
3. What does it mean to be an intentional friend, and how can this be seen in Jesus' relationships with his disciples? [16:48]
4. How can personal testimonies, like Pippa's story of coming to faith through a persistent friend, inspire others to seek and cultivate providential relationships? [13:56]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current friendships. Are there any that you consider providential? How have they impacted your spiritual growth? [05:56]
2. Are there any relationships in your life that you feel God is calling you to be more intentional about? What steps can you take this week to nurture those relationships? [19:55]
3. How can you demonstrate humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness in your friendships, similar to how Jonathan did for David? [10:26]
4. Think of a time when a friend challenged you in a way that helped you grow spiritually. How did that experience shape your faith journey? [12:35]
5. Are there any unhealthy relationships in your life that might be hindering your spiritual growth? What actions can you take to address these relationships? [21:29]
6. How can you be an intentional friend like Jesus? Identify one specific action you can take this week to support a friend in their faith journey. [18:23]
7. Spend time in prayer this week asking God to bring the right people into your life who will help you grow spiritually. What specific qualities will you look for in these relationships? [22:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Appointments in Our Lives
Providential relationships are those special connections that seem to appear in our lives at just the right time, often shaping our faith journey in significant ways. These relationships are not mere coincidences but divine appointments orchestrated by God to help us grow spiritually. They can come in the form of a mentor, a friend, or even a stranger who speaks a timely word into our lives. Recognizing these relationships as gifts from God can help us appreciate their value and be more intentional in nurturing them.
These providential relationships often come with a sense of purpose and timing that feels beyond our control. They can challenge us, encourage us, and guide us in our spiritual walk. Reflecting on these relationships can help us see God's hand in our lives and remind us of His faithfulness. [05:56]
Proverbs 27:17 (ESV): "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
Reflection: Think of a person who has significantly impacted your faith journey. How can you show appreciation for their influence in your life today?
Day 2: Humility and Self-Sacrifice in Friendship
The friendship between David and Jonathan is a powerful biblical example of humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness. Jonathan, despite being the crown prince, supported David, knowing he was anointed to be the next king. This friendship transcended personal ambition and was rooted in a shared commitment to God. Jonathan's actions demonstrated a deep humility and willingness to put God's plan above his own desires.
True friendship, as exemplified by David and Jonathan, involves a willingness to support and uplift one another, even at personal cost. It challenges us to be selfless and to prioritize the well-being and spiritual growth of our friends. This kind of friendship reflects the love and character of Jesus, who laid down His life for His friends. [08:55]
1 Samuel 18:3-4 (ESV): "Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt."
Reflection: Are there areas in your friendships where you need to practice more humility and self-sacrifice? How can you take a step towards that today?
Day 3: Intentional Relationships for Spiritual Growth
Jesus was intentional about the people He surrounded Himself with, knowing that relationships are fertile soil for life change. He valued community and was a humble, self-sacrificing, and faithful friend. Jesus' intentionality in His relationships teaches us the importance of being deliberate about who we allow to influence us and how we influence others.
Being intentional in our relationships means seeking out and nurturing connections that help us grow spiritually. It involves being a good friend who reflects Jesus' love and character, and also surrounding ourselves with people who challenge and encourage us in our faith. This intentionality can lead to profound spiritual growth and transformation. [16:48]
John 15:15 (ESV): "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."
Reflection: Are you being intentional about the people you surround yourself with? How can you cultivate relationships that help you grow spiritually?
Day 4: The Power of Personal Testimony
Sharing personal stories of how providential relationships have impacted our faith can inspire others to seek and cultivate similar relationships. Personal testimonies highlight the importance of being intentional in our friendships and can serve as powerful examples of God's work in our lives. They remind us that our faith journey is often shaped by the people God places in our path.
Reflecting on our own journey and the people who have influenced us can help us appreciate the role of community in our spiritual growth. It also encourages us to be that influential person in someone else's life, offering support, encouragement, and guidance. [13:56]
2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV): "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."
Reflection: Think of a time when a friend significantly impacted your faith. How can you share this story to encourage someone else today?
Day 5: Evaluating and Cultivating Healthy Relationships
We need to regularly evaluate our relationships and ask if we are being intentional friends. Are we growing in humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness? Are we surrounding ourselves with people who help us grow spiritually? These questions can guide us in fostering relationships that reflect Jesus' love and character. Being mindful of the health of our relationships helps us to cultivate connections that are spiritually enriching and supportive.
Jesus was intentional about His friendships, and we should be too. This involves not only seeking out healthy relationships but also being a good friend who embodies the qualities of humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness. By doing so, we create a community that nurtures spiritual growth and reflects the love of Christ. [18:23]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Take a moment to evaluate your current relationships. Are there any that need more intentionality or adjustment to better reflect Jesus' love and character? What steps can you take today to foster healthier, more spiritually enriching connections?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Grow to know Him more, grow to listen to His guidance, grow to trust Him in all areas of our lives because He loves us, and He wants to see us living in the fullness of His love." [04:24] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The people we surround ourselves with have a direct impact on our spiritual growth. So today, we are going to look at the impact of providential relationships on our growth." [05:56] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we become friends with Jesus, we become a friend like Jesus. Today is an opportunity for us to be intentional about the people we surround ourselves with and to be intentional friends." [18:23] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus was humble. He never thought more about himself. He met people where they were at and he didn't conform to their patterns of behavior. He transformed them to his likeness." [17:50] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus was self-sacrificing. He gave up his time daily for the needs of others so that they might grow to know him and love him more. Jesus was faithful. He remained close to God and close to his friends. He prayed for and with them and he encouraged them through the good times and the bad times." [18:05] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "What it comes down to is that the people we surround ourselves with have a direct impact on our spiritual growth. So today, we are going to look at the impact of providential relationships on our growth." [05:56] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The defining moments of our lives most often revolve around relationships. The good ones and the bad ones. And we're actually going to look at these pivotal circumstances in another week of the series. But there are people who you might feel like God has put in your life and you're so grateful for them, but they're also people you wish that you had never met or he had never let you meet." [07:22] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What I love most about this friendship is that the characteristics we see in Jonathan and David's friendship are the same characteristics of Jesus. Humility, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness. And these characteristics, they grow from a place of intentionality." [13:56] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If we want to be formed to be more like Jesus, we have to be intentional about the daily decisions that we're making. We have to be intentional so that we can counteract the many external influences that want to come in and inhabit our hearts and our souls." [16:48] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The people we surround ourselves with have a direct impact on our spiritual growth. And when we surround ourselves with people who encourage us to more, we become more of who God has made us to be. And this is how we grow." [21:29] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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