March 6, 2024 | S2 Ep 3
Description: Friendship is one of the most important parts of life, but the Church has some mixed messages about who Christians should and shouldn’t befriend. Can we have real friendships with non-believers? What about friendships between guys and girls? And what does true Christian fellowship actually look like?
In this episode, we’re diving deep into what the Bible really says about friendships, relationships, and mentorship. We’ll tackle common misconceptions, break down relevant scriptures, and highlight the difference between being wise in our friendships and being trapped in a “holy huddle.”
🔥 Key Takeaway: Jesus was a friend to sinners, yet remained uncompromising in truth. As Christians, we are called to love people, build godly fellowship, and use wisdom in all our relationships—without isolating ourselves from the world.
Show Notes
Summary
Navigating friendships as a believer can sometimes feel like traversing a maze of do’s and don’ts, especially in today’s diverse world. Whether you’re stepping out of a period of isolation or simply trying to strike a balance between belief and friendship, finding your place in the faith community can be daunting. Having experienced similar challenges myself, I am here to shed some light on the misconceptions and truths about building meaningful relationships as a believer.
The groups I cover:
- Non-believers
- Believers
- Fellowship
- Mentorship/Discipleship
- Opposite Sex Friends
- People to cut ties with
1. God is relational
One of the most important foundational truths you must learn is that God loves relationships. He loves His people!!!
- His nature in the Trinity is relational
- Jesus constantly talks about the relationship with His Father
- We were created for a relationship with Him
- The 2 Commandments are loving God and loving others
If this were to sink into people’s heads, we would be asking “Who can I be friends with?”, not “Who can I cut off?” Jesus said ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”- John 13:35
*Keep this in mind when dealing with people.
2. The Purpose of the Church
The church is not a building. It’s a group of people called “believers in Jesus Christ.” With that in mind, we have two jobs.
- The Great Commission- go into the world and make disciples
- Equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Eph 4:12)
Knowing this opens the door to a myriad of friendships, including non-believers, opposite genders, ages, and nationalities. Most people are not off-limits. We just need to use wisdom when determining who we spend our time with. I also give some solid advice for new believers on how to navigate their friendships with their newfound faith.
3. Mentorship/Discipleship
I missed out on this when I was younger. I don’t know why it was presented to me as a Christian kid growing up. Anyway, it’s a super important tool, especially for new believers and those coming back to the faith. It can possibly ensure you have accountability and are given sound doctrine.
The flip side is that those who are strong in the Lord should consider taking someone under their wing. It’s a responsibility, for sure, but it can be rewarding for both parties. I share some stories from my time leading Bible studies and offer more insight into this area in the video.
Give it a try 💪🏽🤍
- Get back into a church and join a Bible study. It’s how I made friends in the church and got really active.
- If you’re really trying to grow your faith, get a mentor – someone you admire, who can learn from and keep you accountable.
Resources
Scripture Verses
James 4:4 | Proverbs 13:20 | 2 Corinthians 6:14 | Matthew 11:19 | Matthew 9:11-13 | Acts 2:42 | Hebrews 10:24-25 | Galatians 3:28 | 1 Corinthians 5:11 | 2 Timothy 3:5 | 2 Thessalonians 3:6 | John 10:1 | 2 John 1:9-10
Books
Friend-ish: Reclaiming Real Friendship in a Culture of Confusion- Kelly Needham
The Six Conversations: Pathways to Connecting in an Age of Isolation and Incivility- Heather Holleman
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