A New Beginning
New Friends
January 23, 2022
Pastor Mike Rippy
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Isaiah 43:18-19
Why You Need Real Friends…
✓ FOR Spiritual Growth
✓ FOR Emotional Support
✓ FOR Better Health
✓ FOR Enjoyment
✓ TO Reach Your Goal
Real Friendship
David and Saul finished talking, and soon David and Jonathan[a] became best friends. Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself. 2 From that time on, Saul kept David in his service and would not let David go back to his own family.3 Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends. 1 Samuel 18:1-3 (CEV)
✓ Real friendships Overlook Differences.
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 15:15
➢ Jesus did not compromise on his beliefs. BUT that didn’t stop him from loving others who disagreed.
✓ Real friendships look out for One Another.
Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David 2 and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard
tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.” 1 Samuel 19: 1-3 (NIV)
➢ Friends don’t just “WANT” to let their friends do certain things; they also encourage them to do the right things.
➢ These types of friendships give us the strength to reach the heights that God wants for us.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
✓ Real friendships look to Carry on the Blessing.
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table. ”2 Samuel 9:6-7
“Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other.” Proverbs 27:17
“An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.” Proverbs 24:26 (TEV)
Personal Application – Lifegroups are the Best Way to live out real friendships.
2022 WINTER/SPRING LIFEGROUPS
➢ The Lifegroup semester is 12 weeks, February 13 – May 7. ➢ There are all types of groups but most fall into 1 of 4 categories:
Faith – Family – Fellowship – Financial
➢ Join us today for an inside look at being a Lifegroup Leader. ➢ Pray about the Lifegroup that is right for you and get ready for the best year of your life!