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 Pastors and Friendship December 10, 2007 |
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How to Build Close Relationships with Your Disciples
by Paul Fritz John 15:12 If you want to know how to build close relationships with your disciples, follow the model given by Jesus Christ. Jesus loved his disciples and they loved him with unmitigated affection. The Lord knew how to build relationships with the twelve apostles through intimate communications, sharing of their resources and developing trust in the process of building Christ’s church. Full Sermon » 
A Servant Attitude: Key to Success in Relationships
by Ray Ellis 3 John 1:1-12 3rd John is a study in contrasts between the attitudes in two church leaders in the early church, Gaius and Diotrephes (Di-ot’re-fez). From this small book of the Bible we can discover several principles that will help us to improve our attitude and people skills. Full Sermon » 
Brotherly Love II
by Stephen Fournier 1 John 3:16 -24 So while we have focused on these two reasons as to why brotherly love is necessary, today I want us to look at what it really means to love the brethren, and what benefits we receive when we follow the commandment of Christ to love one another. Beginning in verse 16 of 1 John chapter three, we find the definition of brotherly love. Look at that verse:"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Full Sermon » 
Intimacy
by Robert Higgins 1 Samuel 18:1-4 Sayings about friendship: True friends are like diamonds... they are real and rare. False friends are like leaves... they are scattered everywhere. Without humor, life is sad. Without courage, life is hard. Without love, life is hopeless. Without friends, life is impossible! Everyone hears what you say... Friends listen to what you say... Best friends listen to what you don’t say... Full Sermon » 
Serving as Friends
by John Tung John 15:13-17 Already this year we have seen our new deacons become ordained and installed. They have agreed to serve as deacons. And besides the deacons, there are many others in the church who have also given themselves to serve others and to serve God. But the word “servant” seems to be out-of-favor these days. No one really likes to be known as a servant. It seems to connote the idea of being lowly, perhaps even badly treated, and with not much reward. Full Sermon » |
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A Buddy You Wouldn’t Want
Ron Otto writes, “During my scuba diving training, I asked what should be done if we see a shark. 'Should we try to stab it with our diving knife?' The instructor said, 'Don’t do that! You’ll only make him mad.' Then with a smile he went on, 'If you see a shark coming after you, take out your knife, and then cut your buddy and swim like crazy."' Contributed by: Aaron Burgess
Preacher to Preacher
John Wesley and George Whitefield were two of the greatest preachers of the 18th century. They became close friends while attending college at Oxford, but their theological differences eventually caused them to drift apart. In fact, there was quite a bit of animosity between their followers. One of Whitefield’s followers once made the following comment to him about Wesley. He said… "We won’t see John Wesley in the heaven, will we?" To which Whitefield humbly replied, "Yes, you’re right, we won’t see him in heaven. He will be so close to the throne of God and we will be so far away, that we won’t be able to see him." You see despite the fact that he adamantly disagreed with Wesley, Whitefield still believed Wesley was a man of God. Indeed their respect for one another was so great that when Whitefield died, his family asked Wesley to preach the funeral. Contributed by: Matthew Sickling
The Deputy
The local sheriff was looking for a deputy, and one of the applicants - who was not known to be the brightest academically - was called in for an interview. "Okay," began the sheriff, "What is 1 and 1?" "Eleven," came the reply. The sheriff thought to himself, "That’s not what I meant, but he’s right." Then the sheriff asked, "what two days of the week start with the letter 'T'?" "Today & tomorrow," replied the applicant. The sheriff was again surprised over the answer, one that he had never thought of himself. "Now, listen carefully, who killed Abraham Lincoln?" asked the sheriff. The job seeker seemed a little surprised, then thought really hard for a minute and finally admitted, "I don’t know." The sheriff replied, "Well, why don’t you go home and work on that one for a while?" The applicant left and wandered over to his pals who were waiting to hear the results of the interview. He greeted them with a cheery smile, "The job is mine! The interview went great! First day on the job and I’m already working on a murder case!" " Source: Sermons for March 9, 2003. www.e-sermons.com
What is a Friend?
Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels that has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meanness and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the wide ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them, neglect them, and tolerate them. Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, and pray with them. Through it all - and underneath - they see, know, and love you. A friend? What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself. Source: In Bits and Pieces, September 19, 1991, pp. 3-4 - Contributed by: C. Raymond Beran
Wise Use of Tools
James S. Hewett tells of a neighbor he had who was trying to put a TV antenna on his roof, but was having a terrible time. Hewett decided to give him a hand. He went over and took with him his best tools and soon had the antenna up. His neighbor asked him what he made with such fancy tools. Hewett replied, “Friends, mostly.” Source: James S. Hewett - Contributed by: Bruce Howell |
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