How to Be a Friend
A Tim Keller Sermon Summary
Why do we need friends, and how do we make them?
We need friends because we are made in the image of God. Our God, the Trinity, includes three entities. Since before the existence of the world, these three eternal entities have always been the best of friends.
God also said it was not good for Adam to be alone. Adam needed someone suitable to be his helper, with whom he could share, trust, and love. It is also not good for us to be alone. So, we need friends (Genesis 2:18).
What are the main attributes of a friend?
First, a friend lets us into his inner life, willing to share with us his secrets. We should learn from Christ. He lets us in by sharing with us everything He learned from His Father (John 15:15).
Christ lets us in by being with us. He doesn’t lay out our whole life before us and leave. Instead, through the Holy Spirit, He dwells in us, joining us and guiding us along the way.
Learn to open up to others but do it slowly. Don’t force other people to get into your inner life by opening up too quickly.
Second, a friend doesn’t let us down. Christ never lets us down. There is no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friends. That is what Christ did, and His sacrifice has given us new life (John 15:3).
Christ loves us not because we are good. We are far from it, but He still loves us. He treats us as His friends, even when we rebel against Him. We are not surprised if our enemies harm us, but it is difficult to endure insults from our close friends. Since Christ treats us as His friends, our rebellion hurts Him deeply.
Learn from Christ regarding friendship. He lets us in by opening Himself up to us and by being with us. He never lets us down. He even died for us. We should follow Him.
Similarly, we need friends because we are made in God’s image. To build friendship, learn to let others in and not let them down.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/you-are-my-friends-5770/
We need friends because we are made in the image of God. Our God, the Trinity, includes three entities. Since before the existence of the world, these three eternal entities have always been the best of friends.
God also said it was not good for Adam to be alone. Adam needed someone suitable to be his helper, with whom he could share, trust, and love. It is also not good for us to be alone. So, we need friends (Genesis 2:18).
What are the main attributes of a friend?
First, a friend lets us into his inner life, willing to share with us his secrets. We should learn from Christ. He lets us in by sharing with us everything He learned from His Father (John 15:15).
Christ lets us in by being with us. He doesn’t lay out our whole life before us and leave. Instead, through the Holy Spirit, He dwells in us, joining us and guiding us along the way.
Learn to open up to others but do it slowly. Don’t force other people to get into your inner life by opening up too quickly.
Second, a friend doesn’t let us down. Christ never lets us down. There is no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friends. That is what Christ did, and His sacrifice has given us new life (John 15:3).
Christ loves us not because we are good. We are far from it, but He still loves us. He treats us as His friends, even when we rebel against Him. We are not surprised if our enemies harm us, but it is difficult to endure insults from our close friends. Since Christ treats us as His friends, our rebellion hurts Him deeply.
Learn from Christ regarding friendship. He lets us in by opening Himself up to us and by being with us. He never lets us down. He even died for us. We should follow Him.
Similarly, we need friends because we are made in God’s image. To build friendship, learn to let others in and not let them down.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/you-are-my-friends-5770/