Spiritual Friendship
A Tim Keller Sermon Summary
Spiritual friendships are discovered, made, and last forever. And they are necessary.
Paul’s life fell into chaos after he went to Jerusalem, but he was surrounded by spiritual friends everywhere he went (Acts 20:36-21:8). Needing friends is a sign of maturity and health.
Before the fall in Genesis 3, everything was good, except for Adam being alone (Genesis 2:18). We are built to need others. This is not a result of sin, unlike our need for health, being free from guilt, and meaning in life. Friendship was a necessity even before the fall.
Christ considered His disciples as friends (John 15:15). He regularly shared His inner thoughts with them. He wasn’t afraid to open up to them His distress.
Some don’t want friends because of previous failed relationships. Growing older often leads to more responsibilities and less time for friends.
But you still need them. Don’t wait till you become desperate before you look for them.
Second, spiritual friendship is discovered. The essence of friendship is not about each other, but about something in common that has captured your hearts.
Friends come among those with common interests, passions, or goals. Those going nowhere will have no fellow travelers. Robbers have a common goal of robbing. They go rob and are friends with other robbers.
Spiritual friendship arises among those who share a common love for God. The strongest experience is the grace of Christ. Spiritual friendship arises naturally among those with such experience.
Third, friendship is made through sharing each others’:
Lastly, friendship lasts forever. Creation was the results of our Triune God’s friendship. Our destiny is eternal friendship.
The purpose of creation is about making us friends. Redemption is about remaking us as friends. According to Christianity, life is about friendship. Go get it. Our job is to summarize sermons. That’s what Tim Keller said.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/spiritual-friendship-6582/
Paul’s life fell into chaos after he went to Jerusalem, but he was surrounded by spiritual friends everywhere he went (Acts 20:36-21:8). Needing friends is a sign of maturity and health.
Before the fall in Genesis 3, everything was good, except for Adam being alone (Genesis 2:18). We are built to need others. This is not a result of sin, unlike our need for health, being free from guilt, and meaning in life. Friendship was a necessity even before the fall.
Christ considered His disciples as friends (John 15:15). He regularly shared His inner thoughts with them. He wasn’t afraid to open up to them His distress.
Some don’t want friends because of previous failed relationships. Growing older often leads to more responsibilities and less time for friends.
But you still need them. Don’t wait till you become desperate before you look for them.
Second, spiritual friendship is discovered. The essence of friendship is not about each other, but about something in common that has captured your hearts.
Friends come among those with common interests, passions, or goals. Those going nowhere will have no fellow travelers. Robbers have a common goal of robbing. They go rob and are friends with other robbers.
Spiritual friendship arises among those who share a common love for God. The strongest experience is the grace of Christ. Spiritual friendship arises naturally among those with such experience.
Third, friendship is made through sharing each others’:
- feelings, as when Paul and his spiritual friends prayed, wept, embraced, and kissed (Acts 20:36);
- possessions, such as when Paul’s friends opened their homes to him (Acts 21:4);
- faith (Hebrews 3:13);
- decisions, sharpening each other (Proverbs 27:17), as Paul at least listened to his friends’ counsel (Acts 21:4, 12);
- time, as time for friendship can easily be pushed out by other demands; and
- commitments, as Luke, though aware of the danger, still went to Jerusalem with Paul (Acts 20, 21, 27, 28).
Lastly, friendship lasts forever. Creation was the results of our Triune God’s friendship. Our destiny is eternal friendship.
The purpose of creation is about making us friends. Redemption is about remaking us as friends. According to Christianity, life is about friendship. Go get it. Our job is to summarize sermons. That’s what Tim Keller said.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/spiritual-friendship-6582/