A Friend Is More Than A Hyperlink Series

Note: Earlier in the service Mark 2:1-12 AND 1 Samuel 20:35-42 have been read and the story re-told and explained. These are great examples of friendship in the Bible. The story of Ruth and Naomi could also be used.)

Introduction...

[Project my Facebook page onto screen and ask if people know what it is…]

Who’s on Facebook?

For those who don’t know, Facebook is a social networking website on the internet. You have a page with your photos on and other info and the names of your friends and you can contact each other, etc.

Quiz(NOTE:- as far as I am aware, answers are correct as of January 2009)

Girls, Q1: When did it first begin? (February 4, 2004.)

Boys, Q1: Where did it first begin? (Harvard)

Girls, Q2: When did it become available to everyone? (Since September

11, 2006, anyone 13 or older may join.)

Boys, Q2: How many people worldwide. (The site has more than 64

million active users)

Girls, Q3: Where did the name Facebook come from? (The name of the

site refers to the paper facebooks depicting members of the campus community that some U.S. colleges and preparatory schools give to incoming students, faculty, and staff as a way to get to know other people on campus.)

Boys, Q3: What’s the record for having the most friends? (200,000!!!!)

How many friends do you have on facebook?

Definitions of friendship: Friendship is a personal relationship where each friend cares for the welfare of the other, for the sake of the other, and that involves some degree of intimacy. Two key words begin with ‘C’. Communicating & Caring.

Main Body...

On Facebook your friends names are hyperlinks. In other words, you can just click on them and it takes you to their Facebook page.

But is true friendship more than a hyperlink? Yes!

1. A true friend is forgiving, Proverbs 17:9

2. A true friend will ‘be there’ in hard times, Proverbs 17:17

3. It’s better to have 1 good friend than hundreds of fake friends, Proverbs 18:24

4. A true friend will tell you things you need to hear, even if it hurts you, Proverbs 27:6

5. Jesus made friends with those that others hated, Matthew 11:19

6. Jesus died and rose again so we could be his friends, John 15:13

7. You and I can be God’s friend, if we trust and obey God, James 2:22-23.

God is everything a good friend can be: forgiving, there for us, and to help us change and grow He tells us things we need to hear.

PRAYER

Lord, please give us good friends, help us to be good friends, and help us to be your friends. Thank you that you are the best Friend anybody could have. In Jesus name. Amen.