Choosing Friends Outline

Sometimes, it is good to do without friends. There was fella back in the 19th century by the name of Lorenzo Dow, whom folks called Crazy Lorenzo Dow. With a nickname like that, he and I would have been close friends. It seems that when Brother Dow was only four or five, he asked a playmate if he said his prayers every day. The playmate, obviously a good Baptist, said "No." Young Lorenzo stood up and said, "Then you are very, very wicked and I shall not play with you." Now some of ya are sayin’, "The child was demented" or "That’s a bit much isn’t it?" I reckon not.

Lorenzo grew up to be a mighty fiery preacher. Once when all but one family in a town abused him and threw him out of town, a flood came and the only house that was spared was the house of the family that treated him well. I don’t know if God sent the flood as a judgment on the town or God just spared that house during a routine flooding of the area. Either way, I suspect the folks in the town did some rethinking of their position on the Gospel, that family and Crazy Lorenzo Dow. They found out that it was them and not Lorenzo that was all wet.

Lorenzo had the right idea as a child. He knew that no matter how much you want friends you must choose your friends carefully because they will affect you. Some will affect you for evil.

Proposition: You must choose your friends carefully!

I. Because they will affect you!

A. For evil! I Corinthians 15:33, II Corinthians 6:14

B. For good! Proverbs 27:17

II. Because they show your allegiance!

A. Wholly for God! I Corinthians 10:15,21

B. Wholly for righteousness! I Corinthians 5:9-13

III. Because they will bring judgment!

A. It is either you or them! Deuteronomy 13:6-11, Proverbs 29:24, Leviticus 24:10-16

B. You will stand somewhere! Obadiah 1:10-13

IV. Because you must choose!

A. No fence sitting! Luke 11:23

B. Our friendship ends! Joshua 24:15

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 18:24

Bulletin: James 4:4