Friendship To Be Shown!!!

INTRODUCTION

1. Please open your bible to Proverbs 17:17.

2. I’ve got a question for you! Who is your best friend? Be thinking about you answer and we will explain why we ask the question during the study of this lesson.

2. Let’s read Proverbs 17:17and then over the next few days memorize the words: “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity [or for when I get in trouble].”

(1) I’m going to repeat this two times out loud.

(2) As I repeat this verse, I would like for you to look at your bibles and say the words silently. “………………” “…………………”

3. As we prepare to discuss some things about being a good friend to others, again, I would like for you to think about who your best friend is. Maybe you’ve got a few real good friends. Who are they? Who are those friends? Have you got their names floating around in your mind?

DISCUSSION

I. FIRST, TURN TO JOHN 15:13. JOHN 15:13, LIKE PROVERBS 17:17, TEACHES US THAT FRIENDSHIP IS PROVEN AS WE SACRIFICE AND DO FOR THOSE THAT WE CALL OUR FRIENDS.

1. Let’s read John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

(1) Here, Jesus is talking about Himself laying down His life, dying on the cross for boys and girls and men and women, so that they could have opportunity to have their sins forgiven.

(2) Jesus teaches that such a sacrifice proves that he is a friend to us.

2. Again, I ask you the question. Who are your friends? Have you made any sacrifices to show that you are there friend?

3. Let’s use an illustration that will help us to better understand and appreciate what Jesus has done for us. We also pray that the example of Jesus and this illustration will motivate us to be more sacrificial toward those that we call friends.

4. Earl C. Willer tells the story of two boys who grew up as best friends:

I’m going to paraphrase and put in my own words the story that Mr. Willer wrote about. Jim and Phillip were the names of the two boys that I’m going to tell you about. Jim was a little older. Most of the time Jim was the leader. They repeatedly did things together.

They went to the same high school. They played the same sports together. They went to the same college. They both joined and went into the marines together.

While in the marines, they were sent to Germany. In Germany they were in the same platoon or unit as they fought the Germans in one of the most horrible of all wars to ever be fought.

On one day as they were in the heat of the battle. There was heavy gunfire. Bombs were crashing in all around them and those in their unit. Things were getting more and more dangerous every second.

The commanding officer gave the orders for the whole unit to retreat!

As all the men were running back, Jim was looking for Phillip, but he never did see Phillip.

Jim checked closer to see for sure if Phillip was with the group. Phillip wasn’t with them. Jim began to panic. Jim knew that if Phillip didn’t show in a minute or two, then something horrible had happened!

Jim asked and then begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend. The officer told Jim, “No”! The officer told Jim, “that he would only loose his own life, if he went back into all that gunfire and bombs”.

Jim knew that he shouldn’t disobey his commanding officer, but Jim couldn’t stay still a second longer! All Jim could think about was his friend!

Taking the risk to lose his own life, Jim disobeyed and went after his friend!

Jim’s heart was pounding as he ran toward the gunfire and the bombs. Jim was shouting the name Phillip!

A few moments latter some of the men in their platoon or unit saw Jim struggling and hobbling back toward them. Jim was carrying the limp body of his friend, Phillip!

Jim’s commanding officer rebuked Jim and told him how foolish the thing was that he had done! The officer told Jim, “Your friend is dead, and there was nothing you could do to help him”.

Jim said, “No sir, you’re wrong, I got there just in time. Before he died, his last words were “I knew you would come.”

5. I know that we would all have to agree that Jim should have obeyed the commanding officer. Jim should not have taken that kind of risk when he knew that there was probably no chance at all to help his friend.