Real Friendship
August 21, 2011 Evening Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: There are some friends who would give of themselves to make you succeed. Jesus is such a friend.
Focus Passage: I Samuel 20:1-42
Supplemental Passage: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 NASB)
Introduction: Make remarks regarding personal friendships, both good and bad.
I. A Friend who is concerned
a. Jonathan listened to David regarding Saul
b. Jonathan went through with a plan to test Saul
c. A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 NASB)
II. A Friend who puts himself last
a. Saul told Jonathan that he’d never be king as long as David was alive
b. Saul told Jonathan that he’d chosen his friend over his kingdom
i. to his shame
ii. to his mother’s shame
c. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB)
III. We have a friend in Jesus
a. and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. (James 2:23 NASB)
b. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. … for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29 NASB)
Invitation: