True Friendship and the Foolishness of God

Proverbs 13.20; Ecclesiastes 4.9-12; 1 Corinthians 1.25

This week's sermon will focus on friendship. Similar to societal values, Scripture emphasizes the importance of who your friends are. If your friends are wise, then you will likely become wise; if your friends are foolish, then you will likely become foolish.

I will share how the Spirit has been moving in our Uptown community in terms of friendship. In many ways, friendships in a church community might seem forced or awkward. Friendships that are outside of our church community might seem more organic or natural. However, friendships within a specific church community are crucial. Not only are these relationships expressions of being a part of the body of Christ, but they are different from our natural friendships with regard to commitment and purpose.

Finally, we will reflect upon these passages in light of the life of Jesus Christ. In earlier sermons, I emphasized that Jesus is both the fulfiller and empowerer of the Proverbs. In these passages, we see that Jesus in some ways subverts the Proverbs. Contrary to the Proverbs, Jesus spent much of his earthly life befriending fools. Eventually, Jesus was abandoned to be by himself without any friends. Of course, Jesus did not live this way in order to defy the Proverbs: this was just another suffering that he had to endure in order to save us and reconcile us back to God.

Questions:

1. Read the passage together and review your sermon notes. Share with one another what the Spirit might have been placing on your heart through the sermon.

2. Share about what your relationships with your friends are like. Is it sometimes difficult to point one another to Jesus Christ in these friendships?

3. How have you been reminded of Jesus and his gospel through the friendships that you have here at Uptown?

4. If we think about it, most of the difficulties that we experience in our lives have to do with relationships (e.g., at work, family, personal, etc.). Part of Jesus's own sufferings meant that he was afflicted by relational problems. His family were suspicious toward him, his disciples betrayed him, and the religious leaders plotted to kill him. Even the Father abandoned him during his time of need. How can seeing Jesus's suffering through the perspective of relationships affect that way that you appreciate the gospel?