SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIPS

Friendfluence #2

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, October 8, 2023

“The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it.” –Archbishop William Temple

(John 1:43–51, Message) “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, “Come, follow me.” (Philip’s hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.) Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, “We’ve found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It’s Jesus, Joseph’s son, the one from Nazareth!” Nathanael said, “Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding.” But Philip said, “Come, see for yourself.” When Jesus saw him coming he said, “There’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.” Nathanael said, “Where did you get that idea? You don’t know me.” Jesus answered, “One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!” Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.”

1. SPIRITUAL FRIENDS CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER’S SOULS.

(Luke 6:31, NLT) “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”

2. SPIRITUAL FRIENDS SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.

(John 1:45, Message) “Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, “We’ve found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It’s Jesus, Joseph’s son, the one from Nazareth!”

a.  Don’t be afraid to share your spiritual life with others.

b.  Sharing your spiritual life is an expression of love.

“How much would you have to hate someone to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them about it?”- Penn Jillette

(2 Corinthians 1:12, CEV) “We can be proud of our clear conscience. We have always lived honestly and sincerely, especially when we were with you. And we were guided by God’s wonderful kindness instead of by the wisdom of this world.”

c.  Everybody knows you and I are not perfect.

3. SPIRITUAL FRIENDS ARE HONEST.

(John 1:46a, Message) “Nathanael said, “Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding.”

a.  Be honest about your differences and doubts.

b.  Differences help us to seek and discover truth.

4. SPIRITUAL FRIENDS INVITE EACH OTHER TO EXPLORE.

(John 1:46b, Message) “Philip said, “Come, see for yourself!”

a.  Everyone will eventually need an experience with God.

b.  Try to facilitate their experience by inviting them to come and see.

5. SPIRITUAL FRIENDS TRUST

(John 1:47–49, Message) “When Jesus saw him coming he said, “There’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.” Nathanael said, “Where did you get that idea? You don’t know me.” Jesus answered, “One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!”

GROWTHWORK

Evangelism = Relationships

1. Who introduced you to Jesus? Set up a coffee or lunch meeting with ____________________ to focus on building a friendship.

2. Have you ever locked yourself out of your car, home, or office? How can you make the Gospel me accessible?

3. Think about the kind things and unkind things said to you. How can you share the Good News like Jesus did?