And we start talking...
Relationships series - Friendships
Posted on Monday, March 1, 2010
Hong Teck
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
Lasting friendships in the church is possible and 4 ways to build lasting friendships in church are..
1) Insist on growing honesty in our friendships Proverbs 27:5
Why is there open rebuke in a marriage? It's because marriage is a lasting friendship, and there has to be honesty in marriage.
The only reason why marriage/friendships breakdown, is cos communication does not exist. So steps to undertake for building honesty in friendships.
Step 1, call a friend for a drink
Step 2, come slightly late
Step 3, come looking distraught
Step 4, and ask what's wrong with me
God is likely to use your friend to tell you what's wrong with you.
After all, your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you!
2) Express appreciation openly
Encourage one another frequently, our friends are burnt out because they are discouraged, if we love them, we gotta constantly show them we appreciate them!
3) Practice trust first, & let distrust be earned.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted.
The level of distrust is high in our world today. Society is moving away from community, to individuality.
As God's people, we have to live like hos children! To trust first, and let distrust be earned! Trust our leaders, submit to them so that their work will be a joy!
Leaders must also trust their people, and believe in them.
The foundations of Friendships are based on trust first!
Everyone we meet is likely to be human, they'll have good and bad sides. So the key is to Try to look for the good side of the person!
We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have many friends, they will all have unique aspects that make them special.
4) Beware of sweet things
The enemy multiplies kisses, beware of things that are too good to be true. Sweet things are sweet for a reason, they tempt us into distorting the truth. In friendship there are 4 types of sweet things. The temptations of 4 Ps.
1) temptation of possessions
2) temptation of people's adoration
3) temptation of power
4) temptation of possessiveness
Don't let possessions hold you, Tan Qian Shang Gan Qing. (Direct trans: Talk money hurts feelings)
Don't let peoples adoration get to you. The temptation of power is when we let ourselves think we are deserving of all these things. We see ourselves higher than what we are.
Balance out perceptions, know where your security lies, it lies in God.
Phillipians 3:16
Don't try to falsify more than you are, all people have attained a level of character.
Colossians 3:12-14
I am a lean mean loving machine!!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
Lasting friendships in the church is possible and 4 ways to build lasting friendships in church are..
1) Insist on growing honesty in our friendships Proverbs 27:5
Why is there open rebuke in a marriage? It's because marriage is a lasting friendship, and there has to be honesty in marriage.
The only reason why marriage/friendships breakdown, is cos communication does not exist. So steps to undertake for building honesty in friendships.
Step 1, call a friend for a drink
Step 2, come slightly late
Step 3, come looking distraught
Step 4, and ask what's wrong with me
God is likely to use your friend to tell you what's wrong with you.
After all, your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you!
2) Express appreciation openly
Encourage one another frequently, our friends are burnt out because they are discouraged, if we love them, we gotta constantly show them we appreciate them!
3) Practice trust first, & let distrust be earned.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted.
The level of distrust is high in our world today. Society is moving away from community, to individuality.
As God's people, we have to live like hos children! To trust first, and let distrust be earned! Trust our leaders, submit to them so that their work will be a joy!
Leaders must also trust their people, and believe in them.
The foundations of Friendships are based on trust first!
Everyone we meet is likely to be human, they'll have good and bad sides. So the key is to Try to look for the good side of the person!
We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have many friends, they will all have unique aspects that make them special.
4) Beware of sweet things
The enemy multiplies kisses, beware of things that are too good to be true. Sweet things are sweet for a reason, they tempt us into distorting the truth. In friendship there are 4 types of sweet things. The temptations of 4 Ps.
1) temptation of possessions
2) temptation of people's adoration
3) temptation of power
4) temptation of possessiveness
Don't let possessions hold you, Tan Qian Shang Gan Qing. (Direct trans: Talk money hurts feelings)
Don't let peoples adoration get to you. The temptation of power is when we let ourselves think we are deserving of all these things. We see ourselves higher than what we are.
Balance out perceptions, know where your security lies, it lies in God.
Phillipians 3:16
Don't try to falsify more than you are, all people have attained a level of character.
Colossians 3:12-14
I am a lean mean loving machine!!
Labels: esermon
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