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AfterThoughts: July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025
With A Little Help From My Friends
Proverbs 13:20 and Proverbs 17:17

This week, Dr. David Eldridge continued the series in Proverbs. In these verses, he expanded on three points:

  • Friendship Isn’t Optional: It’s Woven Into Our Design
  • Friendship Is Foundational: It Forms And Shapes Us
  • Friendship Is A Gift: It Blesses And Enriches Us

GOING DEEPER:

  • Pastor David shared that friendship isn’t optional for us. We are made in the image of a relational God. As image bearers of God, we are designed for relationships (Genesis 1:27). When we cultivate deep, loving friendships, we reflect the heart of the triune Creator. Who comes to your mind when you think of friendship? How do you resonate with the research on loneliness being a serious cultural issue for us now?
  • Our friendships are foundational because they form and shape us. Our friends shape our values, habits, attitudes, and even the direction of our future. While we are called to be salt and light and to be gracious to everyone, Scripture also encourages us to be very wise as we choose our closest friends (Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 15:33). Do you choose your close friends wisely? Do your closest friends share your core values or contradict them?
  • While we can become dull and blunted and lose our edge when we are by ourselves, a true friend sharpens us (Proverbs 27:17). We all need a few people who do not seek to flatter us but sharpen us and stir up God’s best in us (Hebrews 10:24). Are you seeking to be the kind of friend that stirs up your friends to love and good works? Are you an encourager? Are you quick to point out the good in your friends?
  • Pastor David shared that friendship is a gift from God that blesses and enriches us. God designed friendship not only to shape us but to bless us on both the good and bad days. The best way for us to be this kind of friend to others is to cultivate the greatest friendship we can invest in. With Jesus, you have a friend who will never leave you or forsake you. When you grow in relationship with Jesus through prayer, through the Word, and through worship, you are more able to be a faithful friend to those around you. How can you change your schedule this week to make more time for prayer, study, and reflection to deepen your relationship with Jesus?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

  • To view past sermons, please click here.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26

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