Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Text: Acts 18:1-18a
Theme: 6 Things God Gives to Keep Us Going and Growing
Notes:
- He gives us Faithfulness
- He gives us Friends
- Paul understood the power of godly friendships
- That Paul trusted God did not obviate his reliance on the friendships God gave him
- From Scripture we find no references to any relatives
- Paul’s family that we see in Scripture are his brothers and sisters in Christ
- He mentions them often in his letters
- Exodus 17–Moses, supported by Joshua and Hur
- God is the hero of the narrative–but He uses Joshua and Hur to
- help Moses and
- gain victory over Amalek
- God is the hero of the narrative–but He uses Joshua and Hur to
- God designed us for community–from the beginning–before the Fall
- Examples of God’s design for community:
- Family
- Israel
- Church
- Paul is not a lone wolf/John Wayne/individualist hero–he relies on the relationships God provides:
- Silas
- Timothy
- Priscilla & Aquila
- These relationships keep us from the ditches of:
- Despair–“This can’t be done”
- Pride–“Look what I did”
- Regarding friends: “You tend to attract what you are”
- Your best friends reveal who you really are
- We often think too highly of our own ability to follow Christ without help
- Sin and brokenness will both blind us to our own sin and brokenness
Live It Out!
- Believe in the need for godly friendships
- You need them
- Others need them as well
- Build godly, heart-level friendships intentionally
- Take initiative–be the first to reach out
- It is uncomfortable–but it is worth it
References:
- Reset, by David Murray
- (this book is aimed at men;
he has co-written a companion book with his wife aimed at women called Refresh)
- (this book is aimed at men;
- 2 Peter 3:15, “…our beloved brother Paul….”
- Galatians 2:11, “…I opposed him to his face….”
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