Searching for Real Friendship
Some relationships may imitate friendship, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Exploring the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible, we’ll identify some distinguishing features of friendship that are often overlooked and discover how to infuse our relationships with these essential ingredients.
Who would you say is your closest friend? How do you “measure” that closeness with them? What qualities or experiences distinguish this friendship from other relationships?
Who are the people in your life that you’d like to experience a greater level of closeness with? Considering the list below, in what area(s) do you see opportunities to grow closer with those people? (If you’re discussing in your small group, what is an area you could you grow in together?)
Spiritual
Intellectual
Emotional
Vocational (work)
Recreational (play)
Creative
Service
Read 1 Samuel 18:1-4 again. In a display of vulnerability, Jonathan handed his clothing and weapons over to David. What might make it difficult to let the people you care about into your life? What “armor” do you use to keep people at a distance? What would it feel like to begin letting go of those things?
Considering your answers to the questions above, what does friendship with Jesus (see John 15:15) look like for you? In what ways do you experience closeness with Him? In what areas do you desire to grow closer with Him? Without feeling judgement or shame, what areas of your life do you feel more comfortable keeping Him distant from and why?
Psalm 139 illustrates how intimately God knows us, yet David asks God to “search him” in verse 23. If God already knows our thoughts and feelings, why is this invitation important in growing our friendship with God?
Further Reading
Searching for the Generous Life
Just like modest investments can grow over time, our investment into God's kingdom generates growth and produces eternal dividends. The apostle Paul presented the Macedonian believers as an example of generous giving to the Corinthian church and to us. Let's explore...
Searching for Reconciliation
Confronting others concerning biblical/theological compromise is never easy or pleasant. Such encounters must be handled with sensitivity to the needs of others, directed by spiritual wisdom and the Scriptures, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul closed chapter two of...
Searching for Courage
On the surface, hearing God and following His commands seems straightforward. However, when God calls us to do something that generates fear in us and feels daunting, second-guessing His call becomes reasonable. Finding the courage to obey such a call is overwhelming....
Searching for the Abundant Life
Jesus explicitly explained his purpose when He said “…I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He said similar things many times, and these ideas are repeated, over and over again, by those who wrote the New Testament. Yet many people,...
Searching for the Right Word
Have you ever said the wrong thing at the wrong time or misunderstood what someone else was saying and experienced unfortunate results? Finding just the right word and communicating effectively with another person is one of the most frequent challenges we face. While...