Woodspring Community Church
A family-friendly church in Weston-super-Mare
Generosity & Giving 1 | Abraham parts one to five | What is in your hand? | Prepare the way | Friends & Friendships |
Friends 3
We have friendships in four social spaces
Public
Social
Personal
Intimate
How can we form friendships in each of these spaces?
How can we deal with difficulties between friends in each of these spaces?
What does the Jesus teach us?
Matthew 5: 21 "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'
22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
23 "If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
25 "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26 "Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent.
Matthew 18: 12 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
13 "And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
14 "Thus it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
15 "And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
17 "And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer.
Calling for help in friendships – relationships
For the most part we don’t
We’d rather see the friendship break than involve anyone else – even in the church
Why don’t we ask for help as Jesus commanded?
It’s not important enough
I am not important enough
They have more important people to be dealing with than me
They wouldn’t be interested
That’s a bit too heavy
I’m too embarrassed to ask
Paul & Barnabas
Acts 13:2, 13:42-50
Acts 15:35-39
Video
Conclusion –
Even Paul & Barnabas did not follow Jesus’ pattern for handling disagreement.
However God working in us is able to bring reconciliation
We are a prophetic people
This means we live in a way that demonstrates God’s ways and His nature.
We live in a way that gives a foretaste of the age to come.
We live in the future kingdom today.
Is 2:2-4
He calls many nations and peoples to His mountain - many cultures - many different interpretations of the world, many different ways of doing things, to - learn "His ways". Sometimes we have to set aside our traditions and cultures - western, eastern, european, african in order to learn Kingdom of God culture, Kingdom of God interpretation of the World, Kingdom of God ways of doing things.
When others would use words, feelings and actions as weapons we turn them around to be tools for fruitfulness and health.
John 17:21-23 – Jesus’ longest recorded prayer has unity of His family at the heart.
Just as you and I are one - perfected in unity.
This is not easy: Luke 9:23,24
23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
24 "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
“Taking up our cross daily” is not a pious religious expression or experience – it is a real, earthy way of life.
It is painful, hard work that ultimately requires the death of our flesh – even if we are right and they are wrong.
Jesus’ death is the ultimate demonstration of being gracious and giving way when it is not our fault or the wrong was not ours.
He was innocent yet took the punishment due to us who were evil.
(Being in the right does not give us the right to force our point of view on others.)
Death of the flesh has to take place so that something greater – of eternal value may emerge from the grave.
So that a resurrection may take place.
Just as Jesus committed His Spirit – Himself - into the hands of His Father so we must commit ourselves – our good name, our point of view – into the Father’s hands.
His promise is that if we die in this way we shall live in a transformed, resurrected life.
Colossians 3: 12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Office Address:
0845 519 3873