"THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR"

INTRODUCTION

a. I enjoy watching people – and the mall is a great place to see them – Often the scene is much like this

1. Group of girls - One is the obvious leader

a. They come into a fast food restaurant and sit near some boys - scope them out and then leave after a while

b. One says, "But I thought he was cute"

c. They look for boys in the mall - the leader shies away when time to speak to the boys and another girl steps forward

d. On and on it goes - I watch with some joy and think - That's what friends are for

b. Tom Stevens was my friend and office mate on staff with Campus Crusade - Tom and I liked to sharpen our apologetic skills - so many days we would take an issue from the Bible and it was kind of like the TV show, "Crossfire"

1. We were never angry but were quite passionate in defending our position - voices would raise -

2. On many days our secretary would peek in to see if anyone were bleeding

3. I miss those days - That's what friends are for

c. Yesterday at the West Virginia Baptist Convention Executive Board meeting Roger Adams shared about his call to start a new church near the new Toyota plant in Putnam County. We were moved by his commitment and sense of call. I was asked to lead a prayer of commissioning and commitment – I was honored – That’s what friends are for.

d. Today I want to look at the scripture we read and examine what it means for us

a. We were created as social beings - John Donne's Poem, No man is an island,

1. Loneliness is a growing problem in our society. A study by the American Council of Life Insurance reported that the most lonely group in America are college students. That's surprising! Next on the list are divorced people, welfare recipients, single mothers, rural students, housewives, and the elderly. To point out how lonely people can be, Charles Swindoll mentioned an ad in a Kansas newspaper. It read, "I will listen to you talk for 30 minutes without comment for $5.00." Swindoll said, "Sounds like a hoax, doesn't it? But the person was serious. Did anybody call? You bet. It wasn't long before this individual was receiving 10 to 20 calls a day. The pain of loneliness was so sharp that some were willing to try anything for a half hour of companionship."

2. Friends are God's gift to dispel loneliness - Lonely at times but never alone

a. Mona Freshour was in my first youth group – She gave her life to Jesus and then led her parents and brother to the Lord. Mona became a nurse and invested her life in helping relieve the pain of others. Mona died from cancer four years ago. She gave me a poster when I left NPBC that said – "Lonely, but Never Alone"

b. We were created to share our joys and burdens

1. In America we have fostered this independent, stiff upper lip spirit that so often isolates us and keeps us from sharing the load

2. Some years ago there was a movie and song, "Lean On Me" "Lean on me when you're not strong, I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on - Lean on me for we all need some body to lean on"

3. When something good happens what is the first thing you do - call or tell your friends - their excitement adds to yours

4. God gave us friends to half the load and double the joy

c. We were created love and be loved

1. Recently I read about a woman who, on the advice of her doctor, had gone to see a pastor to talk about joining the church. She had recently had a facelift and when her doctor dismissed her, he gave her this advice: "My dear, I have done an extraordinary job on your face, as you can see in the mirror. I have charged you a great deal of money and you were happy to pay it. But I want to give you some free advice. Find a group of people who love God and who will love you enough to help you deal with all the negative emotions inside of you. If you don't you'll be back in my office in a very short time with your face in far worse shape than before."

2. Newborns cannot live without human contact

3. People are dying in the search of love or any substitute

a. Why are people promiscuous - looking for love

b. Why do we give in to peer pressure - acceptance and a sense of love

c. Why do people stay in abusive relationships - some twisted sense of love

4. "Cheers" had a great theme song - "A place where everybody knows your name"

5. There is a God who knows your name and loves you

a. In our scripture today Jesus called us friends

b. Our human friends help us with surface needs

c. Jesus meets our deepest root needs

d. Our greatest need is a Savior

1. One to forgive sin and past

2. One to remove guilt and set us free

3. One to give meaning and purpose to life

a. Jesus said it this way - "No greater love has a man than this, that He lay down His life for his friends, You are my friends"

b. Share the Four Spiritual Laws

1. God Loves You and Has A Wonderful Plan for Your Life

2. Man Is Sinful and Separated Form God

3. Jesus Is God's Only Provision for Man's Sin

4. We must Individually Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord

c. C.S. Lewis - Lord, Liar, Lunatic - Must Choose - The choice of Jesus being a Good Moral Teacher simply is not left open to us.

d. Why did Jesus die in your place, pay the price for your rebellion toward God, provide forgiveness and purpose and meaning for you - That's what friends are for

IS THERE ANY REASON YOU CANNOT GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST RIGHT NOW

BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER

HYMN #340 "WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS"






Main idea from Seven Worlds, Eric Ritz

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