When we think of the early church in Acts 2 we tend to highlight the Apostles' powerful preaching and wonderful miracles. And while the early church thrived on doctrine, Luke also mentions the incredible devotion to: shared worship, shared meals, shared possessions, shared lives. It’s a family life. Therefore, friendship in the church is not privatized, but public, and meant to form a rich family of friends that show the world the love of Jesus.

True biblical friendship, while nurtured by proximity, convenience and similarities, is based on a covenant like commitment. Real friendships have the biblical marks of wisdom and the gospel marks of the nails in Christ’s hands and feet. Let’s look this morning at 6 marks of true friendship.

Friendship is not a luxury but a necessity. And yet, so many of us struggle with the concept in our modern world and a loneliness epidemic plagues our young men. Friendship is not a side benefit, but it is central to how God made us. This morning we want to see that from the garden to the cross that we were made by a relational God to be relational as friends.

Bob Yoder

Pastor Jeff Jennings

Guest Speaker: Rob Chadwick, PNW EFCA Superintendent

Guest Speaker- Richard Parker

- Guest Preacher, Ray Keen

This July, we set out on a road trip through some Psalms. In Psalm 117, at this outdoor service, we are challenged to look beyond our walls to the great reach of the Gospel to all the nations. God’s steadfast love and faithful, fresh promises are for everyone! But the exhortation could remain largely empty unless we enter into the obligation to live out the Good News.

As we close the Sermon on the Mount we look one more time to answer the question, who is this preacher? We will see that Jesus didn’t preach so we would marvel at his speaking skills, but so that we would submit to his AUTHORITY and OBEY. But why would we do that? Let’s find out by looking at why the crowds gave Jesus a standing ovation.