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 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)

* 2 Peter 3:15, “…our beloved brother Paul….”

* Galatians 2:11, “…I opposed him to his face….”