The term "friendship" has taken a weird turn in our culture today. It is a word that can be applied to a lot of things and very little things. You're my friend if you love me for who I am or you're my friend if you give me stuff. It's hard to figure out who is a friend, a true friend, a frenemy, or otherwise.

As always, the Scriptures speak into this super important part of our lives. It recognizes that we are built for friendship and companionship (fancy word). But the Bible is going to frame this idea of friendship in a totally different way (or I would say a better way) than what a lot of us are involved with today. So sit back, and get ready to learn what we're trying to push you towards - a better way of friendship.

If I had to like sum things up I would say look at the life of Jesus. Study how Jesus engaged the disciples. When we do, we find:

• Be willing to do hard things for your friends.
• Be willing to say hard things to your friends.
• Be willing to ask hard things of your friends.
• Be willing to also allow them to do the same back to you.
• Be slow to label other people as friends.
• Be willing to say, “Let’s get to know each other.” Build trust first before we say, “We’re friends.”
• Once you commit, be consistent.

What friendship should be today is: an invitation to do life deeply with another. I'm going to have no secrets from you and if you see inconsistencies, you see me wavering, you see me losing courage, you see me selling out...you confront me from the good of my own soul and the glory of God.

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 —

As humans, we’re all hardwired for community. Isolation as a whole is not good for the human machine. That’s why a form of torture is solitary confinement - being completely separated from human interaction. The question, however, is what kind of community are we surrounding ourselves with? —

In this week’s message, Pastor Ben Stuart guides us through what the book of Proverbs has to say about friendships. The truth is, the people we walk with determine our path. Are those within your community pointing you toward a life of flourishing or a life of destruction?

Modern friendship has become distant and shallow for many, amounting to a shared interest or social media interactions, but as Christians, we’re called to pursue something deeper and more intimate.

1. Friend that is truthful

1. 5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. (Pro 29:5 ESV)

2. Always compliments but never confronts

3. Loves you // wants you to do live well

4. “Loves me for me…” BUT will never let you stay there.

5. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. (Pro 12:1 ESV)
   
   

2. Friend that is wise

1. Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Pro 11:14 ESV)

2. Their source is secure
   
   

3. Friend that is holy

1. 26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Pro 12:26 ESV)

2. Serious about their faith

3. What about non-Christians?
   
   

4. Friend that is loyal

1. 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Pro 17:17 ESV)

2. Takes time and work
   
   

5. Christian friends point others to Christ

1. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (Joh 15:13-17 ESV)