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God As A Friend. Introduction. Welcome Pray When you introduce a new friend to people, you often share characteristics of that person Up Next: Current Series. Introduction ( Cont ). Current Series “Introducing God ” Today “God As A Friend” Up Next: What is friendship?.
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Introduction • Welcome • Pray • When you introduce a new friend to people, you often share characteristics of that personUp Next: Current Series
Introduction (Cont) • Current Series “Introducing God” • Today “God As A Friend” Up Next: What is friendship?
Introduction (Cont) • What is friendship? • Relationship with someone you have a rapport with • We all friends. • We have good friends and bad friends Up Next: Jessica is going to…
Introduction (Cont) • Jessica will share some of the common characteristics of a friend after the discussion question • Today we are going to talk about God as a friend Up Next: Discussion question
Discussion Question • What are some attributes of a friend?
Common Characteristics • We all have ideas about what a friend should be and what a friend shouldn't be. There are such things as good friends and bad friends and I'm sure all of us have had a little of both. Up Next: Here are some characteristics…
Common Characteristics (cont) • Here are some characteristics of a good friend • Loyal • Empathy • Good Listener • Share Interest • Sticks Up For You • Trustworthy • Understanding Up Next: Here some characteristics…
Common Characteristics (cont) • Here are some characteristics of a bad friend • Has Ulterior Motives/ Strings Attached • Uses You/ Takes Advantage • Gossips • Betrayal • Breaks Promises/Commitments • These are the people who will stab you in the back Up Next: Kelly will share about God’s character
Biblical Truth • God is the ultimate friend. By following his example of a true friend, we can be a great friend to those in our lives. Up Next: Most importantly…
Biblical Truth • Most importantly, God is your friend if you allow him to be. Up Next: John 15:13-15
John 15:13-15 (13) Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. (14) You are my friends if you do what I command. (15) I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Up Next: Jesus said in verse 13…
Biblical Truth (cont) • Jesus said in verse 13 that the greatest love of all is laying one’s life down for his friends. That is exactly what he did for us! Up Next: Then Jesus tells us…
Biblical Truth (cont) • Then Jesus tells us that he refers to us as friend rather than servant because we know who him. Up Next: Have you ever thought one thing…
Biblical Truth (cont) • Have you ever thought one thing about a person then once you really got to know them you realized your initial thoughts were wrong? Up Next: It’s like that with God
Biblical Truth (cont) • It’s like that with God. When we take the time to get to know him and his son then we realize who he truly is. Up Next: Jesus closes these verses…
Biblical Truth (cont) • Jesus closes these verses by saying that he has shared with his friends everything he learned from God! Up Next: Wow! Jesus does not hold anything…
Biblical Truth (cont) • Wow! Jesus does not hold anything back. He opens himself up completely to us so we can get to know him intimately. • We learn in Proverbs and Deuteronomy that God will never leave us: Up Next: Proverbs 18:24
Proverbs 18:24 (24) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Up Next: Deuteronomy 31:6
Deuteronomy 31:6 (6) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Up Next: God loves us deeply…
Biblical Truth (Cont) • God loves us deeply and is compassionate: Up Next: Exodus 34:6-7a
Exodus 34:6-7a (6) And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, (7) maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Up Next: God is a great friend!
Biblical Truth (Cont) • God is a great friend! He yearns to have that relationship with each of us. Up Next: Discussion Question
Discussion Question • How does God’s knowing God as a friend apply to your life?
Conclusion • God is the ultimate friend! • He is: Loyal, Empathy, Good Listener, Share Interest, Sticks Up For You, Trustworthy, and Understanding • He is our ultimate example of true friendship Up Next: Even when we don’t understand…
Conclusion • Even when we don’t understand what He is doing, or even why, we can trust He has our best interests at heart. Up Next: Close
Closing • We hope this has sparked good discussion for you. • Pray • As always, comments and questions are welcome. You can leave your comments or questions on our YouTube channel, Facebook page, forum on our website, or email us directly. • We’ll see you next time for “God Is Sovereign”!