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BE a real MAN. God’s Way. David’s 3 - 2 Samuel 23:13–17. Demographics. Relationships. Age groups. Friends. Outline for series. What does a real man do with... Week 1: a friend? Week 2: his devotion to God? Week 3: his wife? Week 4: his children? Week 5: his acquaintances?
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BE a real MAN God’s Way
Demographics Relationships Agegroups Friends
Outline for series • What does a real man do with... • Week 1: a friend? • Week 2: his devotion to God? • Week 3: his wife? • Week 4: his children? • Week 5: his acquaintances? • Week 6: his work • Week 7: his free time • Week 8: the rest of this series?
A Friend? What?? Starting with friendship? And not God??
A Friend? • “It is not good for man to be alone” – Gen 2:18 • David had friends (3, 30, supporters in his wars) • Jesus had friends (3, 12, 72) • We as men of GBC are going to help each other in both trellis and vine work • We as men need to • Become better disciples ourselves • Lead the way in making more disciples for Christ • Improve in our walk with God • Help and be helped by our Christian friends
Male friends • Only 10% of all men ever have any real friends • (Loy McGinnis, author of The Friendship Factor) • “My wife is my best friend” • Kent Hughes: “We need Christian male friends who have a same-sex understanding of the serpentine passages in our hearts...” • We need someone to... • Pray for us, • Listen to us, • Talk to us, • Hold us accountable if necessary
Where am I going with this? • This series requires for you to have at least 1 friend • The partner must be in GBC and/or • The partner must attend these sessions
Example Friendship DAVID & JONATHAN Jonathan’s Heart: 1 Sam 14:6 - 15 David’s Heart: 1 Sam 17:45 - 47
5 Christian Friendship Features • Friendship’s Mutuality • Friendship’s Love • Friendship’s Commitment • Friendship’s Loyalty • Friendship’s Encouragement
1. Mutuality of the Soul • Mutuality of soul was common thread • As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Samuel 18:1) • As men of GBC • Men growing in our walk with God • Better disciples, better disciple makers • You and your male GBC friend will have at least this mutuality of the soul
2. Love • As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Samuel 18:1) • David’s fire for the Lord met Jonathan’ fire for the Lord • Found connection - Jonathan loved David as himself • (Love neighbour as oneself, thus fulfilling law of God) • As men of GBC – may the love for our friend develop like that of David and Jonathan
3. Commitment • “Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.” 1 Sa 18:3. • Jonathan committed to David – knowingly laid down his right to kingship • As men of GBC – commit to your friend at least for the duration of this series • Keep your word • Keep your appointments • Commit to help should difficulty arise
4. Loyalty • Jonathan defended and spoke well of David (2 Sam 19:1) with Saul • Pascal: “I set this down as a fact, that if all men knew what each other said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.” • As men of GBC – stay loyal to your friend. • Confidentiality • Be his prayer partner, friend, counsellor • Get permission if you need to ask help from someone else
5. Encouragement • Keilah’s men planned to give over David • Fled disheartedly into the desert to Horesh • Who came to encourage him? (2 Sam 23:16) • How? • Titus Touch • Apostle Paul down casted – God sent Titus • Result: “my joy was greater than ever” – 2 Cor 7:6 • As men of GBC – Encourage • Christian men are minority • True Christian men are the minority in the minority • Pray, talk, meet, sms
Dare: Choose a friend • Three options: • Choose someone right now in this room • Think and pray, arrange before next Sunday • Drawing next week