HOUSE OF DAVID 5 – WHY CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS?, 8-16-26,
Lead Pastor Jeff Aenk, New Hope Christian Church
Key Verse - 1 Samuel 16:7b – The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
VIDEO Clip #1: Jonathan & David outside tent (Season 2, Episode 1) (After David Slays Goliath – Brotherly Love Starts.)
1 Samuel 18:1-4 – 1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
THE PROBLEM – A Friendship Recession - Researcher Dan Cox
• Since the 90s, the number of close friends Americans have has plummeted—across every age, gender, income, & color, Except 1 Area I’ll share @ End
• Men now spend 7 hours in front of a screen for every 1 hour spent with someone outside their home
• The average female pet owner spends more face time with her pet than with human friends
• The health consequences: weakened immune system, higher risk of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, cancer
• Loneliness is as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day
• And yet Many People in US are Avoiding Others at all costs, & literally placing themselves in Solitary Confinement, like the Worst Punishment in Prison!
• But there is a cure — God Invented Friendship! *Friendship Takes Work, Putting Self Out there & being Vulnerable, but it’s Worth it!
VIDEO Clip #2: By the River (Season 2, Episode 5)
There are Many Reasons & Excuses Why People Don’t Fight for Face-to-face Friendships, but Godly Friends ARE Worth It!
3 BENEFITS OF GODLY FRIENDSHIP:
1. GODLY FRIENDS ½ OUR SORROWS & DOUBLE OUR JOYS.
Galatians 6:2 - Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
2. GODLY FRIENDS POINT OUT OUR BLIND SPOTS & HELP US MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.
Proverbs 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
3. GODLY FRIENDS HELP US GROW & LIVE MORE LIKE JESUS.
1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Ephesians 4:15 - Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
VIDEO Clip #3: Jonathan shooting arrows and telling David to run (Season 2, Episode 8)
The 1 EXCEPTION to the Friendship Recession:
• Americans who attend church regularly have more close friends than those who don’t • This is not an accident — it’s the design. • God sets the solitary in families • The church is not just where you go to learn about friendship — it’s where you find it!
Here’s What I Want us To Do this WEEK
1. To Help you Find Friends & Experience ALL these Benefits above, Register Today to go through our 3 Month Rooted Small Group Discipleship Experience this Fall on Sundays from 3-5 pm from Sep 13– Dec 6. Registration Deadline- Sep 6. To Register, Scan QR Code on back of this Sheet in the Box that says, “Get Rooted!” Or go to Table @ Back by the Steps.
2. If you’ve already been through Rooted, start going Consistently to One of our Weekly Groups Listed on the Back of the Bulletin Notes Each Sunday under the Title “Weekly Events” half way down. (& Don’t Miss Church Potluck Picnic, Men’s & Women’s Breakfasts!)
VIDEO Clip #1: Jonathan & David outside tent (Season 2, Episode 1) (After David Slays Goliath – Brotherly Love Starts.)
1 Samuel 18:1-4 – 1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
THE PROBLEM – A Friendship Recession - Researcher Dan Cox
• Since the 90s, the number of close friends Americans have has plummeted—across every age, gender, income, & color, Except 1 Area I’ll share @ End
• Men now spend 7 hours in front of a screen for every 1 hour spent with someone outside their home
• The average female pet owner spends more face time with her pet than with human friends
• The health consequences: weakened immune system, higher risk of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, cancer
• Loneliness is as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day
• And yet Many People in US are Avoiding Others at all costs, & literally placing themselves in Solitary Confinement, like the Worst Punishment in Prison!
• But there is a cure — God Invented Friendship! *Friendship Takes Work, Putting Self Out there & being Vulnerable, but it’s Worth it!
VIDEO Clip #2: By the River (Season 2, Episode 5)
There are Many Reasons & Excuses Why People Don’t Fight for Face-to-face Friendships, but Godly Friends ARE Worth It!
3 BENEFITS OF GODLY FRIENDSHIP:
1. GODLY FRIENDS ½ OUR SORROWS & DOUBLE OUR JOYS.
Galatians 6:2 - Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
2. GODLY FRIENDS POINT OUT OUR BLIND SPOTS & HELP US MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.
Proverbs 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
3. GODLY FRIENDS HELP US GROW & LIVE MORE LIKE JESUS.
1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Ephesians 4:15 - Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
VIDEO Clip #3: Jonathan shooting arrows and telling David to run (Season 2, Episode 8)
The 1 EXCEPTION to the Friendship Recession:
• Americans who attend church regularly have more close friends than those who don’t • This is not an accident — it’s the design. • God sets the solitary in families • The church is not just where you go to learn about friendship — it’s where you find it!
Here’s What I Want us To Do this WEEK
1. To Help you Find Friends & Experience ALL these Benefits above, Register Today to go through our 3 Month Rooted Small Group Discipleship Experience this Fall on Sundays from 3-5 pm from Sep 13– Dec 6. Registration Deadline- Sep 6. To Register, Scan QR Code on back of this Sheet in the Box that says, “Get Rooted!” Or go to Table @ Back by the Steps.
2. If you’ve already been through Rooted, start going Consistently to One of our Weekly Groups Listed on the Back of the Bulletin Notes Each Sunday under the Title “Weekly Events” half way down. (& Don’t Miss Church Potluck Picnic, Men’s & Women’s Breakfasts!)