What Can Jesus Teach Us About REALationship? What Makes a Good Friend?

Honesty, loyalty, enjoyment, support, vulnerability, forgiveness, commitment, interest…those are some of the words our Wednesday Night Pentecost Study group used to describe attributes of a good friend. 

This children’s book cover illustrates to me how close Jesus was to his friends - his facial expression and eye contact demonstrate his vivid interest in them, their connection.  What do you think was the basis of this friendship?

I never realized until our series on The Trinity, how much Jesus talked about friendship. What do Jesus’ commandments/teachings have to say about how he viewed relationships? 

And then Jesus promised to send us an everlasting friend. A friend who would be with us to the end of the age…connected and committed to us even as we change over time. In your experience, how does the Holy Spirit demonstrate the characteristics of a good friend?

2 Corinthians 13:13

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

 Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Romans 8. 26-28

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

I’m looking forward to worshiping with you in the final chapter of Rev. Donna’s Trinity series. 

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose

he will not, he cannot, desert to its foes;

that soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,

he never will leave, he will never forsake.