Outlines Proverbs Topical

Healthy Friendships

By on Saturday, April 12, 2014

Title: Healthy Friendships

Text: Proverbs 12:26

Take-off (INTRO)

  1. Interesting beginning – How would you describe a true friend? (Give them time to write or think about it, then they can share with each other.)
  2. Need raised – Friends, especially close friends, can have a very strong influence in our lives. They can influence as for good, or they can influence us for evil. It all depends on what kinds of friends we have. But most of us don’t choose our friends. Instead we want them to choose us and make us their friends (regardless of who they are). We do this because we crave for acceptance from other people.
  3. Text engaged – Proverbs 12:26 says, “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
  4. Revelation – In other words, “Choosing a friend leads to a better end.”
  5. Overview – What kind of person should we choose as a friend? (Topic) The Book of Proverbs teaches us to look for six characteristics in a potential friend (Point Name):

Teaching (SPEAR)

  1. Characteristic No. 1: Fears God
    1. Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
    2. Proverbs 1:7 also says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
    3. A person who fears God will most likely make wise choices in life. A person who has no fear of God will most likely make foolish ones. Choose someone who fears God more than anything else and make him/her your friend.
    4. To fear God is to revere or respect Him for who He is.
    5. Illustration:
  2. Characteristic No. 2: Reliable
    1. Proverbs 18:24 says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
    2. Proverbs 17:17 also says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
    3. A true friend will not abandon you when you’re in trouble. They will stick with you when they know you need them. Choose someone who is reliable and make him/her your friend.
    4. Illustration:
  3. Characteristic No. 3: Insightful
    1. Proverbs 27:9 says, “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”
    2. A good friend will always add value to your life. They will give you life-giving advice that lines up with God’s wisdom. Foolish people will only give you foolish advice that leads to your self-destruction. Choose someone who is insightful and make him/her your friend.
    3. Illustration:
  4. Characteristic No. 4: Even-tempered
    1. Proverbs 22:24-25 says, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
    2. Proverbs 16:29 also says, “A violent person entices their neighbour and leads them down a path that is not good.”
    3. A true friend is peace loving and sober minded. They are not always looking for fights or conflicts with people around them. They also know how to control their emotions. They are not prone to go into emotional extremes. Choose someone who is even-tempered and make him/her your friend.
    4. Illustration:
  5. Characteristic No. 5: Not afraid to correct you
    1. Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
    2. Proverbs 17:10 also says, “A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.”
    3. A true friend will speak the truth in love to you, even though they know it might hurt you, or you might get angry with them for telling you the truth, only because they care more about you than the friendship. Choose someone who is not afraid to correct you and make him/her your friend.
    4. Illustration:
  6. Characteristic No. 6: Discipler
    1. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
    2. A true friend is someone who can sharpen you in your spiritual walk. He or she can help you become a more effective and productive follower of Christ. Choose someone who is a discipler and make him/her your friend.
    3. A disciple knows how to help you 1) discern God’s voice in your life and 2) respond in faith and obedience whenever you hear God’s voice in your life.
    4. Illustration:

Touchdown (END)

  1. Emphasize Take Home Message – Remember, “Choosing a friend leads to a better end.”
  2. Nudge toward application – Don’t let your desire for acceptance to be the basis for choosing your friends. Instead choose friends wisely because it will determine the quality and direction of your life. Learn to designate friends as either belonging to your a) Circle of Influence, or b) Circle of Ministry. You allow the former to influence you, but not the latter.
  3. Direct initial response – (your own idea of an initial response)
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