Read Acts 16

Open

Can you share briefly about the impact of spiritual friendship in your life?

Dig

Gannon pointed to the way the gospel brings people together in pilgrimage as believers, mentioning Jesus and the disciples as a primary example.  Can you collectively think of other illustrations of the power of spiritual friendship in the Scriptures?

The sermon suggested three keys to deepening our experience and practice of friendship.  The first had to do with yielding to the power of the Christ in us, allowing him “to move to the forefront of our story.”  What does that mean?  Gannon mentioned how he responded to his neighbor at the beach who wanted to take them to a bluegrass concert, when he only wanted to be left alone with his schoolwork.  How do you view interruptions in your life?

Second was the reminder that all of us are bearers of the image of God.  How does that reminder serve to deepen, potentially, our lives of friendship?

Third, we were encouraged to allow Christ to recreate us, to set aside the self protection that keeps us from connecting with others

and put ourselves in his hands.  (Watch out!  Earthquakes follow!)

Can you think of a time when you were surprised by God’s faithfulness in friendship when you didn’t expect it?

Reflect

“Spiritual friendship provides fertile ground for the Holy Spirit.”  How?  Can you remember a time when the Holy Spirit made use of an encounter with a spiritual friend?