Nobody Stands Alone - No Fear

Series: Nobody Stands Alone
No Fear - Ted Beasley, September 21, 2008

It was great to have Ted back on stage for a “guest appearance”... particularly talking about the power of relationships centered on God.

1. Ted talked about the idea of a “best friend”. While not all of us have had life-long best friends, most of us have had some important friendships at different points in our lives. Start there. Take a moment to think through some of the major friendships you’ve had during your life. Pick one friendship and talk about that. Who was the person? How did you meet? When were you friends and for how long?

2. Next, talk about what kinds of things that “bond” us with someone. Think about the friend you “introduced” to the group in Question 1, and then talk about how you came to be close friends. Why did you become close friends with this person, and not other people you knew then? What things did you share? In the group, note the different things that create friendships.

3. So, did you remain friends with that person? Why or why not? Talk about the kinds of things that make friendships either stay or pass into the “past”. Are there any common factors across your group – either for what makes friendships last or for what makes them pass?

4. Ted made a distinction between a regular social friendship and a “spiritual” friendship based on a shared relationship with God through Jesus (not that you can’t have both in the same person – but the two are not necessarily tied together). Ted defined a spiritual friendship as “an authentic, life-giving confidante who points you to God”. This is not your typical, run-of-the-mill type relationship, and as Ted noted, it’s not that common. Why is that? Talk about the kinds of things that make it difficult to build a friendship bond like that.

5. While a God-centered relationship may be hard to develop, it can really make a difference in the quality of our spiritual lives. Have you ever had someone you interact with personally point you toward God … whether as part of what Gateway calls a “Spiritual running partner” relationship or otherwise? Try to identify a situation (one you are comfortable in sharing about in the group) when some one really changed your thinking about something related to your spiritual life... helped you see something in your life in a different, more God-centered way. Then describe what was the impact of that new perspective in your life? (It’s fine to briefly describe the situation if you need to, but the focus here is how it made a difference in your spiritual life.) If relevant, note whether the “encouragement” was easy to accept at first.

6. Personal reflection: Do you have a God-centered friendship in your life now? If so, try a brief status check: Is there anything that you can do to make it stronger? If not you don't have a friendship like that, is God prompting you to develop one? Is there someone you think you could build that sort of God-centered, encouraging relationship with? If so, ask God to prompt you how to begin to move in that direction: What can YOU do? If you don't have an idea about who, ask God to show you a person He knows would be a good "soul" friend for you? I f there is some action you can take this week to either strengthen or develop a spiritual friendship, write that down. Remember that it often will take time to build a relationship so think about steps to get there.

If you want some guidelines and suggestions on how to build and structure the kind of spritual friendship that Ted described, visit Gateway’s Spiritual Running Partner Guide on-line. Right now the format is set up for the Soul Revolution program, but the Running Partner basics are in there.

Bible Verses from the passage

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18: 24

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 2:14

"Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few." "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." 1 Samuel 14:8-10

Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 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. I Samuel 18:1-4

Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! 1 Samuel 20:30

David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most. Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.' I Samuel 20:41-42

And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. I Samuel 23: 16-18.

The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen/ in the middle of the fight! / Jonathan—struck down on your hills! / O my dear brother Jonathan, / I'm crushed by your death. / Your friendship was a miracle-wonder, / love far exceeding anything I've known— or ever hope to know. / The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen. / And the arms of war broken to bits. II Samuel 1:25-27

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