In today's episode, we mostly focus on what it means to be "a friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)
When John speaks about being our "brother and companion," he's letting us know he's with us in the trenches.
He knows us, understands us, and, therefore, speaks to us from a place of empathy and identification.
John knows what it means to suffer for Christ, so he speaks with conviction and sensitivity about being a martyr, having to endure hardship, and persevering until the end. For him, all these things are personal. Therefore, the revelation of Jesus Christ couldn't have come from a more effective messenger.
The message is that much more effective when the messenger has lived the message!
As we learn from John's example and look into key words in the Greek, we discover what it means to be a faithful friend others can count on, especially in the hard times of life.
Listen to find out more!
RESOURCES
Article: In the Trenches-- A Foxhole Analogy by Steve Davie
This article was mentioned in the podcast. He draws from his military experience to show the parallels between being soldiers in a foxhole together and being effective teammates.
Disclaimer: I don't know his spiritual background or if he's a Christian. I also don't know about any of his other writings. I only refer to this one.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What does it mean for you to have a "foxhole friend?" What does it mean for you to be a "foxhole friend?" Reflect on how you can become that person for others and pray that God would bring that type of friend into your own life.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)
...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)
2. Consider the view of relationships in our society and how it falls far short of what God desires for our lives, when he called us to be baptized by one Spirit into one body. When the Bible speaks about our relationships, it uses very intimate terms: knit together, joined, unified as the Father and Son are unified, one new man, etc.
Meditate on the value and intimacy God intended for the relationships among believers. Pray for the faith and understanding to live out a new level of relationship in Christ.
3. Take an inventory. What's keeping you from having deeper and closer friendships with other brothers and sisters in Christ? What can you do to get beyond those limited beliefs, fears, struggles, and barriers?
ACTION STEPS
1. Slowly review and meditate upon what was shared in this podcast episode.
2. Subscribe and share this podcast with others who may be interested.
3. Look up the Scripture passages that were shared in this episode one by one. Do your own personal study of them and meditate upon them.
4. Begin an action plan to study the End Time passages in the Bible!
5. Do a topical Bible study on the "one another" verses in the Bible. How are we to care for and love one another?
6. Read the Steve Davie article above: In the Trenches-- A Foxhole Analogy.
Main Website: http://thebiblemind.com
Blog at http://thebiblemind.com/blog
Podcast at http://thebiblemind.com/podcast
In today's episode, we mostly focus on what it means to be "a friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)
When John speaks about being our "brother and companion," he's letting us know he's with us in the trenches.
He knows us, understands us, and, therefore, speaks to us from a place of empathy and identification.
John knows what it means to suffer for Christ, so he speaks with conviction and sensitivity about being a martyr, having to endure hardship, and persevering until the end. For him, all these things are personal. Therefore, the revelation of Jesus Christ couldn't have come from a more effective messenger.
The message is that much more effective when the messenger has lived the message!
As we learn from John's example and look into key words in the Greek, we discover what it means to be a faithful friend others can count on, especially in the hard times of life.
Listen to find out more!
RESOURCES
Article: In the Trenches-- A Foxhole Analogy by Steve Davie
This article was mentioned in the podcast. He draws from his military experience to show the parallels between being soldiers in a foxhole together and being effective teammates.
Disclaimer: I don't know his spiritual background or if he's a Christian. I also don't know about any of his other writings. I only refer to this one.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What does it mean for you to have a "foxhole friend?" What does it mean for you to be a "foxhole friend?" Reflect on how you can become that person for others and pray that God would bring that type of friend into your own life.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)
...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)
2. Consider the view of relationships in our society and how it falls far short of what God desires for our lives, when he called us to be baptized by one Spirit into one body. When the Bible speaks about our relationships, it uses very intimate terms: knit together, joined, unified as the Father and Son are unified, one new man, etc.
Meditate on the value and intimacy God intended for the relationships among believers. Pray for the faith and understanding to live out a new level of relationship in Christ.
3. Take an inventory. What's keeping you from having deeper and closer friendships with other brothers and sisters in Christ? What can you do to get beyond those limited beliefs, fears, struggles, and barriers?
ACTION STEPS
1. Slowly review and meditate upon what was shared in this podcast episode.
2. Subscribe and share this podcast with others who may be interested.
3. Look up the Scripture passages that were shared in this episode one by one. Do your own personal study of them and meditate upon them.
4. Begin an action plan to study the End Time passages in the Bible!
5. Do a topical Bible study on the "one another" verses in the Bible. How are we to care for and love one another?
6. Read the Steve Davie article above: In the Trenches-- A Foxhole Analogy.
Main Website: http://thebiblemind.com
Blog at http://thebiblemind.com/blog
Podcast at http://thebiblemind.com/podcast