Growth through Friendship

By

Shelby G. Floyd

August 3, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

One proven method of growing the church is by be­ing a friend to man. Solomon taught in the book of Ec­clesiastes that positive action brings about positive re­sults: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again” (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

 

Jesus Christ was a friend to the individual as well as to a large group of people. When Jesus met the woman at the well in Samaria, he was kind to her and became a friend to her and this resulted in her having faith in the Son of God. (John 4). Like Christ, we can take a lead in being a friend:

 

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
    Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
    Just walk beside me and be my friend.

                                            —Albert Camus

 

When a stranger visits the congregation, be kind to that person and become a friend to that person. People are not only interested in a congregation being friendly, but they are also interested in developing per­sonal friendships. Many people desire to be an intimate part of a community of believers in Christ who follow God’s Word. To be a friend means that we must get involved in the everyday joys and sorrows of people just like us. A friend wants to be known and appreciated as well as to know and appreciate you:

 

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by-

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat

Nor hurl the cynic's ban-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

                                            —Sam Walter Foss

 

It is said that 7% of the people who do not even go to any church plan to attend some church, and 33% of those who do not attend any church are at least open to attend­ing some church. And that means the church can be the Heartland con­gregation, if we will be a friend to man. The apostle John declared: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11).

 

One way we can do this is when we have a social gathering with our friends, we can also invite one out­sider to be with us and share the joy that we have in Christ. (Philippians 4:4). Copyright © 2008 Shelby Floyd All Rights Reserved