Grace Church
FRIENDS for the Journey #1 - Principles of Biblical Friendship
Locations & Times
Grace Community Church
8950 M-79, Nashville, MI 49073, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Today we begin our Spring series dealing with the theme of friendship.
This series is tied to our Bible reading plan in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs has been called "the book of practical wisdom" and provides many principles about a relationship with God, but also our fellow man.
This series is tied to our Bible reading plan in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs has been called "the book of practical wisdom" and provides many principles about a relationship with God, but also our fellow man.
The art of friendship has increasingly grown difficult.
-increasing mobility
-rapid pace of life
-social media
-differences of opinion/beliefs
-lack of societal and spiritual training
Proverbs is God's Word to our world as to how we can live in such a way as to honor Him, help people, and establish healthy relationships.
-increasing mobility
-rapid pace of life
-social media
-differences of opinion/beliefs
-lack of societal and spiritual training
Proverbs is God's Word to our world as to how we can live in such a way as to honor Him, help people, and establish healthy relationships.
The Bible gives many illustrations of healthy relationships, not perfect, but the kind we would be wise to emulate.
-David & Jonathan
-Ruth & Naomi
-Esther & Mordecai
-Paul & Barnabas
-and countless others
-David & Jonathan
-Ruth & Naomi
-Esther & Mordecai
-Paul & Barnabas
-and countless others
Today we'll look at one key principle of relationship building and look at the book of Proverbs for some practical application.
Key Principle:
Choose wisely those who we walk with.
Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 18:24 [ESV]
Key Principle:
Choose wisely those who we walk with.
Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 18:24 [ESV]
We all need friends for the journey of life.
These Proverbs remind us that everyone cannot and should not be a close friend.
The Apostle Paul, in his 13 books of the Bible, lists numerous people who were his friends and co-workers for the Lord. He wrote that we need to exercise caution in our choices.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Character is caught more than taught. Think of a rotten apple in the midst of a barrel of good apples.
These Proverbs remind us that everyone cannot and should not be a close friend.
The Apostle Paul, in his 13 books of the Bible, lists numerous people who were his friends and co-workers for the Lord. He wrote that we need to exercise caution in our choices.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Character is caught more than taught. Think of a rotten apple in the midst of a barrel of good apples.
Five basic types of people in our lives:
1. The Pool of Humanity
1. The Pool of Humanity
2. Acquaintances
3. Casual Friends
4. Close Friends
5. Best Friends
We have to be smart enough to let the right type of people into our closest circle of relationships.
Here are a few tips from the book of Proverbs as to those we should include:
1. People who challenge you to grow and to be a Godlier person.
Proverbs 12:26
Proverbs 27:17
Here are a few tips from the book of Proverbs as to those we should include:
1. People who challenge you to grow and to be a Godlier person.
Proverbs 12:26
Proverbs 27:17
2. People who recognize their failings, practice forgiveness, and strive to be better.
Proverbs 17:9 [NLT]
Proverbs 17:9 [NLT]
3. People who demonstrate loyalty, kindness, and faithfulness to things that really matter.
Proverbs 3:1-3 [NLT]
Proverbs 3:1-3 [NLT]
4. People who guard their mouth, show respect to others, and practice self-control.
Proverbs 21:23 [NLT]
Proverbs 11:13
Proverbs 4:23
Proverbs 21:23 [NLT]
Proverbs 11:13
Proverbs 4:23
Over the next 2 months we'll look at the lives of Bible characters who show us the type of person we should be, and the type of people we should seek to have as our friends.
YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/GraceChurchMIGiving Link
https://gc3.org/giving/Grace Church Website
https://gc3.org/CJ's Coffee Shop Pre-Order Link
https://cjs-gracegc3.square.site/H.O.M.E. Groups
Do you have a Home Group? Visit the website to learn about which groups are meeting; you can sign-up for a group there as well. You can also contact the church office; we'd love to help you with this (grace@gc3.org).
https://gc3.org/home-groups/Mentoring at Grace
There are several men and women at Grace Church who have completed the mentoring program here at Grace and are looking to invest in and share what they've learned with someone else. Have you thought about growing in your faith through the Grace Church mentoring program?
Contact the church office with any questions or to get the process started (grace@gc3.org) or you can talk with any of the staff and elders.
Contact the church office with any questions or to get the process started (grace@gc3.org) or you can talk with any of the staff and elders.
Bible Reading Plan
We hope you are taking part in the 2023 Bible Reading Plan. This also includes devotionals from Pastor Josh each week. Visit the website at the link below or find paper copies in CJ's. Let us know if you have any questions!
https://gc3.org/bible/Gracewear Shopping Link
Grace Church has a shopping link for Gracewear through Courtside Screen Printing & Embroidery. Use the link below to take a look. All questions and orders go directly through Courtside. Their contact information can be found at the bottom of the page.
https://grace2022.itemorder.com/shop/sale/CJ's is Open on Wednesdays
You can take advantage of the opportunity to hang out in CJ's on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:30 pm this winter/spring.
Meet up with friends, bring a project to work on, or just spend some quiet time reading or praying.
Meet up with friends, bring a project to work on, or just spend some quiet time reading or praying.
Lisa's Blog - Worship Moments
https://gc3.org/worship-moments/The Greenhouse Project
Visit The Greenhouse Project at our church website to find out what classes are being offered. Contact Lisa Sterkenburg if you have questions (lisa@gc3.org).
https://gc3.org/tgp/American Red Cross Blood Drive
Grace Church is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, April 27th from 12:00-5:45 pm. You can make an appointment at this link.
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=GracefulVermontville Clean Up
Grace Church is heading to the streets of Vermontville for the annual Vermontville Clean Up to help the village prepare for the Syrup Festival.
Join us on April 26th, at 6:30 pm at the park in downtown Vermontville where Ryan will give you an area to work on. Bring work gloves if you can.
This is a great opportunity to get out into the community and serve alongside your Grace Church family members. Contact Ryan Hickey if you have any questions (ryan@gc3.org).
Join us on April 26th, at 6:30 pm at the park in downtown Vermontville where Ryan will give you an area to work on. Bring work gloves if you can.
This is a great opportunity to get out into the community and serve alongside your Grace Church family members. Contact Ryan Hickey if you have any questions (ryan@gc3.org).
May/June Grace U Classes
Resolving Conflict - gaining a Biblical perspective on the principles, practices, and problems associated with making peace Youth Ministry - making an eternal difference in the lives of teens Love Works - great for those working in the secular world who want to live life, impact people, and influence those around them the way that Jesus did Foundations 2 - going deeper into the basic doctrines of the Bible (having taken Foundations 1 is helpful but not required) Coming in June: Here's Grace - the basics of what Grace Church is all about. This is a great class for anyone who is newer to the church. Completion of Here's Grace is a requirement for membership at Grace.
https://gc3.org/grace-university/Meet and Greet
The next Meet & Greet opportunity for those who are newer to Grace Church will be Sunday, April 23rd right after the service in CJ's coffee shop. We'd love to have you join us for this short time of fellowship where you can learn more about Grace Church, meet some of the staff and leadership, and have the opportunity to ask questions. We also look forward to getting to know you better. If you have any questions about this event, contact Leslie Booher (leslie@gc3.org).
Birthdays and Anniversaries We're Celebrating This Week!
Saturday, April 15th - Brice Hasselback, Tyler Binkowski
Sunday, April 16th - Aaron Smith, Amy Coblentz, Ethan Lyles
Tuesday, April 18th - Rebecca Lyles, Schylar Orton, Jessy Deppe
Wednesday, April 19th - Jim & Naomi Yenger
Friday, April 21st - Tyler Rose, Iris Braden
Saturday, April 15th - Brice Hasselback, Tyler Binkowski
Sunday, April 16th - Aaron Smith, Amy Coblentz, Ethan Lyles
Tuesday, April 18th - Rebecca Lyles, Schylar Orton, Jessy Deppe
Wednesday, April 19th - Jim & Naomi Yenger
Friday, April 21st - Tyler Rose, Iris Braden