New Covenant Christian Community Church (NC4)

The Grace For Friendship
3/2/2025, "Thick & Thin: The Art of Friendship in a Lonely World" Week #4
Locations & Times
NC4 Bethlehem Campus
21 E Broad St, Bethlehem, PA 18018, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
The Grace for Friendship
Luke 7:31-50
Luke 7:31-50
Friendship is both a gift of grace and a practice of grace.
Friendship flows from gratitude.
The foundational problem in the human heart is ingratitude towards God.
Ingratitude is the telltale sign of the Pharisee.
Ingratitude makes us too critical to connect, too self-sufficient to need others, and too distant to love well.
Gratitude for grace gives us freedom to befriend the outcast.
The F.R.I.E.N.D Model: Six Steps to Form Friendships
1. F – First Move: Initiate Connection
2. R – Real Conversations: Risk Going Beyond Small Talk
3. I – Invest Time: Share Experiences
4. E – Empathize: See People’s Worth
5. N – Notice: Show Love Through Action
6. D – Drop it! Let Go of Grudges
Gratitude is the natural response of a sinner saved by grace.
Salvation Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for drawing me to Yourself from my darkness, my sin, and my shame. I repent of my sins, and I ask You to forgive me. I welcome You into my heart, and I surrender my future into Your hands. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit, and help me to be a reflector of Your light to those around me. Thank You for including me in Your family. Amen
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for drawing me to Yourself from my darkness, my sin, and my shame. I repent of my sins, and I ask You to forgive me. I welcome You into my heart, and I surrender my future into Your hands. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit, and help me to be a reflector of Your light to those around me. Thank You for including me in Your family. Amen
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