Sermon Tone Analysis

SF253

                                                                                                             CBC 3~/3~/91

 

 

*WHAT IS A FRIEND*

 

 

*Proverbs 17:17*

 

*INTRODUCTION*

*Everyone Needs A Friend*

/When the First World War ended, the King and Queen of Belgium wanted to honor President Herbert Hoover for the aid they had received during the war from the United States.

After considering the various available honors, the monarch offered Hoover his choice of three decorations.

He rejected them all stating:/

/You have stood at the gateway of civilization and held back the tide of aggression, while we have only shared with you what we had to give.

For that one does not ask for honors./

/The King and Queen responded, "He is our very great friend."

Desiring to adequately express their appreciation for his efforts, they created a new order to which Hoover alone belonged, "Friend of the Belgian people."/

*DEFINITIONS OF A FRIEND*

/"*A friend* is somebody who doesn't go on a diet when you're fat."

Erma Bombeck/

/"*A friend* is someone who knows all about you and loves you just the same."/

/"*A true friend* will go on liking you, no matter how successful either of you becomes."/

*/"A friend/*/ is one who strengthens you with his prayers, blesses you with his love, and encourages you with his hope."/

/"*A friend* is somebody who is on the scene when you need him and quietly leaves when you want to be left alone."/

/"*A friend* is someone who is there when you call and sometimes even before you call."/

/"*Friendship* is one of the sweetest joys of life.

Many might have fallen beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend."

/

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*1A.

THE TYPES OF FRIENDSHIP (Pro 18:24a)*

 

*/1B           Simple (Casual) Friendship/*

 

Ocean Liner

Those who just hop on and off board.

*/2B           Circumstancial (Fair Weather) Friendship/*

 

Ocean Liner

Those who abandon ship at the first sign of a storm.

*Prodigal Son*

 

*/3B.

Supernatural (True) Friendship/*

 

*1C.

Rare*

 

*2C.

Few*

 

*3C.

Demanding*

 

/"Be slow in making friends ‑ even slower in changing them."/

*Ben Franklin*

 

*THE HIGH COST OF LOVING*

/We become vulnerable when we love people and go out of our way to help them.

That's what the wealthy industrialist Charles Schwab declared after going to court and winning a nuisance suit at age 70.

Given permission by the judge to speak to the audience, he made the following statement: "I'd like to say here in a court of law, and speaking as an old man, that nine‑tenths of my troubles are traceable to my being kind to others.

Look, you young people, if you want to steer away from trouble, be hard‑boiled.

Be quick with a good loud no to anyone and everyone.

If you follow this rule, you will seldom be bothered as you tread life's pathway.

Except ‑ you'll have no friends, you'll be lonely, and you won't have any fun!"/

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*2A.

THE TRAITS OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP*

*/1B.

A True Friend Is Selfless/*

 

*1C           Puts you first*

 

*/JOH/**/ 15:13/*/              //Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends./

*2C.

Protects you fearlessly*

 

*3C.

Pleases you fully*

 

*/PRO 27:9/*/               //Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel./

*/2B.

A True Friend Is Steadfast (Pro 17:17; 18:24)/*

 

*1C.

Will stand up with youl*

 

*/PRO 27:10/*/             //Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,.../

 

*2C.

Will stay with you*

 

*The Good Samaritan*

*SAM DAVIS*

/Sam Davis was a Confederate spy executed at Pulaski, Tennessee, for his crime.

When captured by the Union army, he had in his possession some papers of vital importance.

After examining the case closely, the officers in charge knew he must have had an accomplice in securing the papers.

He was court martialed, led out before the firing squad and blindfolded.

Then the officer in charge put forward a proposition: "If you will give us the name of the man who furnished you this information, you may go free."/

/Sam Davis did not hesitate in his reply, "If I had a thousand lives I would give them all before I would betray a friend."/

/"Loyalty thou are indeed a gem, seldom found in the hearts of men."/

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*/3B.

A True Friend will Sacrifice/*

 

/The Indian word for friend = One who carries my sorrows on his back./

*1C.

His goals*

 

*2C.

His gold*

 

*/4B.

A True Friend Is Sanctifying/*

 

*1C.

Confirms you*

 

Lifts you up

 

*/PRO 27:17/*/             As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another./

/"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."/* Henry Ford*

 

*2C.

Confronts you*

 

*PRO 27:6*                Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

*THE SANCTIFYING FRIEND*

/I love you not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.