This document discusses developing strong friendships. It begins with seven steps, then quotes scripture about the importance of relationships and friendship. The essence of God is described as relationship. Developing friendships that stick closer than family requires not demanding from friends what only God can provide, knowing yourself, and learning to forgive frequently. True friendship is founded on grace and loving others as Christ loved us.

2. Step #1: Tell the Truth
Step #2: Get Past the Past
Step #3: Make Your Cents Make Sense
Step #4: Build a New Dream
Step #5: Discover Discipline
Step #6: Step Outside Yourself
Step #7: Find a Friend

3. “A man of many companions may
come to ruin, but there is a friend
who sticks closer than a brother.”
-
Proverbs 18:24

4. Developing strong relationships is
part of what it means to be created
in the image of God, because the
essence of God is relationship.

5. “...according to the foreknowledge of God
the Father, in the sanctification of the
Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and
for sprinkling with his blood...”
- 1 Peter 1:2

6. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and
the love of God and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.”
- 2 Cor. 13:14

7. “This is my commandment, that you
love one another as I have loved
you. Greater love has no one than
this, that someone lay down his life
for his friends.”
-
John 15:12-13

8. GRACE is the foundation of
friendship!

9. How do we develop friendships
that will stick closer than a brother
or sister?
1) Don’t demand from a friend
what you can only get from
God.

10. How do we develop friendships
that will stick closer than a brother
or sister?
2) Know yourself if you expect
others to know you.

11. “Why do you see the speck that is in
your brother’s eye, but do not notice
the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or
how can you say to your brother, ‘Let
me take the speck out of your eye,’
when there is the log in your own
eye?

12. You hypocrite, first take the log out of
your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take the speck out of your
brother’s eye.
- Matt. 7:3-5

13. How do we develop friendships
that will stick closer than a brother
or sister?
3) Learn to forgive... a lot!