For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/

For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/

Here is a list of challenges to meaningful God-honoring relationships:
1. Sin

• Hurtful speech
• Dishonesty
• Anger
• Jealousy
• Covetousness
• Self-centeredness (relationships become “transactional”)

2. Individualism

3. Fear of homosexuality (homophobia) – CS Lewis

4. Lack of gospel charity

• Holding onto to hurts [need to keep short accounts]
• Withholding forgiveness or not seeking it (not repenting)
• Lacking trust [even when we have been hurt, we need to be trust others ~ trust, but verify (be wise and discerning)]
• Lack kindness

5. False Expectations

• Idolizing
• Sufficiency
• Identity

6. Being too busy
7. Technology

• Limitations
• Dangers

8. Life transitions

For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/

Here is a list of challenges to meaningful God-honoring relationships:
1. Sin

• Hurtful speech
• Dishonesty
• Anger
• Jealousy
• Covetousness
• Self-centeredness (relationships become “transactional”)

2. Individualism

3. Fear of homosexuality (homophobia) – CS Lewis

4. Lack of gospel charity

• Holding onto to hurts [need to keep short accounts]
• Withholding forgiveness or not seeking it (not repenting)
• Lacking trust [even when we have been hurt, we need to be trust others ~ trust, but verify (be wise and discerning)]
• Lack kindness

5. False Expectations

• Idolizing
• Sufficiency
• Identity

6. Being too busy
7. Technology

• Limitations
• Dangers

8. Life transitions

For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/

Characteristics of Friends
Really about being a godly individual (displaying in our lives the character of God ~ fruit of the Spirit in relationships)
 Galatians 5:19-26
 Colossians 3:5-14
 Philippians 2:1-4
Simply put, in friendship we should practice the “Golden Rule”
 Matthew 7:12 – “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and
the Prophets.
So, practically, what does this look like?
 Communication [true, necessary, and kind]
 Candor
 Commitment/Closeness/Constancy (faithfulness)
 Counsel
Proverbs that address this:
 Prov. 12:18 – There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
 Prov. 14:29 – Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
 Prov. 15:28 – The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil
things.
 Prov. 16:28 – A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
 Prov. 17:9 – Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
 Prov. 17:28 – Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed
intelligent.
 Prov. 18:13 – If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
 Prov. 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
 Prov. 20:19 – Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with a simple
babbler.
 Prov. 25:11 – A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
 Prov. 27:5–6 – Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the
kisses of an enemy.
 Prov. 27:10 – Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the
day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
 Prov. 27:17 – Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
 Prov. 28:23 – Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.
 Prov. 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
 Prov. 18:24 – A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a
brother.
 Prov. 20:5 – The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
 Prov. 20:6 – Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?
 Prov. 15:22 – Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
 Prov. 24:6 – for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
 Prov. 27:9 – Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Remember, we live in a fallen and broken world ~ effects relationships

For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/

Careful Cultivation of Friendships
In this point we want to consider two points (subpoints)
 The making of friends
 The maintaining of friendships First, the making of friends
 Need for discernment when looking into & entering friendships
 Proverbs 13:20 – Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
 Proverbs 22:24–25 – Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
 1 Corinthains 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
 Deuteronomy 13:6-10
 As we make friends, remember the different levels of friendship
~ Acquaintances
~ Allies
~ Companions
~ Confidents
 As we seek to make friends, we can either be too cautious/exclusive or we
can lack discernment
 In seeking friendships, a couple of safeguards to remember
~ Do not seek your identity in friends/relationships
~ Do not idolize friends or friendships
~ Be realistic (all people are sinners)
~ Do not seek final sufficiency in any human relationship [Schaeffer quote]
~ Remember God’s sovereignty – not every friendship we initiate will or should continue
~ Those who are lonely and feel isolated are in danger of rushing into any friendship that is available without thinking about the possible consequences.

Next, we turn our attention to the maintaining (cultivating) of our friendships. Question of how do we maintain
and grow friendships? Simple list:
 Time and attention
 Truly engage with the person (be truly present)
2 John 12 – Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to
come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
 Communication – willingness to share (talk) and listen
 Mentally engage
~ Discuss, disagree, learn from each other
 Emotionally engage
~ Share feelings and be transparent
 Truly enjoy one another
 Deepest friendships need to possess a commitment to Christ
Two final thoughts:

 It is ok to grow out of a friendship [specifically, this relates to the levels of friendships we talked about earlier]
 The more the merrier; friends are made to share [CS Lewis]

For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/

Crucial Aspect of Friendships
God is a relational being
 It is part of His nature ~ Triune God
 God is perfectly in communion with Himself from all eternity
 Gospel of John is helpful in thinking about this; constant refrain about the love between the Father and the Son
 Also see this in His interaction with His people
 Constant desire on the part of God to be in communion/fellowship with His people [Opening of Genesis to the
close of Revelation]
 Isaiah 41:8 – But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
 Exodus 33:11 – Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When
Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from
the tent.
 Jesus ~ friend of sinners (Matt. 11:19) & disciples (Luke 12:4)
As those made in the image of God, we were created as relational beings
 Contains both a vertical and horizontal component to it
 Genesis 2:18 – Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper
fit for him.”
 Adam was not lonely because he was imperfect, but because he was perfect [to be perfect was to be relational]
All of this to say that friendships are part of what makes us human; or, to say it differently, we need friends to be fully
human
Quotes on the significance of friendship:
 Aristotle – “friendship is one soul abiding in two bodies”
 Gregor of Nazianzus (4 th c. church father) – “If anyone were to ask me, ‘What is the best thing in life?’ I
would answer, ‘Friends.’”
 Kevin DeYoung – “Friendship is the most important – least talked about relationship in the church.”
 Dr. Joel Beeke – “Friendship is one of the primary means God uses to strengthen His people.”
 Jonathan Edwards – “Friendship is the highest happiness of all moral agents.”
 JC Ryle – “This world is full of sorrow because it is full of sin. It is a dark place. It is a lonely place. It is a disappointing place. The brightest sunbeam in it is a friend. Friendship halves our troubles and doubles our joys.”
 Drew Hunter – “Friendship is the ultimate end of our existence and our highest source of happiness. Friendship – with one another and with God – is the supreme pleasure of life, both now and forever, and no one can fully enjoy life without it.”
 John Newton – “I think to a feeling mind there is no temporal pleasure equal to the pleasure of friendship.”
 Aelred of Rievaulx (12 th c. author) – “Absolutely no life can be pleasing without friends.”
But this ideal is not always the reality in which life is lived:
 20% of adults say they have no close friend to discuss personal problems with
 20% of adults admit to feeling lonely at any given time
 “Rent-a-friend” business reveals the need for friends
Next, we will turn our attention to the careful cultivation of friendships
 Throughout we will be considering the teaching from the book of Proverbs

Greater care needs to
be given at each level
you move down

 Hugh Black wrote that “the Proverbs are a treatise on friendship.”

For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/

Special Rules for [Young] Men
1. Resolve at once to break off every known sin, however small
 Examine your heart and see if you have any habit or custom which you know is wrong in the sight of God; if yes, don’t delay in attacking it. Resolve at once to lay it aside. Nothing darkens the eyes of the mind so much, and deadens the conscience so surely, as an allowed sin.
 You can be sure that no wicked man ever meant to be so wicked at his first beginnings. But he began with allowing himself some little sins.
 Resist sin in its beginnings. They may look small and insignificant; but resist them, make no compromise; let no sin lodge quietly and undisturbed in your heart.
 Progress of sin in a man: “First it startles him, then it becomes pleasing, then easy, then delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then a way of life. Then the man feels no guilt, then obstinate, then resolves never to repent, and then
he is damned.
2. Resolve to shun everything which may prove an occasion of sin
 It is an excellent saying, “He that would be safe from the acts of evil, must widely avoid the occasions.”
 It is not enough that we determine not to commit sin, we must carefully keep at a distance from all approaches to it.
 We must not be content with saying, “There is nothing wrong here;” we must go further and say, “Is there anything here which may cause me to sin.” Or even, “Is there enough that is right here?”
 Idleness is to be avoided. It is not that doing nothing is of itself so wicked; it is the opportunity it affords to evil and empty thoughts; it is the wide door it opens for Satan to throw in the seeds of bad things; it is this which is mainly to
be feared.

3. Be diligent in the practice of your Christianity
 Be regular in going to church, whenever it is open for prayer and preaching, and it is your power to attend.  Men should regularly hear the preaching of Christ’s gospel. I cannot tell you how important this is. By God’s blessing, the ministry of the gospel might be the means of conversion and of making you a child of God in action and in truth.
 Be regular in keeping the Lord’s Day holy, and determine that God’s day out of the seven shall always be given to its rightful owner.
 Let nothing ever tempt you to become a Christian who does not make every effort to attend church on Sunday and make the day special to the Lord. Make up your mind to give all your Sundays to God. A spirit of disregard for this
day is growing up among us with fearful rapidity.
 Be jealous on this point; take up a decided line and resolve not to miss church on Sunday and the fellowship of God’s people.
 Isaiah 58:13-14
4. Resolve that wherever you are, you will pray
 Prayer is the life-breath of a man’s soul and is the appointed way to obtain the relief of our spiritual necessities. It
opens the treasury and sets the fountain flowing.
 Prayer is the way to procure the outpouring of the Spirit upon our hearts. He is ready to come down with all His
precious gifts – renewing, sanctifying, purifying, strengthening, cheering, encouraging, enlightening, teaching,
directing, guiding into all truth.

For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.
Every weekday at 8:00am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on 94.1 The Voice in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, USA.

If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.

Phone: (208) 991-3526
E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.com
Podcast website: https://941thevoice.com/podcasts/gospel-for-life/