Friendship Essential to Growth

Friendships Essential to Growth (Titus 2:4-8)
Introduction: The importance of friendships to growth

1. Why do we have few friendships?
   (a) The influence of our culture that says real men don't need friends.
   (b) We're not very friendly people ourselves.
   (c) The estranging, alienating influence of sin.

2. Why should we have more friendships?
   (a) Friends are stronger and more productive together.
   (b) Friends help each other when they stumble.
   (c) Friends care for each other's needs
   (d) Friends are not easily overcome.

3. What are the essential elements of friendship?
   (a) Loyalty
   (b) Love

4. What is the fruit of Christian friendship?
   "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend" (Prov 27:17). "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov 27:6, see Prov 28:23)

Application
Prov 12:26, "The righteous should choose his friends carefully."