The Power of Friendship
We Aspire to True Friendship
As I think about my walk with Christ over the course of my life, do you know what stands out most? People. It’s the people in my life who’ve helped me grow the most in my quest to become like Jesus. Oh, sure, there have been great sermons I’ve heard. There have been great books I’ve read. I’ve been to great conferences. I’ve sat in great classes.
Undoubtedly, classes, Bible studies, sermons, books, and conferences have all influenced my spiritual formation. But in the grand scheme of things, the part they’ve played is relatively insignificant compared with that played by other people—people like my parents, grandparents, siblings, Christian friends, Sunday school teachers, and pastors. (I find it very interesting that my Sunday school teachers themselves—not the curriculum they used—were what made the impact. If I’m honest, I don’t remember any Sunday school lessons. But I do remember the teachers.)
I think this points to a truth that most Christians in the U.S. have forgotten. Namely, it’s the people, not the programs, that lead us to growth. We are not following Jesus alone but together. When Jesus sent out his disciples, he never sent them alone—always in pairs. When Paul went on his missionary journeys, he never traveled alone—always with others, like Barnabas, Mark, Silas, Luke, and Timothy. In fact, when God created everything and said it was “very good,” there was only one thing that he said was not good. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen 2:18).
God created us to be in relationships with others because, without those friendships, we cannot become who he designed us to be. Bible studies are simply excuses to come together around the Word. Prayer meetings are just reasons to be together with God. Worship services are opportunities to gather together and exalt our great God and Savior.
Being together in unity is a powerful force. Look at what God said about it in Genesis 11: “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them” (Gen 11:6). When we come together in the presence of God, amazing things happen. That’s why everything we do as a church is designed to bring people together around Scripture, prayer, worship, and service. The friendships that develop in those contexts have the power to change the world.
Our aim is to have true friendships. We aspire to be a people whose love for one another and others is genuine and sticky. We believe that disciples are mentored through intentional, authentic friendships. Our church friends are our true friends. LakeView is our spiritual home, and we are members of the family.