Text: John 15:12-17
We are made for friendship, but there is a great lack of fulfilling friendships in our world today. We long for close friends, and yet we seem to be unable to get out of our own way to experience flourishing friendships. Friendships just seem too hard, too risky, and too messy to be worth it. And yet, Jesus calls those who follow Him friends and commands us to live in a community of loving friendship with one another. Jesus’ loving friendship of us serves as our model for loving friendship with one another, and our relationship with Him serves as the source of our ability to live in loving friendship with other followers of Jesus. In a world starved for friendships, followers of Jesus have the opportunity to display the richness of friendship found in Jesus and His church.