What is your Discipline Focus in 2022?

 The leadership in my church is focusing on a different discipline over this next year.  The different disciplines are:

1. Prayer
2. Faith
3. Discipline
4. Gratitude
5. Forgiveness
6. Remembering
7. Abiding
8. Friendship
9. Fullness of God

Honestly, I could be more disciplined in all these areas, who couldn't, right?  

I felt led to focus on the discipline of friendship.  Alex at church wrote these out with some amazing information to follow.  He states: The goal is "building a Christ-Centered Disciplines into our lives".

What does the bible say about Friendship?

A true friend has two characteristics known in the Jewish culture and which Christ demonstrated, found in John 15:12-15.  One is to sacrifice and the second is openness and meek speech.  That is one I truly need to work on.  I have been told I need to be a velvet brick.  

These biblical friendships will be studied so I can learn what a true friendship looks like

• Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 20)
• Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2)
• Paul and Timothy (2 Timothy 1)
• Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1)

Do I have friendships or am I a friend who shows more worldly characteristics or Christ-centered friendship?  

Examples to dwell on

Worldly vs Christ-Centered

• abandon you in a challenge or load-bearing
• focused on success only or shares, encourages in defeats
• concerned with impressions or "while we were yet"
• seek position or humble, shared footing
• exploitive or always speaks well
• surface deep or sees it all

How can I measure friendship?

• Spreads truth (Ephesians 4:15)
• Builds community (Acts 2:42-47; Proverbs 17:7)
• Lightens the load (Galatians 6:2; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
• Reflects God (John 13:35)
• Refines you (Hebrews 3:13; Proverbs 27:17)
• Provides counsel (Proverbs 27:9)

Hold me accountable, if you see my not acting Christlike or not being a friend.  I want to grow in Christ as I learn to be more of a Godly friend.

Blessings,

Barbra