Good morning, everyone! Today, we are kicking off a brand new series called Deeper Friendships. In this series, we will explore the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and how to go deeper in our connections with others. I want to address three different groups of people who may have varied reactions and expectations for this series.
Some of you may be excited about this new series. Perhaps you are a first-year student at Wartburg and see this as a great opportunity to make new friends. Or maybe you are in high school and realize that you need to find a new friend group. It could also be that you have work acquaintances and desire to deepen those relationships. Whatever the case may be, I hope this series meets your expectations and provides you with helpful insights on building deeper friendships.
There may be some of you who are ambivalent about this series. You may think, 'Okay, great, we're talking about friendship.' You love Jesus and Riverwood, and you trust that whatever is being taught is what the Lord wants you to learn. You are flexible and committed to being a part of something bigger. I encourage you to lean in, absorb the scriptures, and pray that God helps you grow as a friend. This series has the potential to open up wonderful ministry opportunities for you and deepen your relationship with Christ.
Now, there may be a third group who is skeptical about spending three weeks talking about how to be a friend. You may think, 'We learned this in kindergarten. Let's get to the good stuff like the book of Acts or the atonement.' If you find yourself in this group, you are not alone. Even I, as the speaker, had reservations about this topic. However, I realized that my attitude was judgmental and arrogant. I want to share a story that helped me see the value in discussing friendship.
In the past, churches focused on church growth and adopted approaches from successful mega churches. These churches often had sermon series on practical topics like marriage, parenting, and friendship. While these sermons attracted people, many left because they felt they weren't growing spiritually. Churches realized the need to shift their approach and prioritize the scriptures as the most effective tool for spiritual growth.
Jesus, the greatest communicator of all time, frequently asked questions. Questions have the power to change trajectories, open up conversations, and deepen friendships. When we ask open-ended and life story questions, we show genuine interest in others and make them feel valued. By answering our own questions, we can create a safe and authentic space for deeper connections.
As an assignment, I encourage you to have a conversation with someone and ask them questions for five minutes. Practice asking open-ended and life story questions, and see how the conversation unfolds. Remember to keep the spotlight on them and show genuine interest in their story.
In this blog post, we explored the power of asking questions in building deeper friendships. By asking open-ended and life story questions, we can create meaningful connections and show others that they matter. Let us strive to be like Jesus, who took a genuine interest in people and changed lives through his conversations. May we embrace the opportunity to go deeper in our relationships and experience the joy of true friendship.
