Choosing My Crew
Introduction
Memorable Quote:
The beauty of the journey is not just the destination, but the people sailing with you.
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The Circles Of Friendship
Three Criteria for Choosing Your Crew
1.
: Do They Align with God’s Purpose?
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. —Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. —Luke 6:12-13 (NLT)
Memorable Quote:
Your tribe should lift you toward God, not drift you away from Him.
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Reflection: Do my closest relationships help me grow spiritually, or do they distract me from God’s purpose?
2.
: Will They Challenge and Correct You?
17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
—Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)1 So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. 2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. —1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NLT)
11 Here is the record of David’s mightiest warriors: The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle.
12 Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. 13 He was with David when the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammim and attacked the Israelites in a field full of barley. The Israelite army fled, 14 but Eleazar and David held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.
15 Once when David was at the rock near the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. 16 David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.
17 David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 19 “God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.
20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. 21 Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.
22 There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. 23 Once, armed only with a club, he killed an Egyptian warrior who was 7 1⁄2 feet tall and who was armed with a spear as thick as a weaver’s beam. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. 24 Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the three mightiest warriors. 25 He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard. —1 Chronicles 11:11-25 (NLT)
Memorable Quote:
The right tribe won’t just comfort you; they’ll challenge you.
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Reflection: Are the people in my cave challenging me to grow stronger in faith?
3.
: Will They Stand with You in the Storm?
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” —Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)
11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” —Daniel 1:11-13 (NLT)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us… 18 But even if he doesn’t, we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.’ —Daniel 3:16-18 (NLT)
Memorable Quote:
Fair-weather friends jump ship, but true crew stays through the storm.
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Reflection: Will my tribe abandon me when thongs get hot or will they walk with me through the fire?
Conclusion
33 Bad company corrupts good character. —1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT)
My Next Steps:
- Challenge: Find and Commit to a Small Group!
- A great journey is about the people on board with me.
- My spiritual growth depends on who I surround yourself with.
My Upcoming Events:
Wednesday Online Prayer Gathering
Next Week’s Message: Smooth Sailing Ahead