Pastor Tom Sugimura , Our Center #12 Life Application Study New Life Church December 1, 2019

1. Which characteristic of spiritual friendship do you most need to work on in your own life? Determine a practical step to take today.

Colossians 4:7-18

A Little Help From Our Friends 2. Consider each characteristic and identify a spiritual friend or family member in your life who best embodies it. Take a moment to thank the Lord for them today. I. Servant-Minded (vv. 7-8)

3. Share one way that Christ has transformed your life since your conversion. Praise him with thanksgiving!

II. Christ-Transformed (v. 9)

Philemon 11 Formerly he [] was useless to you, but 4. Do you have friends in your life who have the freedom to speak the now he is indeed useful to you and to me. truth to you in love? How can you go deeper in fellowship? 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

5. If evangelism were a team sport, what’s your role? In what ways can you grow in bringing lost people to ?

III. Comfort-Giving (vv. 10-11)

Acts 19:29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they Prayer of Response: rushed together into the theater, dragging with them and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. • Father, help me to find spiritual friends who will partner with me for the 2 Timothy 4:11b Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very . useful to me for ministry. • Help me to be that kind of friend to others in the church. IV. Prayer Warriors (vv. 12-13) Friend Other References Acts 20:4-6; Eph 6:21; 2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12

Onesimus Philemon Aristarchus Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2 Mark Acts 13:5, 13; 15:36-41; Phile 24; 2 Tim 4:11b; 1 Pet 5:13; Wrote the Gospel of Mark Jesus Justus None Col 1:7; Phile 23 Luke Acts 16:10-17; 20:6-16; 21; 27; 28; Phile 24; 2 Tim 4:11a; Wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts Phile 24; 2 Tim 4:10a Nympha None V. Faithfully-Loyal (v. 14) Phile 2 2 Timothy 4:10a For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 2 Timothy 4:11a Luke alone is with me.

VI. Church-Strengthening (vv. 15-17)

VII. Sacrificially-Loving (v. 18) *Map courtesy of the ESV Study