Introductory Letter August September October November December January February March April May

David and Jonathan provide an example of a Godly friendship. Each was willing to die for the other, and each went far out of his way to show kindness to the other. We should follow their example for friendships that encourage one another and glorify the Lord, rather than seeking personal enjoyment in friendships.

• Don't seek friends; rather, seek disciples, people whom you can influence for the Lord.
• All the friends you really need are within your family.
• Be more committed to honoring the Lord in every area of your life than you are to keeping your friends.
• Become acquainted with Godly older people, who have much more wisdom than people your age.

• Your parents should be involved in each of your friendships.
• Always give your family much greater priority in your life than you give your friends.
• Instead of each family member having his or her own circle of friends, the entire family should become acquainted with other entire families.
• Never tell your friends anything that you haven't told your parents.
• The things you do with friends should not be for the purpose of having fun, but for the purpose of edifying each other or serving others.
• When you have a disagreement with a friend, pray together about the situation.
• Don't be quick to drop off contact with acquaintances to whom you could still minister.

• Devote all your energies to loving God.
• Let His love flow through you to other people.
• See Christian friends as God sees them: perfected in Christ.
• Don't love for any selfish reason, such as receiving love in return.
• True love cares only for the interests of the other person, to the point of being willing to die for him.
• Lust cannot wait to get; love can always wait to give.

• God directs in courtship and marriage, just as He directs all life decisions; but we don't know ahead of time the exact form or timetable of His direction.
• Courtship can be defined as "becoming acquainted with a potential spouse and seeking God's will for marriage in accordance with Biblical principles."
• Proper courtships can vary widely, but they should all honor basic Biblical principles such as loving the Lord foremost, honoring parents, remaining under authority, and avoiding opportunity for temptation.
• Don't romantically fantasize about your future courtship.

I Samuel 18:1-4 ~ I Samuel 20:1-42 ~ I Samuel 23:15-18 ~ II Samuel 1:26 ~ II Samuel 9:1-13 ~ Matthew 28:19-20 ~ Proverbs 18:24 ~ Proverbs 17:17 ~ Proverbs 13:20 ~ I Kings 12:1-16 ~ Proverbs 23:22-26 ~ Colossians 3:17 ~ Job 6:14 ~ Proverbs 27:6, 9, 10 ~ I Chronicles 27:33 ~ Psalm 15:3 ~ Psalm 41:9 ~ Psalm 88:18 ~ Proverbs 19:4 ~ Micah 7:5 ~ James 4:4 ~ Mark 12:30 ~ I John 4:7-21 ~ Philippians 1:6 ~ Romans 8:29-30 ~ I Corinthians 13:1-13 ~ John 15:12-13

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Introductory Letter August September October November December January February March April May