Spiritual Friendship

New Testament Passage

Mark 6:7-13

7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

Discussion Questions

  1. Christ could have sent the disciples out one-by-one to reach more people, and yet, He chose to send them out two-by-two. What are three things Christ may be revealing about the power of friendship by doing such a thing?
  2. Outside of service, how else is friendship given for us to be used? What are the benefits of a friendship outside of service?

Old Testament Passage

1 Samuel 18:1-4

Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the]soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

Also read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Discussion Questions

  1. Exploring the relationship between David and Jonathan, discuss how the two of them epitomized the concept of Spiritual Friendship.
  2. What are some other Biblical examples of friendship that you can think of in the Bible?
  3. Some of us consider ourselves to be “lone wolves”, not requiring the company of others. How do we reconcile this lifestyle with what we are taught about friendship in the Bible? Is it wrong to not have close friends? Furthermore, if I struggle to make friends, how do I overcome this?