Sermon by Bruce McCallum 16 September 2018

2. Long before modern medicine and
psychology, Proverbs taught that emotional
well-being was connected to physical health
and well-being.

3. Main message of Proverbs
“You never really thought enough about
anything”

4. 1. Be a sticky friend
Proverbs 18:24 (ANIV)
One who has unreliable
friends soon comes to
ruin, but there is a
friend who sticks closer
than a brother.

5. 2. How do you build sticky friends?
a. Be dependable
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born
for adversity.

6. Proverbs 19:6-7 (NIV)
Many curry favour with a ruler, and everyone is
the friend of a man who gives gifts. 7 A poor man
is shunned by all his relatives - how much more do
his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them
with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.

7. 2. How do you build sticky friends?
b. Be transparent
Proverbs 27:5-6 (NIV)
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Wounds from a
friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Proverbs 27:5-6 (KJV)
Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the
wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are
deceitful.

8. 2. How do you build sticky friends?
c. Be sensitive
Proverbs 25:20 (NIV)
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like
vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a
heavy heart.
Proverbs 27:14 (NIV)
If a man loudly blesses his neighbour early in the
morning, it will be taken as a curse.

9. 2. How do you build sticky friends?
d. Be sharp
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

10. 2. How do you build sticky friends?
e. Be pleasant
Proverbs 27:9 (NIV)
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the
pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest
counsel.

11. Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to
me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give a piece
of advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I
should say, 'sacrifice almost everything to live where you
can be near your friends.’
C.S. Lewis

12. 3. Words kill or heal sticky friends
Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the
tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
The tongue has the power of life and death, and
those who love it will eat its fruit.

13. Proverbs 16:28 (NIV)
A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip
separates close friends.
Proverbs 18:8 (NIV)
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts.

14. Psalms 141:3 (NIV)
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch
over the door of my lips.

15. 4. Seven friendship wreckers
(How to build longstanding friends)
Wrecker #1: “I’m better than you” (A superior attitude)
Proverbs 14:21 (ANIV)
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbour, but blessed
is the one who is kind to the needy.

16. 4. Seven friendship wreckers
(How to build longstanding friends)
Wrecker #2: Lack of self awareness of your motives
Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)
All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but
motives are weighed by the LORD.

17. 4. Seven friendship wreckers
(How to build longstanding friends)
Wrecker #3: Ranting, Venting and being a Troll
Proverbs 29:9 (NIV)
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool
rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

18. Romans 12:18 (NIV)
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at
peace with everyone.

19. 4. Seven friendship wreckers
(How to build longstanding friends)
Wrecker #4: Grabbing a dog by the ears
Proverbs 26:17 (NIV)
Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a
passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

20. 4. Seven friendship wreckers
(How to build longstanding friends)
Wrecker#5: ‘I was only joking’
Proverbs 26:18-19 (NIV)
Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly
arrows 19 is a man who deceives his neighbour and
says, "I was only joking!"

21. 4. Seven friendship wreckers
(How to build longstanding friends)
Wrecker #6: Looking for a fight
Proverbs 17:19 (NIV)
He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a
high gate invites destruction.

22. 4. Seven friendship wreckers
(How to build longstanding friends)
Wrecker #7: Carrying a grudge
Proverbs 24:29 (NIV)
Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me;
I'll pay that man back for what he did.“

23. Proverbs 17:9 (NIV)
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but
whoever repeats the matter separates close
friends.

24. Long before modern medicine and
psychology, Proverbs taught that emotional
well-being was connected to physical health
and well-being.