James Legg - 5/3/26

This message centers on a truth we often overlook: while we all need Jesus, we also desperately need each other. Through the lens of biblical friendship, we're challenged to examine what it truly means to be a friend rather than merely having acquaintances. The sermon draws from the remarkable friendship between Jonathan and David, demonstrating loyalty that transcends even death itself. When David became king, he sought out Jonathan's son Mephibosheth—who was lame and destitute—and restored him to a place of honor at the royal table. This wasn't obligation; it was covenant friendship honoring a bond that remained sacred even after Jonathan's passing. We're reminded that a true friend is someone who walks in when the world walks out, who celebrates our successes without jealousy, and who remains loyal when circumstances turn difficult. The greatest hindrance to friendship? Me, myself, and I. When we prioritize our own interests, recognition, and success over others, we sabotage the very relationships God designed to sustain us through life's challenges. The call here is clear: choose friends wisely, be the kind of friend who loves at all times, and recognize that friendship operates at one of the highest orders in the body of Christ—sometimes even transcending formal church hierarchy in its power to transform lives.