12 Ways to Sustain Successful Friendships ~ Part 2Family Worship CenterRev. Mark Schwarzbauer, Ph.D.

Matthew 7:24-27 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Matthew 7:24-27 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

1. Choose healthy role

models-

2. Healthy relationships require two

healthy people Matthew 5:1-11

3. Be Salt and Light with Good

works Matthew 5:12-16

4. Keep relationships

pure Matthew 5:27-30

5. Keep your word

Matthew 5:33-37

6. Be a positive person of kind

action- not reacting or being selfish

Matthew 5:38-48

7. Do good without looking for credit - Don’t toot

your own horn Matthew 6:1-4

German proverb (loses the jingle in translation)

"Eigen-lob stinkt, Freundes Lob hinkt, fremdes Lob klingt," "Self-praise stinks,

friends' praise limps, strangers' praise sounds."

8. Don’t let financial issues

become stumbling blocksMatthew 6:19-34

9. Don’t be critical- deal with your

faults not othersMatthew 7:1-6

Fundamental Techniques in handling people

Fundamental Techniques in handling people

Dale Carnegies “How to win friends and influence people.”

• Don’t criticize, condemn or complain

• Give honest sincere appreciation.

• Arouse in the other person an eager want.

10. Golden Rule- Pay it forward

Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the

Law and the Prophets.”

Code of Hammurabi - Babylonian law code, dating back to about 1772 BC.

Louvre Museum – Paris France

Code of Hammurabi - Babylonian law code, dating back to about 1772 BC.

Louvre Museum – Paris France

Golden Rule ~ ethic of reciprocity • A. The Bible is different from other

ancient codes like Hammurabi, Ancient Greece, Hinduism etc. These express the ethic in a negative of don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you.

• B. Jesus expressed it as a positive instead ~

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…”

• C. Jesus Calls us to PAY IT FORWARD

11. Avoid addictions – The narrow vs. the

wide… Matthew 7:13-14

12. Build on the eternal if you want

things to lastMatthew 7:24-27

Matthew 7:24-27 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Matthew 7:24-27 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Jude 24

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…”