True Friendship by Vaughan Roberts
(Kirsty Brown - pastoral and executive minister )
The art of friendship appears to be diminishing in our society where superficial acquaintance abounds, but deep connection is often missing, yet craved.
In this book, Vaughan Roberts looks at the biblical basis for spiritual friendship: deep relationships that are Christ centred and therefore open to the Holy Spirit honing us into the likeness of Christ as we encourage and challenge one another in love. As we have learnt in Genesis, God created us as relational beings. Whilst we are commanded to love all around us with the love of Christ, the Bible shows us that even Jesus had close friends with whom He shared a particular bond (eg Peter, John, Mary, Martha and Lazarus).
Roberts encourages us to establish and maintain friendships that are of mutual benefit, all the while helping us to focus on our relationship with Jesus – after all, John 15:15 reminds us that we are Jesus’ friends.
As he works through what this might look like in practice, Roberts poses questions for reflection as we consider our friendships and how to grow them in a Godly manner.
This is a very short, pithy book which covers the topic well. It is practical in its application, yet with a solid Biblical foundation. If you realise that you don’t have these types of friends or that you do but are stuck on how to grow deeper in your friendship, then this book will be helpful.
In this book, Vaughan Roberts looks at the biblical basis for spiritual friendship: deep relationships that are Christ centred and therefore open to the Holy Spirit honing us into the likeness of Christ as we encourage and challenge one another in love. As we have learnt in Genesis, God created us as relational beings. Whilst we are commanded to love all around us with the love of Christ, the Bible shows us that even Jesus had close friends with whom He shared a particular bond (eg Peter, John, Mary, Martha and Lazarus).
Roberts encourages us to establish and maintain friendships that are of mutual benefit, all the while helping us to focus on our relationship with Jesus – after all, John 15:15 reminds us that we are Jesus’ friends.
As he works through what this might look like in practice, Roberts poses questions for reflection as we consider our friendships and how to grow them in a Godly manner.
This is a very short, pithy book which covers the topic well. It is practical in its application, yet with a solid Biblical foundation. If you realise that you don’t have these types of friends or that you do but are stuck on how to grow deeper in your friendship, then this book will be helpful.
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