Jordon Gilmore
Theme:
- Today’s focus is not just on bad friends, but on discerning between good and bad friendships.
- Scripture calls us to steward our relationships wisely as part of our Christian walk.
Today’s Focus
- Discern friendships
- Take inventory: Is this friendship healthy, harmful, or in need of attention?
- Steward friendships
- Nurture the godly relationships God has entrusted to us.
Key Scriptures
- John 15:12–15 – Jesus calls us friends, shifting the relationship into deeper covenant love.
- James 4:4–6 – Warning about friendship with the world. But note: James also reminds us of grace; we can’t simply cut off all “worldly” relationships in pride.
- Romans 12:1–2 – Don’t conform to the world; be transformed by renewing your mind. Through testing, we learn discernment.
- John 17:14–21 – Jesus prays for us: not to be taken out of the world, but to be sanctified in truth while living in it.
- Mark 2:15–17 – Jesus dines with tax collectors & sinners. He models how to engage relationships with grace and purpose, not isolation.
Key Insights
- Friendship = Spiritual Formation
- Relationships shape holiness, sanctification, forgiveness, and love.
- Big biblical commands (“love your neighbor,” “forgive,” “lay down your life”) become real only in relationships.
- Spectrum of Friendships
- Some friends are unsaved, some are spiritually immature, some are mature.
- God calls us to engage across the spectrum without conforming to ungodliness.
- Discernment Through Testing
- Immature believers may need clear boundaries (cutting off bad influences).
- Mature believers, with renewed minds, can discern through testing and experience.
- Jesus’ Example
- Didn’t isolate himself to only “safe” friends.
- Entered into relationships that others criticized, yet influenced people toward God.
Practical Takeaways
- Ask: Is this friendship sharpening me in Christ or pulling me away?
- Remember: cutting everyone off is easier but not biblical. Growth comes through discernment.
- Friendships are not just for our personal benefit—they bear fruit for God’s Kingdom.
- Like Jesus, we are called to engage, love, and influence—not to withdraw in fear.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.