Having great friends is key for your physical, mental, and spiritual health, but building great friendships can seem daunting. Today we discuss the benefits and characteristics of great friendships and some practical ways to cultivate strong friendships in your own life.

We referenced the following articles and scripture during today’s episode:

The data and studies behind the benefits of friendships:

https://www.livescience.com/53315-how-friendships-are-good-for-your-health.html

John 15:12-15: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.“

Proverbs 18:24: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,  but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Proverbs 22:24-25: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”

1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

We also referenced the Fostering Faith-Shaping Friendships small group study in this episode.