{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"First Baptist Arlington Sermons","title":"Why Can’t We Be Friends? - September 28, 2025","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2244,"description":"Dennis R. Wiles  First Baptist Arlington September 28, 2025 Flourishing Together First Baptist Arlington 2025 – 2030  2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew)  FALL 2025: It is Not Good . . . to be Alone September 7 – November 1, 2025  The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Genesis 2:18  Why Can’t We Be Friends? 1 Samuel 18-20  Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and social health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality rate of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished. -US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy God designed us as relational creatures who are to flourish in community. We have the capacity for and the need of friendships.  LOVE – Friendships are forged through love.  UNITY OF SPIRIT – Friends share a sense of unity and companionship.  The essence of Christian spirituality is following Christ on a journey of personal transformation. The distant land to which we are called is not heaven; it is the new creature into which Christ wishes to fashion us, the whole and a holy person that finds his or her uniqueness, identity, and calling in Christ. Spiritual friends accompany each other on that journey. -David Benner, Sacred Companions  ACT LIKE FRIENDS! Friends take time to express their commitment to their friendship!  LOYALTY – There is an underlying loyalty expressed in true friendships.  INTIMACY – True friends share and confide in each other in healthy ways.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/UAbjbO_BQA3R5XEsQj1SCg2lWzYdffFGQbPeYIvJPQ8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM0Mjg4LzE2NjM1/OTk5NzAtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}