{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Willingdon Church Podcast","title":"A Friend Closer Than A Brother - 1 Samuel 18-19","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2180,"description":"Has God ever provided you with an unexpected friendship at a critical moment in your life?\n\nWhen we consider David’s life, we discover that Jonathan, son of King Saul, played a critical role. Facing death threats and confusion, God provided David with a true friend. When David needed him most, Jonathan discerned God’s will and sacrificially loved David with a fierce loyalty. In many ways, Jonathan is the ‘hero’ in their friendship.\n\nTheir relationship teaches us much about the nature and character of true, God-centered, friendship. It illustrates Proverbs 18:24 – “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” God created a bond between David and Jonathan that couldn’t be destroyed by parental hatred, jealousy, or conflicting destinies.\nCovenantal Trust (18:1-4)\nResolute Loyalty (19:1-7; 20:28-34)\nGenuine Authenticity (20:41-42)\nSteady Encouragement (23:15-18)\nSacrificial Giving (18:1-4)\nReflection Questions:\nWhat kind of friend are you? By God’s grace, how do you hope to become a better friend?\nJonathan (like John the Baptist with Jesus) humbly submitted to God’s will in his friendship with David. What lessons can you apply in your friendships from these examples?\nWhere do things stand in your friendship with Jesus? What needs to change?","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/-yKS7rLxKXni1A8xlxG5cz-nFaYHFKZjz34ea74hKQo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jZjIy/M2MzNTQ0ODlhYzBh/M2E0NzQ3NDdjMTQ0/Njk1My5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}