Encircling yourself with other believers is found throughout the Bible. Relationships with other Christians is often referred to as “fellowship.” This is not to say that your friends from school, clubs or work who aren’t Christians are not important. They are very important but, you need people in your life who share your faith and will encourage you in your relationship with God. So, here are four reasons Christian friends make a significant impact on your life.
Studying with Christian Friends
Christian books, your Pastor and parents probably tell you that studying the Bible is important. While personal devotions are significant to individually developing your relationship with God, studying the Bible alongside another Christian friends has many benefits. Studying with a youth leader or older Christian with a strong faith can provide you with a look into the Bible that comes from additional years of life experience. Studying the Bible with a Christian friend creates a special bond with that person as well as reminds you that you are not the only person your age that loves God. Proverbs 27:17 says that “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Studying your faith with another person is beneficial to the both of you.
Sharing Life with Christian Friends
For many people, faith is just to have something to believe in. But for lots of teenagers, Christianity is the foundation of their worldview. Not all people understand that. Sharing life experiences through the lens of Christianity is vital, and surrounding yourself with other Christians gives you an outlet to express the knowledge and insight you gain during your journey.
Accountability from Christian Friends
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) Accountability is more than just confession of wrongdoing. That is an important factor of accountability, but it also can encourage you and keep you on the right path. Accountability with Christian friends is meant to motivate you to live your life to the fullest of God’s design.
Encouraging Your Christian Friends
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Being a Christian isn’t easy. Life throws you curveballs and making sense of your faith in the midst of it is hard. Then having teachers, friends or family members that discourage your faith doesn’t make it any easier. Having people in your life to encourage you in those difficult times makes all the difference in your walk with God.
The Bible says that God is love, and that the world will know Christians by their love. Other Christians remind us of the love of God and the fullness of life that is given to us through Jesus. If you do not know how to find a group of Christian friends you can google churches in your area, go to the Christian club at your school or email us at editor@ninemagazine.org and we will help you find a community of Christians.
