Two By Two

1. 1. DO YOU MAKE THE CUT?
      1. Sharp knife vs. dull knife
         1. Cut apple to the core and seeds
            1. One can cut soft butter but that’s about it. Doesn’t get to the core.
            2. Sharp knife can cut through some serious stuff, get to the core and see the seeds.

Romans 12:4-5, 10-17, 21
For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. … Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1. 1. BECAUSE GOD THINKS SO

Luke 10:1-3
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves.

1. 1. 1. There are so many times in Scripture where God pairs people up and joins them together in order that they might remain faithful to the gospel and being His witness in the earth.
      2. We need to be asking the Lord who He might want to appoint for us to walk with as we face the calling He has on our lives.
   2. PERSPECTIVE MATTERS
      1. Pull Card, Card Trick
         1. Because of the way we have grown up or the things that we have seen, we might have a warped perspective on some things that God does not like & even calls sin.  
         2. Or we just are innocent to the enemies tricks & need someone there to help us from getting into trouble. 
            1. Booger – What kind of friend lets you walk around with a booger on your nose?
               1. They have the perspective and you obviously can’t see it.
            2. Story: Was complaining about some things that my leader was doing & Kurt stopped me & made me tell him things I was thankful for about my leader in order to change perspective.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

1. 1. FIRST, LOOK IN THE RIGHT SPOT
      1. Digging for pottery growing up
   2. DIG DEEP
      1. Ask questions to get to know them…and really listen.
         1. What is your time like with Jesus? What has God been showing you lately? Anything interesting you’ve been thinking about lately in regards to the Bible? Have you been struggling lately? What do you do to help you in those times?
      2. Pray about it. 
      3. Share your desire to begin going deeper together in the things of God
   3. DECIDE TOGETHER ON BEING DEVOTED

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.

1. 1. 1. Set some basic and practical desires for the friendship. They are things you can have fun talking about, brainstorming, writing down and praying over.
         1. e.g. Call each morning to wake one another up for time with God; meet at least once a week; read through some Bible together when apart to discuss when together; pray for one another
   2. ASK HARD AND/OR THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS
      1. Jesus was amazing at questions
      2. They can spur encouragement, rebuke, correction, etc.
      3. As a friend, become an amazing question asker

Galatians 6:1,2
Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

1. 1. MEET OFTEN WITH INTENTION

Hebrews 10:23-25
And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.

1. 1. 1. Give definition to those meetings
         1. Good time in prayer – Not just a talking time
         2. Possible worship together if one wants to lead
         3. High point and low point of the week and why
         4. Hard questions for past struggles
         5. Help set possible standards or challenges for each other
   2. HOLD CONFIDENCE IN COMMUNICATION
      1. Take what’s heard to prayer and leave it there.
         1. Gossip has no place with IRON2IRON. Aim to help the other succeed.
      2. Unless you feel it is something that is breaking the law or will lead to something extremely not good. Then take it to a trusted adult.
   3. LEAD OUT TOGETHER
      1. School prayer group, Serving together where needed, etc.

1. 1. CO-DEPENDENT
      1. Be mindful in your pursuit of finding that iron to sharpen with.
      2. Take time.

1. 1. FINDING A RUNNING PARTNER
      1. Someone running the race to win the prize

1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.