Gospel-Shaped Friendships

True friendship is a gift and doesn’t come easily. Forging genuine friendships in a culture marked by division and disposable relationships can be tricky. How does the gospel shape our view of friendship? What is different about a Christian friendship?


Friendship Forged in Christ

At the centre of a gospel-shaped friendship is our union with Christ. We have been saved by grace through faith, and we are made alive in Christ with all the spiritual blessings that flow from that relationship. One astonishing reality of our new life in Christ is that Jesus calls us friends.
 

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15.15).

Jesus is our truest, closest friend who knows the depths of every joy and hurt in our hearts. He knows every flaw, weakness, and sin, and still loves us with an everlasting love. He promises to be a constant refuge in the storms of life and never leave or betray us (Hebrews 13.5).

Knowing that we are in Christ frees us from expecting another person (friend, spouse) to satisfy our deepest desires to be seen, known, and loved. It motivates us to forgive one another because God in Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4.32). It compels us to consider the demands we may place on others to fulfil all of our emotional and relational desires. In short, having Jesus as our truest friend frees us to give and receive love without clutching to it too tightly or expecting something in return.


Friendship is About More Than Friendship

What bonds this kind of friendship together is more than shared interests or a similar life stage. It is a desire to grow in Christlikeness (Romans 8.29) and to be a tool in God’s hand to strengthen one another’s faith.
 

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27.17).

It also displays God’s love to a lost world. We are united in Christ and on mission for Christ so that the world may believe that God sent his Son (John 17.21). And when a friendship aligns with God’s purpose and design, there is a deep joy experienced together, striving side by side for his glory to reach the ends of the earth (Habakkuk 2.14). Friendship is about far more than friendship.


Pursuing Gospel-Shaped Friendships

Let’s strive to be the kind of friend who loves at all times (Proverbs 17.17) because God first loved us. Let’s pursue friendship that points one another to Christ and displays to the world that Jesus is better than the sweetest relationship we will have on this earth. Let’s push against the self-focused culture around us and forge friendships that are outward-focused on how to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10.24), and let’s run hard together the race set before us for the glory of God.

These articles are 100% man-made, without the use of generative AI.

Sisters in Scripture

Over the last few months, women from across all three congregations have been gathering on Saturday mornings to walk through the Old Testament scriptures together. Each biweekly session follows a simple rhythm: breakfast, Bible-reading, reflection, and prayer. Led by Bisi, Paulina, and Naomi, the study has brought together women from all walks of life, who share more below.
 

Seeing Scripture as One Story

Following David Platt’s Secret Church: A Survey of the Old Testament, the group has been unpacking scripture as one unified story that points to Jesus. As Bisi shared, “It was a joy to trace God’s glorious story as it unfolds and to see how it all fits together perfectly. God has been establishing his kingdom right from Eden.”

“If you want to properly understand Christ”, she continued, “you need to understand the Old Testament. It’s rich in Christ symbolism, hiding more easter eggs and foreshadowing than any Marvel movie. This also matters because knowing that the Bible is coherent and totally consistent gives you confidence that it’s not only reliable but the true revelation of God.”

Naomi added, “It’s so good to see such hunger for God’s word among sisters at Grace. A highlight for me has been tracing God’s heart for mission throughout the Old Testament. I could write for ages about this, but I’ll summarise by saying I didn’t expect to be so stirred for mission through this study. It has deepened my understanding of God’s unwavering and faithful heart, and made me so excited about his kingdom coming. It’s been such a gift.”
 

Building community

For Paulina, a highlight has been seeing not only spiritual hunger but also friendships flourishing. “Welcoming people who started this with us one year ago, when we were studying 1 Peter, has been really encouraging, as well as seeing new faces. We’ve seen such a growth in interest this time around!”

“I hope we continue gathering to open God’s word and to remain curious about what he’s doing in and through our lives, the church, and the world. I just love all the women that have come… happy, weary, curious… all have been a blessing.”

Salome, who joined the Waterloo PM service earlier this year, reflected, “Being new to London sometimes feels isolating, but this Bible study has helped me experience God through a community of fellow women. It's more than just an intellectual study of scriptures - it's life-giving to hear from people of all different ages, personalities, and backgrounds.”

As we wrap up our Old Testament study and look ahead to our next session in the New Year, we warmly invite any woman at Grace—whether you're happy, weary, or curious—to join us for the next study. To get involved or ask questions, email Bisi at bisi@grace.london or join the women’s Bible study group chat via our WhatsApp community.

As Laura from the Waterloo evening service put it, “I will never regret not sleeping in on a Saturday - but to think what I could have missed if God didn’t meet me and say, ‘Come, I’ll fill your cup till it overflows!’”