Focus on Reproduction, Mentor's Guide, MG12

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F O C U S O N R E P R O D U C T I O N

4. Nurturing a godly friendship

a. Aristotle’s three kinds of friendship:

(1) Pleasure friends: they only relate to you as long as you share pleasure. (2) Utility friends: they only relate to you as long as you are beneficial to them in some way. (3) Character friends: although they bring you pleasure and are beneficial to you, you relate to them because you share the same passions, desires, and commitments.

b. The importance of dialogue : open communication

c. The importance of honesty : revealing one’s heart

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d. The importance of mutuality : two-way street, Gal. 6.2-3

5. The special nature of friendship

a. Sharpening one another

(1) Prov. 27.17

(2) Prov. 27.9

(3) Isa. 35.3-4

b. Sticks closer than a brother, Prov. 18.24