Friends

FRIENDS WHO GO THE DISTANCE
Making and Maintaining Gospel Friendships
Romans Series
PBC 2025
Text: Romans 1:8-15

This morning’s text reveals the beauty of an unlikely friendship that Paul
desires and God cultivates between him and the Roman Christians, most
of whom he has not yet met in person. By the end of the story, Paul and
his companions have inflicted immense damage on the kingdom of
darkness, and many have joined them as true, transformed followers of
Jesus Christ!

What establishes and sustains a friendship like this? How do such
friendships develop? How are they maintained over time? How are they
nurtured and upheld despite the rough edges and personal imperfections
we all share, even as Christians?

Friendships that go the distance are:
I. Built on the __________________ (1:8)
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all
the world.
A. Look for people who have __________ __________ the Gospel
B. Look for people whose lives are being __________ __________ by the gospel.
C. Look for people who __________ __________ for the Gospel.

II. Established through __________________ (1:9-10)
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without
ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may
now at last succeed in coming to you.

• Pray __________________ – “God is my witness” (1:9)
• Pray __________________ – “whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son” (1:9)
• Pray __________________ – “that without ceasing I mention you” (1:9)
• Pray __________________ – “always in my prayers” (1:10)
• Pray __________________ – “asking that somehow by God’s will” (1:10)
• Pray __________________ – “I may now at last succeed in coming to you.” (1:10).

Which brings us to the important questions we must ask and answer:
“Why do I really want such friendships? What is my true heart motive?”

III. Motivated by Spiritual __________________ (1:11-12)
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is,
that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
A. To Establish a __________ __________ in Them (v. 11)
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you
B. To be Encouraged by a __________ __________ between Them (v. 12)
that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

IV. Directed to a __________________ Purpose (1:13-15)
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far
have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest
of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and the
foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

A. Gospel __________________ in Believers (v. 13)
B. Gospel __________________ to Unbelievers (vv. 14-15)
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So
I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Conclusion: Life Lessons
• Paul sought after friendships that were built on the gospel.
• He prayed fervently and faithfully for such friendships and for his friends.
• He worked hard to build and establish his friends’ faith in their
understanding, conformity, and commitment to the gospel.
• He oriented and developed his friendships around a gospel purpose.
• And God granted Paul what he desired and prayed for among the
Roman Christians! God will do the same for you if you strive to cultivate
the kind of gospel friendships that Paul describes in Romans 1:8-15.

But this will require an honest answer to three questions:
1. Do I really want these kinds of gospel-centered friendships?
2. Do my current friends meet the description of the kind of gospel
friendships I say I want? If not, what has to change?
3. Am I the kind of friend Paul was to his friends at Rome?