“Friends” | Pastor Sam Gyorfi | October 25, 2026

Psalm 119:129-136

129 Your statutes are wonderful;

therefore I obey them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts. 135 Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. 136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

3 John 1-8

1 The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Themes: I often refer to people in church from the front as ‘friends’, why? Well one of the things we know to be true in life is that we cannot do it alone. Relationships and fellowship are essential to the Christian life. 3 John is a letter written between friends that we can learn from as we walk through life together.

1, 2, and 3 John