This week I read Michael Haykin’s Iron Sharpens Iron, a short book about great friendships. I found a couple of quotes in the book that I thought would be worth sharing so you can reflect on them as I have.

The first is an excerpt from John Ryland’s sermon at the funeral of his friend Andrew Fuller. Their friendship, he said, had
never met with one minute’s interruption by any one unkind word or thought, of which I have any knowledge. I never had a friend who was so willing to stand by me, even in such services as most others would wish to decline; yet I never had a friend who would more faithfully, freely, and affectionately give me warning or reproof, if ever it appeared necessary; or whom I could more readily and freely, and without the least apprehension of giving offence, tell of any fault which I imagined I could see in him. And this I think is the best friendship in the world. For no man is faultless; and true friendship will not be blind to the failings of those we love best; but will rather show itself in an anxious concern to prevent the least appearance of evil in them, or whatever might occasion their good intentions to be misrepresented. After having lost long ago the venerable Newton and the first Robert Hall, who were the counsellors of my youth; after losing the affectionate Pearce, and the humble and prudent Sutcliff, two other founders of our Mission, this most faithful and judicious friend is also taken from me, and never will my loss be repaired upon earth!
And then, a bit later in the book, is another neat little quote, this one from Robert Hall Jr., who makes some interesting remarks on the nature and benefits of friendship.
He who has made the acquisition of a judicious and sympathizing friend, may be said to have doubled his mental resources: by associating an equal, perhaps a superior mind, with his own, he has provided the means of strengthening his reason, of perfecting his counsels, of discerning and correcting his errors. He can have recourse at all times to the judgement and assistance of one, who with the same power of discernment with himself, comes to the decision of a question with a mind neither harassed with the perplexities, nor heated with the passions, which so frequently obscure the perception of our true interests. Next to the immediate guidance of God by his Spirit, the counsel and encouragement of virtuous and enlightened friends afford the most powerful aid, in the encounter of temptation and in the career of duty.
Perhaps these quotes, or the whole book should you read it, will help you pursue Christian friendships and better appreciate the ones you already have…

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Ligonier Ministries, who also sponsored the blog this week. 

Sometimes one word is all that stands between the truth and a lie, between life and death. In the Reformation, that word was sola, “alone.” Ligonier Ministries is offering the ebook edition of The Heart of the Reformation as a free download for Challies readers. With this 90-day devotional on the five solas, spend time reflecting on core biblical truths that display the reliability of God’s Word and the depths of His mercy. Ten Free Stuff Friday winners will receive the paperback edition.
Learn more about the book here.

To Enter 
Giveaway Rules: You may enter one time. When you enter, you agree to be placed on Ligonier Ministries’ email list. The winner will be notified by email. The giveaway closes on November 10, 2023.

Logos users, you’ve got a couple of weeks left to save on new or upgraded packages. If you’re like me, you’ll probably want to start with the Reformed packages. Also, be sure to grab Jerry Bridge’s The Bookends of the Christian Life and John Stott’s God’s Word for Today’s World, both of which are free. Finally, take a look at the monthly deals and remember that the Reformed Expository Commentary series is discounted through April.
Meanwhile, Westminster Books is offering half-price on a unique resource on the Gospel of Mark—one that can be used for personal growth or for sermon preparation.
And yes, there are some Kindle deals as well.

“Young people want to be courted by the church, welcomed into fellowship, entrusted with responsibility, and shown they matter. But more than anything, they want to be ushered into splendor, not superficiality. They’re looking for an antidote to the shallow life of swiping and scrolling through endless entertainment.” In other words, stop making church trite and silly.

Have you ever thought about this before, that each of us has a secondhand or hand-me-down faith?

This is absolutely true and important to consider, especially during opportunities to evangelize. “The devil loves to get us talking about good things, so long as we are not sharing the best thing.”

This is a reality I have considered a lot. “You don’t really need a bucket list. Or maybe, you need a different kind of bucket list: one that stretches into eternity. You will have endless time to enjoy all of God’s renewed creation along with the best of every culture. There will be so much to explore. Who cares if you can’t fit it into our brief lives here?”

Andrea tells and celebrates the best of all stories.

“Seasons of suffering do not aways produce our clearest and most logical thoughts. The coming together of things like shock, sadness, anger, and confusion can sometimes lead to some wildly unhealthy and even irrational conclusions and decisions. And yet, I would argue that those difficult seasons of our lives can also end up being the moments when we see things with a surprising amount of clarity.”

…despite the sufficiency of Christ’s work, we can so easily slip back into an old mindset in which we become convinced there is still something left for us to do.

Sooner let us have an honest death than a counterfeit life.
—Charles Spurgeon