Friendship
For over 15 years, NCS has been about men coming together - in communities - to experience real friendship with each other and with Jesus. We are continually discovering how authentic friendship differs from the counterfeits offered by today’s culture and also how many of God’s redemptive purposes are achieved through these covenant relationships.
Authentic friendship takes time, commitment and humility. This is why our biblical models (David & Jonathan and Jesus, who had three close friends and one intimate friend) are so different from the Facebook definition of ‘friend’ we see today or even Webster’s definition of friend: 1. a person whom one knows well and is fond of 2. an ally, supporter, or sympathizer; andfriendship: 1. the state of being friends 2. friendly feeling. We can’t simply opt out of the struggles and challenges of living life together by hitting a button on our BlackBerry or attempting to conveniently schedule someone into our busy lives. Likewise, we can’t suddenly opt in to the joys and successes of one another’s lives with any sincerity.
Friendship requires courage, grace and mercy to be open, honest and transparent with each other. In the safety and acceptance of this trusted relationship, friends give permission to speak into each other’s lives. Friends can help reveal how others experience us and then encourage change, growth and transformation in ways that are freeing and sustainable.
Friends care more about the friend than the friendship. It is a sacrificial form of love best expressed by Jesus: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13) We give up our right to what we think we deserve to allow God’s purposes to be redeemed in the life of our friend. In other words, we do what we say without our own agenda – only God’s!
Authentic friendship within community allows for our true identity, gifting and calling to be discovered. We come to understand how God wants to uniquely work in us and through us to make a sustainable difference in the world. This is why it all matters. It is His design that we do this together and real relationship is at the heart of His plan.
At NCS, friendship is one of the key building blocks – what we call our distinctives - of a relational framework made up of Energy Groups, Chapters and the overall Network.
Energy Groups are approximately 3-8 men who meet regularly, communicate frequently and live life together, encouraging and equipping one another. They are defined by deep, authentic, transparent friendships with each other and these friendships are THE basis from which everything else builds and grows.
We are excited to be a part of this movement of men with you and are grateful for you.
The NCS Management Committee