1. Genuine Relationships
Graeme Sterne
2005

2. Let love be sincere Romans 12:9
Relationships can be:
Discouraging
Unsatisfying
Encouraging
False
Abusive
Destructive
Flat
Shallow
Empty
Edifying
Invigorating
Challenging

3. Relationships of real quality involve:
Authenticity – they are real
Mutuality – they are encouraging
Sympathy – they are supportive
Mercy – they are forgiving
Honesty – they speak the truth
Humility – they admit weaknesses
Respect – they consider others
Commitment – they involve frequent contact

4. Authenticity = being real
Genuine heart-to-heart sharing
Being open about our lives
Sharing hurts
Sympathetic confrontation

5. This requires an environment which encourages personal disclosure
Don’t judge
Don’t provide solutions unless invited
Be willing to be vulnerable yourself
Don’t mock
Don’t over share
Listen proactively

6. Mutuality = being mates
Reciprocity = give and take
Willing to share Galatians 6:2
Helping out where needed
Communicating John 15:15
The heart of relationship

7. Sympathy = draw alongside someone else’s feelings
It is in the times of deep crisis, grief
and doubt that we need each other most.
When circumstances crush us to the point that our faith falters, that’s when we need friends the most.
We need a small group of friends to have faith for us and to pull us through.
In this environment the Body of Christ seems real and tangible.

8. Mercy = forgiving
Relationship is a place of grace, where mistakes are rubbed out
You can’t have relationships without forgiveness
Relationships grow in an atmosphere of forgiveness - whether asked for or not
We could not stand before God without mercy, we cannot stand before one another without it either

9. Honesty = speaking the truth in love
Often we know what needs to be said but our fears prevent us from saying anything
The tunnel of conflict is the passageway of intimacy
Until you care enough to confront and resolve underlying barriers, you will never grow close to each other

10. Humility = admitting weakness to one another
Humility is the oil that smoothes relationships
Pride and stubbornness build walls between us
Pride blocks God’s grace in our lives which we must have in order to grow, change, heal, and help others.
We receive God’s grace by humbly admitting we need it
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less

11. Respect = consideration for others
Respecting differences
Considering others feelings
Being interested in other’s history
Not playing down other’s doubts
Observing confidentiality

12. Commitment to frequent contact
Intimacy is built by frequent contact
Not built on convenience
Requires an investment of time
Community requires commitment to each other, not just attending

13. Genuine relationships involve:
Authenticity – being real
Mutuality – being mates
Sympathy – getting alongside others
Mercy forgiveness
Honesty – being truthful
Humility – admitting weakness
Respect – consideration for others
Commitment – to relationship