Friendship is “a reciprocal relationship characterized by intimacy, faithfulness, trust, unmotivated kindness, and service.” Surviving in a fallen world where chance happens to everyone (Ecclesiastes 9:11) and persecution for believing and pointing to the one true Light, Jesus Christ (John 8:12, 15:18-25), is far from easy!  To help us not merely survive but thrive believers have not only been given a Comforter (John 14:16) but also the church whose members are called to help each other grow and mature in the faith (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  Love for one another is one of the defining marks of being a disciple of Christ (John 13:35) and yet despite the interconnectedness of our world through travel, phones and internet lines believers often find it incredibly difficult to develop and maintain genuine friendships.  If only we could learn to love our enemies, forbear, and celebrate differences, forgive real or imagined grievances, then maybe we would have a chance at finding true friendship!  Even if one does all these key “love building” activities these alone do not guarantee genuine, intimate friendship will blossom because for one to obtain true friendship one must be willing to put the needs of others sacrificially and continuously above that of one’s own (Philippians 2:3)!  Today’s sermon is going to review 2 Timothy 1:15-18 to illustrate how genuine friendship is found through unconditional love that continually seeks, helps and prays for other believers, even when they are going through tribulations and/or being persecuted for righteousness sake!  To help us better understand today’s passage lets do a quick review of Paul’s circumstances at the time he wrote this passage.