Rewind — the teaching platform built on your church’s own preaching

The big idea

You may be one friendship away from changing the entire course of your destiny, the way David and Jonathan's friendship shaped both their lives.

God wants to do something powerful through your life, but like David, you need the right friends to walk into that purpose. Looking at David and Jonathan's friendship in 1 Samuel, we see three marks of a life-giving friendship — sacrifice, loyalty, and encouragement — and the good news that Jesus Himself is the friend who embodies all three perfectly.</thesis> <parameter name="key_points"> <parameter name="points">[]

Point 1 of 6

We become who we spend time with, so the friends around us shape our destiny.

Pastor Daniel opens with the true story of Walt and Roy Disney, showing how Walt's dream would have failed without his brother's sacrifice and support. He connects this to research that people are the average of the five people they spend the most time with, and to Proverbs' warning that walking with the wise makes you wise while associating with fools brings trouble.

Illustration

Story of Walt Disney's near-failure and how his brother Roy's behind-the-scenes sacrifice, encouragement, and financial work made the Disney empire possible.

Point 2 of 6

David and Jonathan's unlikely friendship set the stage for David's destiny.

Pastor Daniel walks through 1 Samuel 18:1-5, showing how Jonathan, the king's son and rightful heir, bonded instantly with David and made a covenant with him despite Jonathan having every reason to see David as a rival. He notes this friendship was providential, forming right before Saul turned murderous toward David.

without Roy, Walt is just a dreamer, but with Roy, with the right friend, with the right brother, God can accomplish the impossible through our lives

— Daniel Goulding

you and I, we are essentially the average of the five people we spend the most amount of time with

— Daniel Goulding

I can only sit in a barbershop long enough before eventually you're gonna get a haircut. You

— Daniel Goulding

A story from life

Daniel Goulding's story of early sobriety, coming to faith, losing old friendships, and finding a formative friendship with a man named Glenn through high school ministry.

Point 3 of 6

Sacrifice: Jonathan gave up his own robe, sword, and authority to bless David.

Jonathan literally stripped off his royal robe and armor and handed them to David, choosing to bless the man God favored rather than protect his own claim to the throne. Pastor Daniel applies this to marriage and parenting, sharing personal stories of sacrificing golf for Goodwill trips and enduring the stress of teaching his daughter to drive.

Point 4 of 6

Loyalty: Jonathan told David the truth even when it was costly, and never spoke against him behind his back.

When Saul plotted to kill David, Jonathan warned him and defended him to Saul's face, saying the same things about David that he said to him directly. Pastor Daniel distinguishes this from blind affirmation, teaching that real loyalty includes both correction and confidentiality, citing Proverbs on wounds from a sincere friend.

Illustration

The Redwood Forest — redwood trees have shallow roots but withstand storms because their root systems interlock with one another, illustrating human interdependence.

Point 5 of 6

Encouragement: Jonathan found David in his lowest moment and reminded him who he was.

In 1 Samuel 23, while David was on the run from Saul, Jonathan sought him out to strengthen his faith and remind him of God's calling on his life. Pastor Daniel ties this to Paul's charge to the Thessalonians to keep encouraging one another.

Point 6 of 6

Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a brother, embodying sacrifice, loyalty, and encouragement perfectly.

Pastor Daniel closes by pointing to Proverbs 18:24 and the gospel: Jesus proved His friendship by sacrificing Himself on the cross to deal with sin, living the perfect life we could not live and dying the death we deserved. He frames Christianity as unique among world religions in offering friendship with God rather than mere servanthood.

if you want a friend like that, you've gotta become a friend like that

— Daniel Goulding

You don't attract who you want to be. You don't attract who you're aspiring to be. You will always attract who you are

— Daniel Goulding

there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother

— Daniel Goulding

Take it into your week

Pastor Daniel's charge is that if you want a friend like Jonathan was to David, you have to become that kind of friend first.

Application

Sacrifice for the people closest to you
Look for small, practical ways to give up your own preference for your spouse, kids, or friends this week, the way Jonathan gave David his robe and authority.
Be loyal in both correction and confidentiality
Say the same things about your friends that you'd say to their face, keep what's shared with you private, and be willing to speak a hard truth in love when needed.
Encourage someone in their lowest moment
Look for a friend who may feel forgotten by God right now and remind them of who they are and what God has called them to, the way Jonathan sought out David.
Consider joining a crew
Sign up for a 10-week crew group as a practical step toward building the kind of life-giving friendships the message describes.
Start a friendship with Jesus
If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, receive Him by faith today, confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart that Jesus is Lord.

Keep going

Add Rewind to your Home Screen