INFLUENCE 3: Find Your People

God designed us for community, not isolation. Even in a perfect world, He declared it was not good for man to be alone, and Jesus Himself built an inner circle of twelve disciples to do life with. The people closest to you are shaping who you are becoming, whether you notice it or not. Proverbs 13:20 makes it clear that walking with the wise leads to wisdom, while choosing the wrong companions leads to harm. Real friendship has a direction and a purpose. It encourages, challenges, corrects, and helps you follow Jesus every single day. But community is not just about finding the right people. It is also about becoming the kind of friend someone else desperately needs. (Preached by S. Coots at Youth on 8-19-26)