Teaching Summary: Wounds From a Friend

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. — Proverbs 27:6

It’s not easy to hear the truth about ourselves—especially when it comes from someone close. But real friends don’t just affirm us; they love us enough to tell us the truth, even when it hurts.

Think of a doctor who finds something serious but stays silent to protect your feelings. That’s not kindness—that’s neglect. True love speaks up, even when it stings. The goal isn’t to shame or correct—it’s to heal and grow.

In Matthew 16, Peter tries to stop Jesus from going to the cross. Jesus responds with sharp clarity: Get behind me, Satan. Not because he stopped loving Peter, but because he deeply did. He saw something Peter couldn’t see and the Teacher wasn’t afraid to name it.

We all have blind spots. And if we’re honest, we often resist correction because it threatens the version of ourselves we’ve built. We get defensive, deflect, or dismiss. But what if those uncomfortable conversations were actually invitations to transformation?

This week, I want to invite you to consider a spiritual practice we call Table Groups—groups of three who meet weekly to reflect on God’s voice and work in their lives. It’s a space for real conversation, rooted in Scripture and built on trust.

The wounds of a friend may hurt—but if we’re rooted in Christ, we can receive them as gifts. Let’s become the kind of people who listen well, speak truth in love, and grow together into Christlikeness.

Because the goal isn’t just to feel good—it’s to become more fully the true human God made us to be.