Episode Summary
In this impactful episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton explores three essential practices for meaningful connection in our increasingly disconnected world. Through personal stories and scriptural wisdom, Adam makes a compelling case that regardless of our personality type or life circumstances, we all need Jesus as a friend, relationships with others, and meaningful connections in our workplace. His gentle invitation to say “yes” to Jesus offers listeners a simple yet profound way to begin or renew their faith journey.
Episode Highlights:
- The Friendship of Jesus – Adam explains that Jesus doesn’t just call us servants but friends. The prayer of discipleship is simply saying “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to follow him and allow him to walk alongside us in our daily lives.
- The Friendship Recession – We’re experiencing what experts call a “friendship recession” with fewer people reporting close relationships than ever before. Adam shares how even as a pastor of thousands, he once felt deeply lonely until he intentionally cultivated meaningful friendships.
- Who Would You Call at 3 AM? – Drawing from the gospel story of friends who carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, Adam challenges listeners to identify who would carry them in crisis and encourages intentional relationship building through church community.
- Faith in the Workplace – Our greatest mission field may be where we spend most of our waking hours. Adam suggests that if coworkers don’t see evidence of your faith in how you treat others, it might be time for reflection.
- The Power of Gratitude – Simple words like “please” and “thank you” can transform workplace relationships and reflect the fruit of the Spirit in our daily interactions.
Whether you’re skeptical about faith, curious about Christianity, or looking to deepen your spiritual journey, this episode offers practical wisdom for navigating life’s complexities. Adam’s conversational approach doesn’t require checking your brain or values at the door—instead, he invites you into an authentic exploration of how faith and friendship intersect to bring meaning to our lives. This thought-provoking conversation might be exactly what you need to transform your approach to relationships and find hope in today’s disconnected world.
Go Deeper
Why? Making Sense of God's Will
Adam Hamilton
Where is God when tragedy and suffering strike?
When the ground shakes, and a poor nation’s economy is destroyed; when the waters rise, washing away a community’s hopes and dreams; when a child suffers neglect and abuse; when violence tears apart nations where is God? If God is all powerful, and if each one of us is a beloved child of God, then how can God allow tragedy and suffering to mar his creation?
In Why?, best-selling author Adam Hamilton brings fresh insight to the age-old question of how to understand the will of God. Rejecting simplistic answers and unexamined assumptions, he lays out core ideas for comprehending God’s plan for the world, including:
- God will not take away our free will, even when we use it to grieve him.
- God will never abandon us, especially in the midst of our suffering.
- While God is not the author of suffering, God will bring blessing out of tragedy.
