As a former NFL QB, Jeff Kemp knows the value of a huddle. Over the years, Kemp learned that not all friendships are created equally, and that the deepest friendship rarely just happen for men. In respect to Jim Collins, Kemp describes the deepest level of friendship as Level 5 Friends.

In order to develop Level 5 Friendships, they need to be understood, prioritized, invested in, and consistently evaluated. Take a few minutes to review and discuss Jeff Kemp’s Level 5 Friendships description and chart below.

LEVEL 5 FRIENDSHIPS BY JEFF KEMP

Level 1 - Casual Friendship

This is a guy you've met and may or may not remember his name. You may have thousands of casual or digital friendship that blow through your life like seeds on a dandelion. Casual friendships are not bad, they come as the result of being a friendly person.

Level 2 - Basic Friendship

You act friendly, barely connect, and speak about the usual stuff on a surface level only. Basic friendships are wonderful for shared interests and activities, or feeling comfortable at a gathering.

Level 3 - Good Friendship

You're close enough to joke around and open up a bit. There's some trust...and some caution. He knows you, but nothing really deep or private. Many men reach the good friendship stage and settle there, but these friends do not have full access to your life.

Level 4 - Strong Friendship

You trust each other. You'll talk about meaningful parts of your life. You're open and honest, but not completely. Strong friendships are of great value, and usually come through time, adversity, and intentional commitment.

Level 5 – Deep Friendship (Huddle)

This friendship adds a purposeful commitment to meet and consistently connect. You disclose struggles, pray for each other, confess sins, erase secrets, stay accountable, and pull each other closer to Jesus and our Abba Father. Nothing is more intentional and rarer than a level 5 friend. If a man is blessed to have one to three level 5 friends in his life at a given time, he is in the 1% of friendships.

Joining an IMPACT Players cohort will not produce a Level 5 friendship. The best case scenario is a Level 4 friendship. However, it may be that in your cohort, you build a friendship that has the potential to become a Level 5 Friend. Taking that friendship to the final stage will take intentionality and trust, but it is possible if you are willing to do the work.

Finding Your Band of Brothers: Forging Deep Friendships in a Shallow World is a new IMPACT Cohort study for men who want to grow as husbands, fathers, and leaders. If you are a man who believes that forging deep friendships is important, we encourage you to join or start an IMPACT Cohort and participate in this 7 week study. Take action here.