Encouragement- Encourage One Another 4

Topic: Encouragement – Encourage One Another 4  

Memory Verse: …  “Therefore, encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing” … 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMP)

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

Spiritual Emphasis: Biblical encouragement is not focused on complimenting someone’s haircut or telling them how cute their dress looks. This kind of encouragement is important, but the encouragement in focus here is explicitly Christian encouragement. This type of encouragement is shared with the hope that it will lift someone’s heart towards God (Col.4:8). It points out evidence of grace in another’s life to help them see that God is using them. It points a person to God’s promises that assures them that all they face is under His control.

      How do I grow in being an encouragement to others:

• Pray for God to make you an encourager: Ask God to give you a heart that loves others and creativity to know how to show it. Ask Him to help you die to self-centeredness and grow in a desire to build others up – Hebrews 10:24; Psalm 121:1-2; Romans 15:2; Romans 8:31; Romans 15:5; Romans 1:11-12.
• Study Barnabas and ask God to make you like him: Barnabas was nicknamed the “son of encouragement” by the early church. He is the kind of guy you want to have around you as you serve the Lord. He wasn’t just a spiritual cheerleader, but he was a man of great conviction who wanted to see the church flourish and he did all he could to make it happen -Acts 4:36-37; Acts 11:19-26.
• Pray that God would create a culture of encouragement in your church: Pray that God make your church a community that loves each other in specific, tangible ways like encouragement – Matthew 6:3-4; Ephesians 6:3-8; Galatians 6:9-10.

Questions/Activities: Which other ways can you think of on how to grow in being an encouragement to others?

Conclusion. Do it! – Live out the Nike slogan – “Just do it.” Let’s constantly think of ways to spur someone on, don’t just think it, do it. Remember as children of God, we are channels of blessings. Everyone needs encouragement in their life. The Scriptures contain countless examples of people who encouraged someone or were encouraged by someone – in the OT we read about King Hezekiah encouraged the nation of Israel to be strong and courageous in the threat of war, Nehemiah encouraged the people of Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem – and in the NT, Judas and Silas said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers and of course, we cannot forget Barnabas, who was called “The Son of Encouragement”. We should follow in their footsteps and be a church family that is committed to encouraging one another. 

Shalom! Self-Study: Psalm 31:24; Psalm 121:1-2; Romans 15:2; John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Romans 8:31; Romans 15:5; Psalm 90:17; Romans 1:11-12; 2 Corinthians 1:5; 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Isaiah 40:31; Joshua 1:9; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Timothy 1:7; John 14:27; Philippians 1:6; John 15:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Proverbs 18:10.