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Encouragement
One of the greatest needs for any
Christian.
It is our duty to encourage others and
receive encouragement from others.
Introduction
• I would like for us to consider how
encouragement has always been a part of
God’s plan for us to grow both as a Church and
as individuals.
• God did not choose to have those who were
saved lead solitary lives but rather to establish
groups of believers in different cities and have
them interact with each other.
Introduction
• What was the purpose of people with various
talents: apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors and teachers?
• It was to prepare God’s people both
individually and collectively.
• Ephesians 4:12-- to prepare God’s people for
works of service.
Introduction
• When the body of the saints is involved in its
work, what benefit is derived?
• 12-- so that the body of Christ may be built
up.
• 13-14-- we all reach unity in the of faith and in
the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature man—no longer infants children
tossed back and forth by waves.
• 15-- Instead, speaking the truth in love.
Introduction
• As God’s people mature and speak the truth,
what happens to the body?
• 15-- we grow up into him who is the Head,
that is, Christ.
• 16-- the body builds itself up in love as each
part does its work.
Encouragement
• Looking down in verses Ephesians 4:22-29:
• 22-24- put off your old self ... and put on the new
self.
• 25-- put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his
neighbor.
• 28-- work, doing something useful with his own
hands, that he may have something to share with
those in need.
• 29-- speak what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those
who listen.
Encouragement
• How are these types of activities to take place
if these results are to occur?
• When we are together and interacting with
others
• What was the purpose for the Church to come
together in the first century?
Encouragement
• Why was the ability to prophesy superior to
speaking in tongues?
• 1 Corinthians 14:1-5-- so that the church may
be edified.
• 31-- so that everyone may be instructed and
encouraged.
Encouragement
• What does it mean to “prophesy”?
• A prophet is one who prophesies and a prophet is
one who has the divine gift of receiving and
imparting God’s message.
• We are aware of many OT prophets who received
knowledge from God and then as God’s appointed
messenger, conveys God’s message to those as he
was directed.
• We know that sometimes these OT prophets did
this against their own will.
Encouragement
• In the early Church, since there was no written
word as we have today, the gift to prophesy
was very important as the gospel was
delivered.
• What did Paul say the goal of obtaining
spiritual gifts? Still in 1 Corinthians 14:
• 9-12-- build up the church.
• 26--All of these must be done for the
strengthening of the church.
Encouragement
• What individual responsibilities do we have to
ourselves and to others because of our relationship to
God?
• Let’s turn to Hebrews Chapter 10:19-25.
• 19-22-- Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart.
• 23-- Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.
• 24-- Let us consider how we may spur one another
on toward love and good deeds.
• 25--Let us not give up meeting together and let us
encourage one another.
Encouragement
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Who is responsible for fulfilling these responsibilities?
EVERYONE
How do we fulfill these responsibilities?
individually and when we come together
PAUL documented three main sources of
encouragement to early Christians.
The first of these was God’s Word.
Acts 20: 32.
2nd Timothy 3:16-17.
2nd Timothy 4:1-2.
Encouragement
• These verses point to the written word, but
let’s not forget what John tells us in:
John 1:1 & 14—
• 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us.
Encouragement
• The second main source of encouragement
was by the personal example shown by Paul
and others.
• Barnabas worked side-by-side with Paul and
provided an example.
• 1st Timothy 1: 12-16.
• 2nd Thessalonians 3: 6-9.
• Acts 20:33-35.
Encouragement
• Paul references both of these in
2nd Timothy 3:10-15
• What things do we do today to encourage each other?
• By reading and learning and preaching the Word of
God.
• By the lives we lead --• As we discussed with respect to Barnabas: Acts 11:24
• He was a good man.
• He was full of the spirit.
• He was full of faith.
Encouragement
• By the “small” things we do.
• Simply being here at services.
• The interest we show as we participate in the
services.
• The “Thank you’s” we give others.
• The helping hands that are given to brothers
and sisters who have needs.
Encouragement
• We have such excellent examples of all of
these methods of encouragement here.
• How can we not all benefit and grow with
these actions going on around us?
Encouragement
• The third source of encouragement Paul
referenced is found in 2nd Thessalonians 2:16-17.
Here, we are told that Jesus Christ and God our
Father by his grace gave us eternal
encouragement.
• And Paul asks that Jesus and God the Father
encourage and strengthen you in every good
deed and word.
• What a solid, unchangeable source of
encouragement and strength.
Encouragement
• 2nd Tim 3:15 referenced the holy Scriptures
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
• We have the word that we can learn from and as
we learn, we understand that having faith in
Christ Jesus is not just believing but having and
active faith and obeying and acting on His
commandments.
• 1 John 2:3 – We know that we have come to
know him if we obey his commands.
Encouragement
• From many acts of conversion in the Bible, we see that
the wisdom we must gain and act on tells us that we
must do:
• Recognize the sin in our life and repent
• Confess that Christ is the Son of God
• Be baptized to have our sins washed away and rise as a
new creature
• But after we are baptized and we try to follow Jesus’
example of how to live our lives, we recognize that we
will not be able to live up to God’s expectations.
Conclusion
• As we discussed, one of the purposes of the church is
to encourage each other to continue, to persevere, and
to always strive to live in a manner that will be pleasing
to our God and our Savior.
• If we have moved away from God, as James said
because of our own evil desires, we need to ask for
God’s help.
• In 1 John 1:9 we are told that “If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.”
• If there is anyone who desires to be baptized or needs
additional encouragement thru the prayers of the
church, please come forward.