ENCOURAGEMENT Hebrews 10:24,25

WHAT IS THIS “ENCOURAGEMENT?” Why is encouragement so necessary? How do we encourage one another?

WHAT IS THIS “ENCOURAGEMENT?” Encouragement & Edification Encouragement- “The act of giving courage, or confidence of success; incitement to action or to practice; incentive” Edification- “A building up, in a moral & a religious sense; instruction: improvement & progress of the mind, in knowledge, in morals, or in faith & holiness”

WHAT IS THIS “ENCOURAGEMENT?” Greek - παρακαλω - to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.; to admonish, exhort; to beg, entreat, beseech; to strive to appease by entreaty; to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort; to receive consolation, be comforted; to encourage, strengthen; exhorting and comforting and encouraging; to instruct, teach (Thayer's)

WHAT IS THIS “ENCOURAGEMENT?” Edification- Greek - οἰκοδομω - to build; to found, establish; to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness; to grow in wisdom and piety (Thayer's)

Scriptures on the subject Encouragement- Acts 14:22 “ exhorting them to continue in the faith” 2 Corinthians 1:4 “who comforts us …to comfort those … the comfort …are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 7:13 “comforted in your comfort.” 2 Corinthians 10:1 “am pleading with you” 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “we urge and exhort” 1 Thessalonians 4:18 “comfort one another”

Scriptures on the subject Encouragement- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 “we exhort you” Titus 2:6 “exhort the young men” Titus 2:15 “exhort, and rebuke” Hebrews 3:13 “exhort one another” Hebrews 10:25 “exhorting one another” 1 Peter 2:11 “I beg you” Jude 3 “exhorting you”

Scriptures on the subject Edification- Acts 9:31 “were edified” 1 Corinthians 8:1 “ love edifies” 1 Corinthians 10:23 “not all things edify” 1 Corinthians 14:17 “ not edified” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “edify one another”

The necessity of encouragement Why does God require us to encourage one another? It is required by virtue of the nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ The Gospel is a “volunteer” arrangement God does not force or coerce anyone God call people to Himself – James 4:8 God will sit in judgment on the last day – Acts 17:30,31

Types of compulsion in world not found in church Not study for Bible class, no lowered grade Someone negligent in spiritual responsibilities does not mean pay docked Possible to disassociate from one who acts immorally or teaches error – 1 Corinthians 5; Romans 16:17,18

One cannot easily build up by tearing down! Hebrews 3:12-14 “exhort one another daily” Colossians 4:6 “know how you ought to answer each one” Must sometimes take down false structures in order to raise up proper & godly ones, but must be done in spirit of love with goal of building up in the faith

How to encourage Encouragement through joint participation in righteous living Being with one another Speaking with one another Getting to know one another Often done in assembly – Hebrews 10:24,25 Acts 14:22 “exhorting to continue in the faith”

How to encourage Regular times of assembly give opportunities to get together Joint participation in the Lord’s Supper, singing & praying – 1 Corinthians 10:16,17; 14:16,17; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 If one is not assembling, they are hindering the rest from receiving the encouragement gained from one’s presence & participation

How to encourage Often Done Outside Assembly 1 Peter 4:9 “be hospitable” Galatians 6:1,2 “Bear one another’s burdens” Encouragement from social association – home Bible studies, getting together to do various things

EncourageMENT applied in many ways Discussion, conversation, etc. Mere presence with others Sharing lives at different time – positive and negative Derived from Christians being involved in each other’s lives