1. 1 Becoming Better Exhorters Hebrews 3:13; 10:25; 13:22 Exhort one another Exhort one another Receive exhortation Receive exhortation

2. 2 ExhortExhort  parakaleo – “ To call to a person … to call on, entreat … to admonish, to urge ” (Vine, 217) ; “ to console, to encourage, to strengthen, to instruct, to teach ” Right & wrong ways, 1 Ths. 2:1-12 Better, 1 Tim. 4:13 (15); Rom. 12:8

3. 3 Source of Exhortations  Gospel – 1 Ths. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Cor. 14:3-4 (26)  Effective exhortation does not come from: Fables (invented stories), 2 Tim. 4:3 False doctrine (error), 1 Ths. 2:3 Flowery oratory of human wisdom or traditions, 1 Cor. 2:1, 4; Col. 2:8

4. 4 Purpose of Exhortation (Why do it?)  Instruction – Acts 13:15; 15:31  Persuasion: To continue, Acts 13:43 To save yourself, Acts 2:40 Purpose of heart, Acts 11:23 With urgency, 2 Cor. 8:4

5. 5 Purpose of Exhortation (Why do it?)  Strengthen – Acts 14:22; 11:23  Comfort (consolation and encouragement) – Phil. 2:1 To help endure, 2 Cor. 1:3-7 To strengthen, Heb. 6:17-18

6. 6 Ways to Exhort – 1 Ths. 2:1-12  Men’s glory, 2:6  God’s glory, 2:12 WRONGRIGHT  Error, 2:3  Truth, 2 Tim. 4:2  Uncleanness, 2:3  Purity, 2:10  Deceit, 2:3  Honesty, 2 Cor. 4:2  Please men, 2:4 (2)  Please God, 2:4  Flattery, 2:5 (Prov. 26:28)  Straightforwardly, Acts 14:22  Covetousness, 2:5  As a father, 2:11

7. 7 Traits of the Exhorter (Acts 11:22-24)  Considers his brethren – 11:22 Caring & giving, Phil. 2:3-4 (2 Cor. 11:28- 29); Heb. 10:24  Assesses the situation & praises whenever he can – 11:23 Restraint & mercy, 2 Tim. 4:2

8. 8 Traits of the Exhorter (Acts 11:22-24)  Avoids hypocrisy – 11:24 Upright, honorable & thus, helpful, Matt. 7:1-5  Full of the Holy Spirit – 11:24 Under the Spirit’s control, Acts 6:3; Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16, 18, 22-25  Full of faith – 11:24 (2 Cor. 5:7) We will only exhort in proportion to our faith, Rom. 12:6, 8

9. 9 Accepting Exhortation (What we must do with it)  Assess the exhortation Is it the truth? Acts 2:40-41; 17:11-12  Receive it & use it to grow stronger in Christ – Acts 11:24, 26; 1 Ths. 4:1-2  Be thankful for the one who exhorted you!