Encourage One Another

On Sunday, in Dan's message, he said this:

"There are two main purposes for church, for us gathering together on a Sunday morning and at other times for us to talk and engage and relate. The first one is for me and for you.

"Does anyone in here have too much encouragement in their life? [pause]

"No? No one?

"So we need this. I need encouragement. I need love. I need intentionality, accountability, purpose. I think it's fair to say we need more of that than we're getting. We need more of it than we have a comprehension or expectancy for.

"I need those things. I need to belong. I need to be ministered to. And so do you."

(More of Dan's message can be found here -- the message begins about 29 minutes from the beginning of the recording.)

When we were at Leadership Quest this summer we learned a four part process of encouragement. I'll share it here.

A. Each of says what the others did well.

B. Each of us would say what we personally would have done differently ourselves -- pointing to our own performance.

C. What suggestions for improvement would each of us have for the others?

D. Finish with affirmations and encouragements.

The New Testament word for "encourage" is parakaleo meaning, literally, "to call to one's side." Para is like para in "parallel," and "kaleo" is the verb form of "kal" (in English spelled "call"), Other ways this word is used:

+ to call for, summon
+ to address, speak to,
+ 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
+ to instruct, teach

As we spend time with one another let's do these things with love and care, loving one another as Christ has first loved us.  Let's help one another in every way.

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