SUPPORT: We must support each other

unconditionally, tangibly & continually

ACCEPTANCE: Because Jesus accepted you,

you must accept others

FORGIVENESS: Forgiven people always

forgive people

BRING OTHERS DOWN OR BUILD

OTHERS UP IT’S YOUR CHOICE!

Whoever is trying to bring you down is already below

you! (Ziad Abdelnour)

Hurt people, hurt people! (Rick Warren)

DISCOURAGE = NU (HEBREW – OLD

TESTAMENT)

To hinder or stop, to frustrate, to go against, to

nullify

Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people of Israel from going across to the land

the LORD has given them? (Numbers 32:7 – New Living

Translation)

DISCOURAGE = ATHUMEO (GREEK – NEW TESTAMENT

To lose heart, confidence or enthusiasm, to give up

Fathers, don’t scold your children so much that they become

discouraged and quit trying. (Colossians 3:21 – Living Bible)

Frustration

Limitation

Isolation

The most important thing we all need in our lives is

perseverance -

the determination to never allow our energy or

enthusiasm to be dampened or defeated

by the discouragement that will inevitably

come into our lives. (James Riley)

ENCOURAGE = CHAZAQ (HEBREW – OLD

TESTAMENT)

To grow firm or strong, to strengthen, to instill

courage

Instruct Joshua, and strengthen and encourage him, because he’s the one who will lead the

people into the promised land . . . He will conquer it for them.

(Deuteronomy 3:28 – The Voice)

Be strong, and He will strengthen your heart, all you who wait for the

LORD.(Psalm 31:24 – Modern English

Version)

ENCOURAGE = PARAKLESIS (GREEK – NEW TESTAMENT)

To comfort, motivate or lift someone’s spirit, to help,

support and refresh

So encourage each other and give each other strength,

just as you are doing now.(1 Thessalonians 5:11 – New Century

Version)

Encourage each other every day . . . Help each other . . .

(Hebrews 3:13 – New Century Version)

We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. We

should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of

you are doing.

Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more

as we see the day of the Lord

coming. (Hebrews 10:24-25 – God’s Word Translation)

CASE STUDY: P B & J –

Paul, Barnabas & John Mark

(Acts 15:36-41)

From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money to the apostles . . . the

money was distributed to anyone who needed it. Joseph, a descendant of Levi

(the apostles called him Barnabas, which means “a person who

encourages.”) had some land. He sold it and turned the money

over to the apostles. (Acts 4:34-37 – God’s Word

Translation)

Mark can be very helpful to me, so please find him and bring him

with you.(2 Timothy 4:11– Contemporary English

Version)

Instruction does much, but encouragement does more!

WHY WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE

ONE ANOTHER

Encourage those who are afraid. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

(1 Thessalonians 5:14 –Easy To Read Version)

We should encourage others when they are

weak(CHAZAQ)

We should encourage others when they are sad

(PARAKLESIS)

Encouragement is like a coin that has two sides. One side is

affirmation – telling someone what they are doing right. The other side is accountability – telling

someone what they are doing wrong.

It’s never “either/or” but always “both/and”. We misunderstand the Biblical concept of encouragement

if we don’t express both to the people in our lives.

Sometimes the best and most important encouragement you can

give to another person is the encouragement that tells the

honest truth about the things that are wrong

in their lives and how to fix them.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking encouragement is always “warm & fuzzy”. Sometimes it’s

hard, but necessary – and may be the most loving kind of

encouragement you can give to someone else.

HOW WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE

ONE ANOTHER

We should encourage others with our words

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who

hear them . . . offer only fresh words

that build others up when they need it most.

(Ephesians 4:29 – New Living Translation/The Voice)

Take the “BU or TD” test

We should encourage others with our deeds

In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each

other and in doing good.

(Hebrews 10:24 – Living Bible)

Take the “BU or TD” test

We should encourage others with our prayers

All patience and encouragement come from God.

And I pray that God will help you . . . (Romans 15:5 – Easy To Read

Version)

Take the “BU or TD” test

Let’s Pray