Studies

Encouragement - Lesson 2

We are all called to be like Jesus. He never stopped thinking of the needs of others and how he could meet those needs. He never stopped encouraging others - not even in his final hours, while he was hanging on the cross. Go back and read for yourself the passages from the garden in Gethsemane, to the cross. Jesus never failed to try to encourage his disciples.

What is Your Strength?

' We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.'
Romans:12:6-9

As we can clearly see from the scriptures, we all have our different strengths. How do you use yours? Do you make the most of it? You can use any of the gifts listed in the above scripture to encourage those around us. All we really need is the desire.

A Disciple Serves the Church
It seems that ever since I became a disciple, people have been telling me that my main strength is to encourage others. Most of the time, when I have been told this, it made me feel like a fraud! What have I done, or what is it that I am doing that is so encouraging? It seems to me that all I am doing is what the Bible commands each of us to do, and nothing more. I am often asked what my secret is. It is really quite simple: I serve whenever I am able.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Ephesians 6:7-8 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for the good he does, whether he is slave or free.

Make a Decision to Serve
I believe that to be encouraging, it takes a decision to be serving, followed by action. Chances are, if you have been a disciple for at least one year, you will have heard it preached: 'Do you come to service ready to give to those around you, or do you come expecting to be given to?'

Encourage One Another in the Fellowship
There are so many ways you can give to your brothers and sisters while you are in church. Start with the attitude:'Ask not what the church can do for you, but what can you do for the church?' Remember that your brothers and sisters in the Lord are the church.

You can start by simply smiling at them as you making eye contact. Look around while we are singing, and smile at the people around you. You would be surprised at what a difference it can make to someone who may be feeling down at the moment, if he were to look around him, and see a bunch of people smiling lovingly at him.
Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Learn to Talk to and to Listen
Take a moment or two to talk to someone. Or, better yet, take that time to listen to them. You do not necessarily have to solve all of their problems (if that is what they want to talk about). Just take the time to listen to them, and to care. Remember that love must be sincere. (Romans 12:9) I know there have been times when a disciple will come up to me and will ask me how things are going in my life, and then while I try to share something with them, you can tell that he is not really listening. How discouraging! Don't forget the scriptures we just looked at. We have to remember that it is not only the lost who 'will not care how much we know, until they know how much we care'. That it will count just as much for your brothers and sisters in the Lord, if not more.

We have to learn to 'speak without offending and listen without defending.' I think that it is all too often that while we are listening to someone tell us their problems, we are already thinking of how we are going to answer them. We end up listening, but not hearing. The best way to encourage someone is to truly listen. The bible tells us we should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

Practical Ways to Encourage
Do you take the time to think to whom and by what means you may be able to encourage someone? You would be surprised at how even a little gesture can make a big difference in that person's life. It's not like you have to give them a $1000.00 or a kidney. Often, it is the little things you do for someone that will mean the most to them, and it will be this act of kindness that they will remember for a long time. The following are some practicals.

Baking
I am blessed with the talent to be able to bake, and I often use it to encourage others. But you do not have to be a professional baker to bake something for someone. Professional cooks and bakers have a saying; 'if you can read a recipe you can cook.' Remember the K.I.S.S. rule: Keep It Simple Stupid! There are all kinds of mixes on the market that make baking as easy as one, two, three. Or look for simple recipes, and follow this hint: read the recipe over at least twice! The first to make sure you have everything you need already in the house. The second time to go over the "method" to make sure you know how to put the things together, what temperature you need to preset the oven at, etc.

Family Group Birthday and Telephone Lists
There are so many ways to serve: for example, do you have a computer at home? Use it to serve your family group. Get a list of everybody in your group, their birthdays, anniversaries, their home phone numbers and full mailing addresses (don't forget postal codes). If they have children, make sure to get their birthdays as well. Then take all this information home and use your computer to make a family group list and have a printout for every member of the group so they can take it home and put it on the fridge or wherever. Now everyone in your group has at least two ways to keep in touch with the other members, by phone or by mail. You will be encouraging more encouragement. Bring a few extra copies with you for those who work. This way they will have a reminder at work as well as at home.

Quick Call
Try calling someone during the day and leaving an encouraging message on the answering machine. All you need to say is, 'Hello, I have been thinking about you.' Tell them you have prayed for them if you have. Tell them that you hope they have had a good day. Tell them that you look forward to seeing them in church, if that is how you feel. Share from your heart. It can be very encouraging to come home after a long, hard day at work to find one or more messages like this on your machine. It takes very little time - only a minute or two - but can make a big difference in someone's day.

Cards and Notes
Getting a card in the mail from a friend is always a nice surprise. It does not have to cost a lot, and you do not have to say much. Share a scripture and let them know that you are thinking about them. Think of ways to serve them. Be creative! If they are married and have children, offer to baby-sit. Give mom and dad a chance to go out and see a movie or to have dinner without the children.

New Parents
Is there someone getting ready to have a baby (especially a first)? Here is a way for the brothers to help out and encourage the dad to be: buy a Bell Canada Quick Change Card for dad to carry in his wallet. He will be able to make all those phone calls to his brothers and sisters in the Lord, as well as his family members within the G.T.A. I know that keeping a supply of quarters is not always the first thing on the dad's mind, and it is easily overlooked. The nice thing about the phone card is that it is lightweight, easy to carry, and can be used anytime at any Bell Canada pay phone. Believe me, chances are the brother in question will be encouraged to spread the joyful news. There are many ways to serve, pray, ask advice and use your God given talents.

Points to Remember:

Ephesians 6:7-8.

Use your talents.

Decide to be encouraging.

Friendliness.

Listening.

Creative serving.

Ask yourself daily how you will serve in a creative way?