Encourage One Another 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Introduction We need daily encouragement, Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24 We need daily encouragement, Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24 We all have times of discouragement, doubt and fear, 1 Ths. 3:1-5 We all have times of discouragement, doubt and fear, 1 Ths. 3:1-5 Encourage: To give comfort, exhort, strengthen, to plead and to warn Encourage: To give comfort, exhort, strengthen, to plead and to warn ◦ Love, mercy, goodness, patience, 1 Ths. 5:14-15 God comforts us so we may comfort others, 2 Cor. 1:3-5 God comforts us so we may comfort others, 2 Cor. 1:3-5 2

Ways to Encourage One Another Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Ths. 5:11) 3

Encourage One Another Out of singular devotion to Christ, Matt. 6:21-23 Out of singular devotion to Christ, Matt. 6:21-23 ◦ Focus on God’s work and power ◦ See the salvation of God with eyes of faith, Exo. 14:13; 2 Cor. 5:7 ◦ When we focus on our troubles... We sink! Matt. 14:

Encourage One Another By urging each other to trust in God, Heb. 13:5-6 By urging each other to trust in God, Heb. 13:5-6 By emphasizing faithfulness to the Lord, Acts 14:21-22; 15:41; 18:23 By emphasizing faithfulness to the Lord, Acts 14:21-22; 15:41; 18:23 ◦ By promoting godly living, obedient service and faithful worship 5

Encourage One Another By using the word of God as our tool and our guide, 1 Cor. 2:1-5 By using the word of God as our tool and our guide, 1 Cor. 2:1-5 ◦ Not man’s wisdom, 1 Tim. 4:13 ◦ God’s word of exhortation, Heb. 13:22 ◦ Strengthens us, Acts 15:32 6

Encourage One Another By helping each other physically as well as spiritually, Matt. 25: By helping each other physically as well as spiritually, Matt. 25: ◦ The sick, poor, etc. – A helping hand ◦ Spiritual needs, Jude ◦ We are family (brethren), Gal. 6:2; Jas. 5:19-20; 1 Jno. 3:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:17 7

Barnabas: Son of Encouragement Barnabas: Son of Encouragement Acts 4:36-37; 11:21-24 Qualities we need to encourage Qualities we need to encourage ◦ Generosity, 4:37 ◦ Unselfishness, 4:37 (5:1-2) ◦ Devotion, 11:22 ◦ Spiritual perception, 11:23 (Phil. 2:3-4) ◦ Goodness, 11:24 ◦ Full of the Holy Spirit and faith, 11:24 (Eph. 5:18) 8

Barnabas: Son of Encouragement Barnabas: Son of Encouragement Acts 4:36-37; 11:21-24 Spiritual obligation to use our opportunities to encourage, Eph. 4:16 Spiritual obligation to use our opportunities to encourage, Eph. 4:16 ◦ A kind word, a smile, a teaching, an acknowledgement of others ◦ An attempt to rescue from sin ◦ An offer and act to help meet a need ◦ Look for our opportunities 9

Barnabas: Son of Encouragement Barnabas: Son of Encouragement Acts 4:36-37; 11:21-24 Spiritual obligation to use our opportunities to encourage, Eph. 4:16 Spiritual obligation to use our opportunities to encourage, Eph. 4:16 ◦ Cannot be done in isolation, silence and a lack of interest in others ◦ Every act of encouragement is seen and rewarded by the Master, Matt. 10:

Encourage One Another Be a son or daughter of encouragement 11