Introduction
Brief review of the setting. Tonight, rather than focus on one specific
passage in this letter, I want to focus on a theme that runs through it—encouragement.
You can see that Paul felt encouragement was a crucial aspect of his
work with them (2:11-12), and he wants it to be the most foundational
way that they express Christian love to one another (4:18; 5:11, 14).
When we look beyond this letter to the other New Testament letters, we
find this same emphasis. The main word translated “encouragement”
is used in this sense almost 80 times.
What is encouragement?
The Greek word is parakaleo, which literally means “to call
alongside.” It presumes that its object is under pressure (fearful,
weak, overwhelmed), and it means to strengthen by giving appropriate aid.
Ancient Greek authors sometimes used it to describe military reinforcement
during battles.
Biblical encouragement presumes that Christians live under intense pressure—not
just the normal pressures of everyday life in a broken world, but also
the pressures of serving Christ in a spiritually hostile environment—and
therefore need to be spiritually strengthened on a regular basis.
Biblical encouragement communicates God's truth and hope in ways that
personally strengthen others to follow God's will for their lives.
It may come as a surprise to you to know that God is the ultimate Encourager.
Many view the God of the Bible as the ultimate Discourager—always
making impossible demands, never satisfied, etc. But the New Testament
actually teaches that all three Persons of the Trinity delight in encouraging
us (read 2 Corinthians 1:3; John 14:16-17).
The cool thing is that he wants to communicate his encouragement through
his people. As members of his Body, we have the privilege of both receiving
his encouragement from other Christians and of giving it to others.
This is one of the most powerful features of Christian community! Let's
take a closer look . . .
What does biblical encouragement look like?
Because we face a variety of pressures, biblical encouragement takes
different forms. We can differentiate biblical encouragement into four
sub-categories: affirmation, praise, consolation, and exhortation.
It affirms those who do not see their value and potential.
My favorite biblical example of this form of encouragement is Jesus'
initial encounter with Peter in John 1:41-42. Andrew, Peter's brother,
tells him he has found the Messiah and brings him to Jesus. John doesn't
use the normal verb for “look” here. He uses a word that means
“gaze intently into.” Jesus peered into Peter's soul, sized
him up—and then said: “You are Simon son of John; you shall
be called Peter.” In those days, names meant more than they do
today. They summarized a key feature of the person—like nicknames
often do today. “Simon” was associated with one who vacillates—and
if you know anything about Peter, you know how accurate this was (EXAMPLES).
Jesus knew that Peter was like his name—but he viewed him in terms
of what he would become as one of his followers: “You will be called
'the Rock.'” This was how Jesus won Peter's heart, and this is
how he won my heart, too. We all want a relationship with someone who
knows our worst flaws and weaknesses—but who still loves us and
relates to us in terms of our potential. No one else does this like
Jesus Christ (GOSPEL).
God sent two or three older Christians to communicate this to me when
I was a new Christian. I had no vision for myself as a valuable Christian
worker—let alone as a teacher and leader. Over a six-month period,
each of these three Christians whom I respected told me that God had
a plan to transform my life and raise me up as a spokesman for him (Ephesians 2:10).
That was almost 30 years ago, but I still remember where I was and what
they said almost word for word. Such is the impact of this form of encouragement.
It praises those who are taking scary steps of faith.
Parents do this instinctively with their young children. As they take
their first, halting, awkward steps, the parents are there with praise,
ovation, hugs, etc. Why? Because they know how difficult (yet important)
it is for children to learn to walk. Their praise fortifies their children
to keep trying until they master the skill.
When you come to Christ, he calls you to take scary steps of faith—to
share your faith with a work associate, to pray out loud with a Christian
friend, to speak up at a Bible study, to confide a problem and ask for
help, etc. Especially if you are a new Christians, you probably compare
yourself in these areas with older Christians and conclude that you're
not really making any progress. How wonderful it is when God sends one
of his people to express how important your steps are and how excited
God is that you are taking them! When this happens, we are fortified to
keep moving forward.
Paul was a master at this form of encouragement; this is one of the open
secrets of his great leadership. Notice how he does this with the new
Christians in Thessalonica (read 1 Thess. 1:2-8). Catch someone
doing something right, and tell him about it! Better yet, tell him about
it in front of others!
It consoles those who have had their spiritual wind knocked out.
Paul tells these same Christians to “encourage the faint-hearted”
(1 Thessalonians 5:14). The “faint-hearted” is literally
the “small-souled”—those who have had their spiritual wind
knocked out through adversity. Some of them had recently lost Christian
family or friends. Paul encouraged them (read 4:14, 17) and urged them
to encourage one another with these words (4:18).
Contrary to what the “health and wealth” people say, God never
promises to spare his children from the pain and suffering of living in
a broken, spiritually hostile world. We will suffer broken hearts, loss
of loved ones, economic reversals, poor health, agonizing family problems,
ministry opposition and failure, etc. Especially when many of these pile
up on you at once, hope vanishes under a cloud of pain and despair. What
we need most during these times is the consolation of God—the touch
of his empathy and the reminder of his promises that he will stand by
us, that he has his hand on our lives, that he will work through this
for good, and that he has a glorious future for us. Having had my wind
knocked out of me a lot this past year, I know how powerful this form
of encouragement is.
It exhorts those who are tempted to give less than their best.
I saw Ohio State Men's basketball Coach Jim O'Brien do this with a player,
Michael Redd, in a game one season. Redd was lethargic during most of
the second half, as OSU fell farther and farther behind. With only a few
minutes to go and OSU down by 10 points, O'Brien called a time-out. When
Redd came to the sideline, O'Brien was all over him—not raging like
Bobby Knight, Indian's famous basketball coach—but getting Redd's
attention, calling on him to wake up and play like he was capable of playing.
Redd came out and took over the game as OSU scored 11 unanswered points
to win the game.
That's what I mean by exhortation—challenging someone who is flagging
to suck it up and lay it on the line to their full potential. That's what
Paul does with Timothy in 2 Timothy. Timothy was intimidated by the many
problems he faced in Ephesus, and it is clear that he was tempted to take
his foot off the pedal. Listen to how Paul exhorts him (read 4:1, 2, 5).
The author of Hebrews does with a group of Christians who are taking their
feet off the pedal, fainting under God's discipline (read Hebrews 12:11-13).
He reminds them of the benefits of persevering (peaceful fruit of righteousness;
healing), he gently warns them of the perils of quitting (limb put out
of joint)—and he challenges them to get back in the race. I can't
tell you how thankful I am to have people in my life who do this for me,
because I am a lazy, self-protective person.
Are you involved enough with other Christian friends that they know when
you need encouragement? Can you think back over the last year and remember
specific instances in which you received each of these different kinds
of encouragement? If not, you are not involved enough! Get involved in
a home group, and be open about your life with your Christian friends!
Tips for becoming an
effective encourager
As great as receiving encouragement is, there is something even greater—becoming
an effective encourager. This is a powerful ministry that all of us can
and should have! Here are some tips . . .
If you want to be effective in this area, you need to know and use
God's Word.
It is God's Word, not our personality, cleverness, intelligence, etc.
that has the power to lift people up and give them hope (Romans 15:4).
Isaiah describes the Messiah's effect on his followers, and the reason
while he had that effect read Isaiah 50:4). He could sustain the
weary with a word because he has been instructed by God through his
Word. It's great to learn a passage that lifts you up. It's even more
fulfilling to use that same passage to life someone else up.
This is the most basic (yet one of the most powerful) ways to use scripture
in ministry. Sometimes this means showing or sharing a passage. Sometimes
it means phrasing it in your own words. Sometimes it means sharing how
this truth has encouraged you in a similar situation.
Make this a goal when you meet with other Christians.
Read Hebrews 10:25. If you're into following Christ, you're into
getting together with other Christians. Some meetings I go to seem dead,
stifling—like a mortuary. Others are electric and refreshing—alive
with the presence of God. What is the reason for this disparity? Most
people would say it is the quality of the teaching, but I disagree.
The key factor is how many people have come with the commitment to encourage
others. This produces an intangible atmosphere that builds people up
and attracts non-Christians to Christ.
This is a key maturity step—to go over from attending merely to
receive to coming with the commitment to give. It also is key in continuing
to enjoy meetings after you are grounded in the Word.
This requires prayerfully considering beforehand how you can encourage
your friends (Hebrews 10:24).
As you think about them and pray for them, God will often draw your
attention to the kind of encouragement they need and give you a word
for them. When this happens, follow through! You'll be amazed to see
how often this was exactly what they needed!
In this regard, realize that emails, notes, phone calls can be very
powerful media for encouragement (unlike admonition).
If you are a good listener, you will usually find plenty of opportunity
for encouragement.
Why is this? For one thing, listening communicates love and respect—which
is encouragement in itself (see Job 21:1). It also helps you to
discover what kind of encouragement may be needed. And it increases
the likelihood that they will be receptive to your encouragement because
you have genuinely listened to them.
As with any skill or art, you need to practice!
Don't wait until it feels “natural”—you'll wait forever!
Our fallen nature will always be aversive to encouragement, so you will
need to step out by faith. As you experience the rewards of being used
by God in this way, it will become more natural and desirable.
Make it a goal to encourage someone every single day! Open your eyes
to see the many arenas in which you can do this: family; work; neighbors;
friends; etc.
Conclusion
Let's hear from Tim Gleason how encouragement has changed his life (VIDEO).
Become someone who is known as an encouraging person (like Barnabas).
Your life will become increasingly enriched as you see the impact God
has on others through you!
Footnotes