Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

The Bible calls us to encourage one another, and for good reason!

The devil’s tool is discouragement. He loves getting God’s people feeling down and under-valued—that our efforts are useless, that nobody cares, and that all is hopeless. He loves futility. He loves dragging down the work of God in us and through us. And it is my experience that he is most effective with this weapon when people are isolated and tensions are high.

Discouragement is exhausting; it sucks the life out of an individual, a church, a nation. Encouragement, on the other hand, is life-giving; it invigorates us to greater action and perseverance.

What can you do to be an encourager? Here’s a starter list:
• Point out where other people are doing a good job. Catch them doing something right and tell
them.
• Thank others for their work.
• Tell your children, your spouse or a friend how thankful you are for them. Give specifics. Do this
regularly!
• Tell someone that you are praying for them...and indeed, do pray for them! Email them what you
are praying for them.
• Spread “good gossip” (e.g. “Did you hear the wonderful thing that so-and-so has been doing?”).
• Text someone an uplifting verse from Scripture.
• Tell someone how you see God at work in and through them.

Encouragement is powerful. Is it any wonder that the Bible makes such a big deal about it? Consider Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...encouraging one another ...all the more....”

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

~ Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV)