Encouragement 2
I talked with a group of children about encouragement this week using part of 1 Thessalonians 5:11:
"Encourage one another and build each other up."
My inspiration was a Steve Green's kids' song "Encourage One Another" (see lyrics). We marched around to the song and then did a craft colouring a picture of a hammer. The hammer represented our words. Like a hammer, words can destroy or build. The Bible is clear: we are to build each other up with encouraging words. But what is it that we are to encourage each other with? What message brings strength to our souls? Let's take a look at 1 Thessalonians 5
Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica as they are concerned about believers dying before Christ returned. What happens to them? Paul explains that no one knows when Christ will return but that they need to be ready whenever He comes. He goes on to explain that "God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." (1 Thes. 5:9-10). Paul exhorts the Thessalonians "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thes. 5:11).
The message that builds us up is that God is for us - He is not against us! Jesus died for us so that we may live with Him on earth and in heaven. God wants a relationship with us and has made it possible through Christ! It is the gospel that gives us courage. Courage to believe. Courage to take steps of faith. Courage to reach out to others with God's love. The gospel gives us courage to look at our sins and sorrows to find their forgiveness and healing in God. It also gives us the courage to hope for the day when Jesus will come back to take us to live with Him forever.
Later in this chapter, Paul tells the Thessalonians to "encourage the disheartened" (1 Thes. 5:9). It is easy to get discouraged, to want to give up the race of faith, and to be tempted to give into the despair of hopelessness. That's why we need to be obedient to the command to encourage others. They need our support and encouragement. And we need theirs'. So, let me encourage you to "encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"!
"Encourage one another and build each other up."
My inspiration was a Steve Green's kids' song "Encourage One Another" (see lyrics). We marched around to the song and then did a craft colouring a picture of a hammer. The hammer represented our words. Like a hammer, words can destroy or build. The Bible is clear: we are to build each other up with encouraging words. But what is it that we are to encourage each other with? What message brings strength to our souls? Let's take a look at 1 Thessalonians 5
Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica as they are concerned about believers dying before Christ returned. What happens to them? Paul explains that no one knows when Christ will return but that they need to be ready whenever He comes. He goes on to explain that "God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." (1 Thes. 5:9-10). Paul exhorts the Thessalonians "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thes. 5:11).
The message that builds us up is that God is for us - He is not against us! Jesus died for us so that we may live with Him on earth and in heaven. God wants a relationship with us and has made it possible through Christ! It is the gospel that gives us courage. Courage to believe. Courage to take steps of faith. Courage to reach out to others with God's love. The gospel gives us courage to look at our sins and sorrows to find their forgiveness and healing in God. It also gives us the courage to hope for the day when Jesus will come back to take us to live with Him forever.
Later in this chapter, Paul tells the Thessalonians to "encourage the disheartened" (1 Thes. 5:9). It is easy to get discouraged, to want to give up the race of faith, and to be tempted to give into the despair of hopelessness. That's why we need to be obedient to the command to encourage others. They need our support and encouragement. And we need theirs'. So, let me encourage you to "encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"!
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