Encouraging one another.
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Something I want to be known for at this church is encouragement. Reading this passage you see the idea of encouragement over and over again.
The bibles states in Hebrews 3:12-13
Hebrews 3:12–13 (ESV)
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort or you could say encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
When you go to verse 1 you see that the uproar started to cease. ( many people he wrote the book of 2 Corinthians during this cease ) Before he made his final visit to Corinth. And he sent that letter ahead to them before making his way to Corinth for 3 months. AS he made his way there what did he do? He encouraged them, until a threat accrued.
And as he left he took others with him. Some went to Troas but Paul stayed in Philippi to observe the passover. 1 Cor 5:7-8
7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
One commentary I read this week asked two questions I think are worth asking considering our mission statement includes Encouraging one another.
This commentary gave us three ways…
We need to give to others.
We need to visit others.
We need to serve others.
Why we dont encourage others?
Busy.
Self-absorbed
I read something this week that talked about 10 ways to discourage fellow Christians.
Being harsh towards or critical of one another.
Being angry with one another.
Envying one another.
Disrespecting one another.
Avoiding one another.
Being too busy for one another.
Puffing ourselves up in front of one another.
Squeezing the life out of one another.
showing no patience with one another.
. gossiping about one another.
Encourage the church through corporate worship.
Encourage one another through gathering together on the Lord’s day.
First example of Christians meeting on the Lords day.
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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.
One man said worship is a vertical and horizontal experience. Meaning there is benefits for the individual, and benefits for the crowd.
Gather to encourage one another to take the Lord’s Supper.
London Baptist Confession says..
1. The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night he was betrayed. It is to be observed in his churches to the end of the age as a perpetual remembrance and display of the sacrifice of himself in his death.1 It is given for the confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits of Christ’s death, their spiritual nourishment and growth in him, and their further engagement in and to all the duties they owe him. The supper is to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Christ and each other.2
11 Corinthians 11:23–26. 21 Corinthians 10:16, 17, 21.
2. In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor is any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the living or the dead. It is only a memorial of the one offering Christ made of himself on the cross once for all.3 It is also a spiritual offering of the highest possible praise to God for that sacrifice.4 Thus, the Roman Catholic sacrifice of the mass (as they call it) is utterly detestable and detracts from Christ’s own sacrifice, which is the only propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
3Hebrews 9:25, 26, 28. 41 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26, 27.
3. In this ordinance the Lord Jesus has appointed his ministers to pray and to bless the elements of bread and wine and in this way to set them apart from a common to a holy use. They are to take and break the bread, take the cup, and give both to the communicants while also participating themselves.5
51 Corinthians 11:23–26, etc.
4. Denying the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, lifting them up or carrying them around for adoration, or reserving them for some pretended religious use are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance and to the institution of Christ.6
6Matthew 26:26–28; 15:9; Exodus 20:4, 5.
5. The outward elements in this ordinance, properly set apart for the use ordained by Christ, have such a relationship to Christ crucified that they are sometimes called—truly though figuratively—by the names of the things they represent, that is, the body and blood of Christ.7 However, in substance and nature they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.8
71 Corinthians 11:27. 81 Corinthians 11:26–28.
6. The doctrine commonly called transubstantiation teaches that the substance of bread and wine is changed into the substance of Christ’s body and blood by the consecration of a priest or some other way. This doctrine is hostile not only to Scripture9 but also to common sense and reason. It destroys the nature of the ordinance and has been and is the cause of many kinds of superstitions and of gross idolatries.10
9Acts 3:21; Luke 24:6, 39. 101 Corinthians 11:24, 25.
7. Worthy recipients who outwardly partake of the visible elements in this ordinance also by faith inwardly receive and feed on Christ crucified and all the benefits of his death. They do so really and truly, yet not physically and bodily but spiritually. The body and blood of Christ are not present bodily or physically in the ordinance but spiritually to the faith of believers, just as the elements themselves are present to their outward senses.11
111 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23–26.
8. All ignorant and ungodly people are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ and are thus unworthy of the Lord’s table. As long as they remain in this condition, they cannot partake of these holy mysteries or be admitted to the Lord’s table without committing a great sin against Christ.12 All those who receive the supper unworthily are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment on themselves.13
122 Corinthians 6:14, 15. 131 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 7:6.
How often do we take it? Question that is debated the text indicates they did it weekly.
I personally would like to do it more than we do. Scholars look at it many ways. Spurgeon was one who advocated to do it weekly.
The Lord’s Supper is a presentation of the gospel.
Finally we encourage one another by listening to word.
Paul had a long sermon preached until midnight. So someone decided to fall asleep, and die. But Paul awoke him by his power.
How do you listen to sermon? These are some helpful tips I have learned from someone. I think these tips are good when you read the bible as well.
1. Listen humbly. Realize that you need God's Word. Don't listen with a grudge or with a spirit of arrogance. Don't allow familiarity with the text or even with the speaker's general message to block your desire to meet Christ in the Scriptures.
2.Listen intently. Do whatever you must to stay engaged with the message. Say "amen," sit in the front, or take notes. Listen attentively, like the audience in Nehemiah 8. Fight the urge to fall asleep or to mentally check out.
3. Listen biblically. Use your mind to weigh what is taught against what you already know of the Bible, as the Bereans did
4.Listen personally. Listen for yourself, not just for someone "who needed to hear that.
5. . Listen communally.. Listen for the good of your brothers and sisters. Who knows? It could be that you'll hear something within the message that you can later use to encourage someone.
7. Listen missionally . Don't merely be a receiver of the Word; be a reproducer of the Word. Listen in order to make disciples of all nations.
7. Listen practically. Think about ways you should change your behavior based on what you hear.
8. Listen gratefully. Be thankful that God speaks to his people, including you!