Encouraging Others

A Study on the book of II Corinthians

Encouraging Others for Service

II Cor. 9:1-5; Heb. 10:24-25

Introduction: How many of you have certain people that encourages you do more for the Lord Jesus Christ? It seems their attitude and spirit points us to the possibility to love God more and want to do more for Him.

As you read the Bible, there are many saints who are walking by faith and seeing God do amazing things in their lives. It is important we focus on encouraging each other. The ministry pathway is the Biblical way to encourage each other in our growth path.

Here the Apostle Paul is teaching this important truth in the passage. He had used the Corinthian church as example to the Macedonian church regarding their help in their struggles. Now, Paul is coming back to encourage them to stay with their commitment as did the Macedonian church.

It is like when you are traveling through a strange town, you look for a restaurant with the most cars. This is a sure sign that it is a good place to eat. People encourage others. The visibility of a church makes it easier for people to find you and want to be a part. Encouraging churches attract people.

There are three directives here. . .

I. Their attitude vv. 1-2

A. Desire to minister v. 1

1. When we see what God is doing in other people’s lives or ministries, this encourages us to do more for Christ.

2. The church should not have to be told that they were ministering to others and they had a desire to minister.

3. Ever Christians will want to encourage others-Heb. 10:24-we encourage each other

4. The basis of church fellowship should be to provoke us to go on for the Lord and serve Him faithfully.

B. Direction of influence v.2

1. Their zeal to be a blessing to the struggling Christians urged other churches to do the same.

2. Our ministry should seek to encourage other ministries to continue serving the Lord.

3. We ought not to seek leadership among ministries, but we should do all we can to encourage our missionaries, Christian schools, Bible colleges, starting new churches.

4. The forwardness is the heart desire and zeal is the energy to see others serve the Lord.

5. Our heart’s desire as a church is to help other believers in our church to grow in their walk with God.

“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 3–4)

II. Their attentiveness vv. 3-4

A. Attentive to preparation v.3

1. Notice the preparation to serve and influence others for the Lord.

2. This why we have a welcome center, we have gift bags for guests, and guest cards to connect with people.

3. The buildings, the budgets, the training, the cleaning, the workers all build to influence others.

4. We want to make sure we are attentive to preparation of things-we may fail, but we still spend time preparing for the ministry.

5. Paul was encouraging this church to prepare to give their offering-careful planning and good administration means preparation is in order.

B. Attentive to production v. 4

1. He wanted to make sure they were not embarrassed on collection day.

2. They would be able to do what God wanted them to do for the ministry.

3. As we prepare to serve the Lord, let’s follow through with our commitment to Him.

4. Our ministry needs to make sure that whatever we say we will do, we do it for His honor and glory.

III. Their announcement v. 5

A. To exhort others v. 5a

1. They declared and stated that they wanted to exhort others by their dedication.

2. God wants us to be sold out for Him that we can exhort others.

3. Leonard Ravenhill-writes a classic on revival. Why Revival Tarries-I want to be like the man of God he writes about.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Hebrews 10:24)

B. To exalt God v. 5b

1. Make up the bounty means that we give generously to the work of God.

2. They wanted their offering to be generous so that God can be glorified.

3. God is exalted when we give our total 100% to Him-give of our best to the Master

C. To exterminate covetousness v. 5c

1. This is not done for pride so that their church would look better than another church.

2. Churches are not in the business of outdoing each other.

3. We are not to try to be or have what others have, but encourage others as they serve the Lord.

Conclusion: God gives us three directives here as seen in the Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Their attitude, attentiveness, and their announcement are all important.