Encourage One Another
Learning to "One Another"...Following His Plan to Build A Spiritual House • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsBelievers are to actively participate in God's building program by learning to encourage one another
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Who Are You Most Like?
Who Are You Most Like?
I discovered the importance of healthy counsel in a half Ironman triathlon. After the 1.2-mile swim and the 56-mile bike ride, I didn’t have much energy left for the 13.1-mile run. Neither did the fellow jogging next to me. I asked him how he was doing and soon regretted posing the question.
“This stinks. This race is the dumbest decision I’ve ever made.” He had more complaints than a taxpayer at the IRS. My response to him? “Good-bye.” I knew if I listened too long, I’d start agreeing with him.
I caught up with a sixty-six-year-old grandmother. Her tone was just the opposite. “You’ll finish this,” she said. “It’s hot, but at least it’s not raining. One step at a time . . . don’t forget to hydrate . . . stay in there.” I ran next to her until my heart lifted and my legs were aching. I finally had to slow down. She waved and passed me.
Which of these two describes the counsel you give? — Max Lucado, Facing Your Giants (W Publishing Group, 2006)
— Max Lucado, Facing Your Giants
(W Publishing Group, 2006)
When it comes to living life this side of heaven...Who are you most like?…are you like the man...let’s call him “Negative Ned”... or the 66 year old grandma…let’s call her “Encouraging Ellie”… life can be brutal often leaving us feeling like we are in a never ending Iron-man triathlon...
the church of Jesus Christ in many ways is a world-wide and eternal construction project…
When we feel like we are alone in the process, that makes it that much worse…but thankfully we are all on this marathon course of life together and we ought to be looking for and being that pack of participants that understand we are in this together…that pack of people is also known as the church…and thankfully also we know that we have the greatest support system because the Chief Shepherd and Architect of our Faith has told us he would never let us fail...
Jesus told Peter…
The church of Jesus Christ in many ways is a world-wide and eternal construction project…
- the church of Jesus Christ in many ways is a world-wide and eternal construction project…
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
...as you study the ministry of Jesus you see example after example of Him meeting someone whose body, or whose life, or whose situation, or whose family was broken down…their life was being lived much like an iron-man triathlon…
if time allowed we could walk our way through the gospels this morning exclusively through that lens…
and see example after example of our Lord meeting someone whose body, or whose life, or whose situation, or whose family was broken down…
and He compassionately and miraculously intervened in some way that reversed the process…that built up what had been torn down…don’t you love a Savior like that?...like the hymn writer said – what a wonderful Savior…keeping His promise to build…
like the hymn writer said – what a wonderful Savior…keeping His promise to build…
- that’s what a Master Builder does…
- or when a man of small stature climbs up in a tree to hear Jesus’s message and the Lord calls Him out and says… - When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
- and you may remember what happens next… - When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
- (which by the way is the same thing people like “them” did back in regarding the man with the withered hand…because Jesus didn’t choose to do that on just any day…He rebuilt that man’s hand on the Sabbath – and the so-called religious people were outraged – because they valued their legalism more than building something up that had been destroyed…)
- so there’s no question that Zacchaeus (this wee little man, as the children’s song goes) was a broken down sinner…the issue was – was there anyone willing and able to rebuild him?...
- and the answer is – Jesus was – even if He had to endure some venom being spit on him because he had the audacity to go to be the guest of a man who was a sinner (as if the men making the accusation weren’t)…
- and what happened next?... - Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
- like the hymn writer said – what a wonderful Savior…keeping His promise to build…
And as part of that building project, Jesus has employed every believer to take full responsibility to be involved in the construction process…we can be built and we can participate in building others…
- so Paul would tell the Ephesian elders in - - And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Paul would tell the Ephesian elders in - And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
that is so true that the church itself is actually referred to in Scripture…as a building -- - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
And that’s why it’s we need to make sure we are doing our part to build the house according to the specifications outlined by the Master Builder…we are in week 2 of this new series of “Learning to One Another”… because that is how He wants us to build....the way we can impact our brothers and sisters…
now, this summer, we’re focusing especially on the second half of the equation…of Building One Another…this is a delightful study of the “one-another’s in Scripture”…the way we can impact our brothers and sisters…even if parts of their stories have evidence of damage and destruction…
so last week we started with the joyful privilege of loving one-another…if you need a chart that we handed out last week, they are available on the welcome center...
this morning we want to think about the way we can come alongside one another in serving and living for God…and then confidently saying to that person – you can do it...you can do it…Encourage One Another…
because sometimes the building project gets tough and sometimes you just want to hang up your hammer and nails…sometimes you can just pour all your energy into someone, seeking to build them up only to have them walk away from you wanting nothing to do with you…sometimes the very people you are trying to build up can turn on you and do everything they can to tear you down instead…that is when you need to find the pack, to be the pack, of people who are more like “Encouraging Ellie” and less like “Negative Ned”
So this morning let’s consider the next step of “one anothering”
Build Up One Another by Encouraging One Another
Build Up One Another by Encouraging One Another
Be Actively Engaged in Encouraging One Another.
Be Actively Engaged in Encouraging One Another.
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Please turn in your Bibles to
- let’s think about that in a more expanded fashion by reading from beginning at verse 19 [read ]…
let’s think about 3 truths to encourage us to encourage one another.
Truth number 1....
We All Are Built Upon A Foundation of Encouragement – 19-23.
We All Are Built Upon A Foundation of Encouragement – 19-23.
I realize you might say – I struggle with being an encourager…either because “caring about others doesn’t come naturally for me” or because some of the people in my life are in such a state of destruction that it’s hard to see beyond all of their failures and believe it could ever be any different…
that may be why the writer of Hebrews nestled this command in an extended description of the power and beauty of the gospel…even if caring about others doesn’t come naturally for you – the gospel can change that about you…
even if caring about others doesn’t come naturally for you – the gospel can change that about you…
and even if others around you are failing in all sorts of ways – the gospel can change that about them…
how so?...because what we read here is true of all believers whether they are practicing this or not…the challenge before us this morning is to actually follow through and do it…so regardless of what others do…You and I need to commit to this...
We all need to show the kind of encouragement that provides the confidence to draw near to God.
We all need to show the kind of encouragement that provides the confidence to draw near to God.
19 - Since we have confidence to enter the Holy place
20 – by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us
22 – let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith
Our life together as believers is not to come from a self-centered heart and life that never shows concern for others…our life together needs to come from the fact that we all can“enter the Holy place”…and from our need to draw near to the Lord with a full assurance of faith…when you see a brother or sister is struggling to make sense of things…come alongside them and enter the presence of God together in prayer…you don’t have to know the details of their struggle…
- and like many so called “big box churches” – much of the emphasis was on coming to the big show on Sunday morning…and it was much like going to a concert…it’s dark in the auditorium and you’re going to hear and watch the start performers…
- but there wasn’t much body life throughout the rest of the week…
and as a result – people were not changing…they were not being encouraged spiritually by one another throughout the week…
- so I was asked to help them think that model through – and in the course of the conversation on of the pastoral staff members wives made a fascinating comment – “people tire me out”…”they wear on me”…
We all need to know and be reminded that we are not alone in our journey; and that together we can enter the presence of God with confidence knowing that He can handle this, whatever “this” is.
We all need to know and be reminded that we are not alone in our journey; and that together we can enter the presence of God with confidence knowing that He can handle this, whatever “this” is.
- in other words – we have time, and energy, and bandwidth to have a big production on Sunday morning but there’s no time or interest to invest in people personally in a way that is going to result in genuine spiritual growth…
- whatever that is – it’s not a church…
- that kind of self-centered heart and life…needs to “enter the Holy place”…needs to draw near to the Lord with a full assurance of faith…
The closer you are to the Lord the more you will naturally and automatically care about the spiritual condition of the people around you.
The closer you are to the Lord the more you will naturally and automatically care about the spiritual condition of the people around you.
Some believers don’t come to God’s house because they don’t like being with people…and that is completely contrary to the life God desires for us as his children…and a person like that could not possibly have an impact in the church or community that is anywhere close to “encouraging one another and building one another…”
- that’s not funny – and a person like that could not possibly have an impact in the church or community that is anywhere close to “encouraging one another and building one another…”
That kind of heart doesn’t reflect the heart of God…which comes from spending a lot of time in the Holy place…asking that His love for people would become your love for people…
We need to show an encouragement that is based upon the finished work of Christ.
We need to show an encouragement that is based upon the finished work of Christ.
- our plane was delayed several hours going down which meant getting to the hotel several hours later than scheduled that night and still needing to be ready to teach the first thing the next morning…which is fine – at least we were in the correct city…
- but then coming back on Saturday in order to speak here on Sunday…
- we left the DR on time and arrived in Philadelphia a little early…so I had over 2 hours to get through customs and then catch my final plane to Indy…
- but the area around the terminals was like this giant parking lot jammed with planes facing every which direction…I’ve never seen anything quite like it…
- apparently they had had a bunch of weather delays so they just started putting plane wherever they could…and then trying to untangle that mess was no easy feat…airplanes don’t exactly turn on a dime…
- so we sat there for over 2 hours…and I obviously missed my flight to Indy which is a bit of a problem…because when you only work one day a week, they expect you to show up…
- well, then I had to go deal with the airline to try to figure out where I was going to stay and how I was going to eventually get home…
- I wish I had a picture of the poor guy at the airline counter…person after person just chewing on him as if he was the one responsible for the weather…
- and I’m not saying I do this perfectly…but this isn’t the first time I’ve been in this situation and I’ve learned over the years that maybe the most important ministry opportunity that weekend isn’t in a church service – maybe it’s at the airline counter with one person…
- a guy like that needs to be thanked for his work, and encouraged in some way…and we can’t fulfill the commands of verses 24-25 without the transformation power of the gospel described in verses 19-23 working in our own hearts and lives…
- the writer also describes this foundation of our encouragement as being…
On the basis of the finished work of Christ
On the basis of the finished work of Christ
we can “enter the holy place”…
19 – by the blood of Jesus
20 – through the veil, that is His flesh
what’s the relationship of that to encouragement?...
We naturally want to focus on the negative side of things and often view others through the lens of negativity…we are naturally inclined to constantly harp on a particular shortcoming in others that seems to define their existence…when instead we ought to be looking at them through the lens of the cross...
- one of the ways parents can exasperate their kids is by focusing exclusively on the negative…as if that particular failure defines their entire existence…and constantly harping on that particular shortcoming…
Choosing to look at one another through the power and potential of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ makes it easier for us to encourage, both from the perspective of what Jesus is doing in them now, and also what He can do in and through them in the days ahead.
Choosing to look at one another through the power and potential of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ makes it easier for us to encourage, both from the perspective of what Jesus is doing in them now, and also what He can do in and through them in the days ahead.
What you see is not the end of the journey…we are to keep proclaiming Christ until we all are fully mature in Him…when does that happen…the Rapture…since that has not happened, guess what…you and I still have much work to be done on this battlefront.
We need to show an encouragement that can result in a marvelous position before the Lord.
We need to show an encouragement that can result in a marvelous position before the Lord.
Ultimately what a person does with our encouragement is between them and the Lord, but look at what God says can happen when we are fully engaged in the process..
22–…our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
why was this information about the gospel given before the commands to encourage?...
to remind us of how wonderful it is in the position – and to long to see others around us enjoy this privilege as well…
so what does gospel centered encouragement look like practically?...
please think about that in light of the overall purpose of the book of Hebrews and what has already been discussed in chapter 10…
this letter was written primarily to Jewish men and women who had left the temple and either become genuine believers of Jesus Christ…or in some cases people who left for social reasons but had never truly accepted Christ as Lord and Savior…
but the newness was wearing off…and the persecution was increasing…and some were even looking longingly back at the temple with its OT sacrificial system…
and this book has a series of stern warnings about deserting the faith along with rich explanations about the superiority of the finished work of Christ…
and if you glance over the earlier verses in this chapter – that’s what the writer had been doing…contrasting the two approaches…
- For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
those sacrifices could just roll the penalty forward…but contrast that to Christ…
- By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
that’s how and why we want to be encouraged, and how and why we want to encourage others…
It is only through the finished work of Jesus Christ that the power and presence of sin can be addressed and life-change that is God-honoring can be achieved!
It is only through the finished work of Jesus Christ that the power and presence of sin can be addressed and life-change that is God-honoring can be achieved!
- both of them have extensive building projects going…
- Vision of Hope establishing a new store down at the Northend Community Center where they will be able to dramatically expand their ministry and outreach…
- and Restoration preparing to construct a new duplex and double the number of men we can serve along with finishing our kiln and our new commercial nursery…
- why are there so many people in our church involved in all of that…looking for opportunities to encourage others who may have been struggling with some sort of addiction to move forward in their relationship with Jesus Christ?...
- because it’s only through the finished work of Jesus Christ can the power and presence of sin be addressed…and life-change that is God-honoring be achieved…
the life changing gospel of the Master Builder – our Lord Jesus Christ – encourages us…to be encouragers…
- and they were talking about tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money that is going to have to be spent…
- well, that may be well and good and we wish all of those involved in secular programming the very best…but here’s the bottom line – none of that can ever take away sins…
- which is why the individuals we were talking to were so discouraged and hopeless…when will this ever end?...
- the answer to that is – at the foot of the cross…and the entrance to the empty tomb…
Truth number 2
- and we’re not going to beat on our chests about that – not everyone who comes through one of our programs is a raging success story…
- but by God’s grace and for His glory…there’s an awfully lot of success stories…
- the life changing gospel of the Master Builder – our Lord Jesus Christ – encourages us…to be encouragers…
The Nature of Our Encouragement Causes Us to Be Intentional – 24-25.
The Nature of Our Encouragement Causes Us to Be Intentional – 24-25.
because of the way this passage is structured, I realize we haven’t yet completely even defined our terms…
but the writer now describes this privilege as:
We must be intentional to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
We must be intentional to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
- and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
don’t you love that word – “stimulating” one another…
- don’t you love that word – “stimulating” one another…
the original word here is paroxusmos – from which we derive the English word paroxysm – sudden agitation or stirring something up…
- I never tried one of those and I’ll tell you exactly why – the obstacle that concerns me the most is the one where you have to run through a cluster of bare electric wires not knowing which one is live and prepared to shock you…
- I’ve pretty much decided at this point in my illustrious athletic career that if I don’t enjoy it, I’m not going to do it…(I’m talking about sports in my down-time)…
- and I’m quite sure I wouldn’t enjoy being stimulated by a bunch of bare wires hitting my face…
- but the original word here is paroxusmos – from which we derive the English word paroxysm – sudden agitation or stirring something up…
We must be intentional to experience joyful fellowship and worship together.
We must be intentional to experience joyful fellowship and worship together.
- he knew I could do it – but those abilities and experiences needed to be stirred up…
We must be intentional to experience joyful fellowship and worship together.
We must be intentional to experience joyful fellowship and worship together.
- one of the reasons we ought to want to be in the Lord’s house is for the opportunity to encourage another person in the things of God…
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
- one of the reasons we ought to want to be in the Lord’s house is for the opportunity to encourage another person in the things of God…
There are all sorts of reasons we ought to want to be in God’s house…and one of them is that we have opportunity and privilege to encourage another person in the things of God…that should be one of our regular prayer requests on Sunday morning – Lord, get me to church today and help me encourage someone today…help me to build someone up…
- that should be one of our regular prayer requests on Sunday morning – Lord, help me encourage someone today…
I read an article this past week that stated that those who lead the church need to rethink how they do church because the church of the 21st century was becoming more and more decentralized…meaning, because of technology more and more people are finding it unnecessary to actually go to one particular building and connect with people there when they can listen to messages on-line, view worship live from their sofa, and occasionally meet up with a small group in a local coffee house if they had time available...
- help me to build someone up…
I think there is some element of truth in that…I am not saying that we shouldn’t use technology to the best of our ability, for the glory of God, but let me challenge you with the fact that the Holy Spirit superintended the writer of Hebrews to write this in the 1st century knowing full well what life in the 21st century would bring…he commanded us not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together.
I’m going to step out of my comfort zone a little here this morning and kids will probably end up hating me after today…but parents need to stop letting their kids decide when and where they should attend church, parents you need to make being in God’s house a priority, and I would even encourage you to teach your children to be encouragers as well by looking at going to their Sunday School class, to Agents for Truth, and to Teen Impact, looking for someone who needs to be encouraged.
We must be intentional to accept the privilege and responsibility of coming alongside others.
We must be intentional to accept the privilege and responsibility of coming alongside others.
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
- not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
the word encourage is this text and many others is a compound Greek word – one word means means alongside, and another word means to speak or call…
- the word encourage is this text and many others is parakalountes – from parakalew…
- it’s a compound word – para which means alongside, and kalew which means to speak or call…
So in encouragement, we are choosing to come alongside another person and speak God’s Word into their heart and life.
So in encouragement, we are choosing to come alongside another person and speak God’s Word into their heart and life.
You don’t have to be a pastor or deacon to do this...part of the beauty of this is that the same word is often used as a name for the Holy Spirit of God…
He’s our paraklete – the theologians say…our comforter…
why is this so important?...
Because we live in an incredibly negative world.
turn on many of the cable news shows and it seems to be all about tearing the other guy down…and you can pick your brand of politics or issues but the approach seems to be the same on all sides many times…just tear down…and we all fall into that trap…do we not?...
and you can pick your brand of politics or issues but the approach seems to be the same on all sides many times…
just tear down…and we all fall into that trap…do we not?...
it’s easier to complain…and easier to find fault…and easier to criticize and cut off…than it is to encourage…I know I fall into that trap more often than I am willing to confess and that doesn’t please the Lord…
I’m quite certain that is true of me far more often than would please the Lord…
well, how does that affect every person who will walk in our services today?...
you can start feeling beaten down in the world in which we live…you’re ridiculed…you’re put down…it’s easy to feel like quitting…
but then to come into the Lord’s house and hear a word of encouragement…It’s great to see the way the Lord is working in your life…It’s so exciting to see where your faith journey is going to lead you…
Maybe you messed up once this week, but that’s a lot better than messing up every day as was the case just a few months ago…”you can do this”…
2. We can also do a pretty good job of tearing ourselves down…
turn on many of the cable news shows and it seems to be all about tearing the other guy down…
and you can pick your brand of politics or issues but the approach seems to be the same on all sides many times…
just tear down…and we all fall into that trap…do we not?...
- and we all fall into that trap…do we not?...
it’s easier to complain…and easier to find fault…and easier to criticize and cut off…than it is to encourage…
I’m quite certain that is true of me far more often than would please the Lord…
well, how does that affect every person who will walk in our services today?...
you can start feeling beaten down in the world in which we live…you’re ridiculed…you’re put down…it’s easy to feel like quitting…
- you ridiculed…you’re put down…it’s easy to feel like quitting…
but then to come into the Lord’s house and hear a word of encouragement…It’s great to see the way the Lord is working in your life…It’s so exciting to see where your faith journey is going to lead you…
- It’s great to see the way the Lord is working in your life…
- It’s so exciting to see where your faith journey is going to lead you…
Maybe you messed up once this week, but that’s a lot better than messing up every day as was the case just a few months ago…”you can do this”…
2. We can also do a pretty good job of tearing ourselves down…
perfectionism and comparing ourselves to others can be exhausting…coupled with a struggle with our flesh that can be discouraging and disheartening…
- coupled with a struggle with our flesh that can be discouraging and disheartening…
there’s nothing quite like a word of encouragement…and the people of God should be known for that…the gospel calls us to, and motivates us to that kind of life…are you evaluating yourself in this particular area?...
- and the people of God should be known for that…
the gospel calls us to, and motivates us to that kind of life…are you evaluating yourself in this particular area?...
- are you evaluating yourself in this particular area?...
how would you rate yourself on the matter of being a biblical encourager?...is that the impact you have in your home?...is that the impact you have at work?…with your extended family?...in your neighborhood?...at our church?...
- is that the impact you have in your home?...
- is that the impact you have at work?…with your extended family?...in your neighborhood?...at our church?...
what would need to change for it to be more clearly said of you that you -- - Therefore encourage one another and build up one another
what about this warning at the end?...it couldn’t get much stronger…perhaps we could say it like this…
Truth number 3
Be Serious because of the Consequences of Our Encouragement – 26-31.
Be Serious because of the Consequences of Our Encouragement – 26-31.
what happens to people who reject the encouragement of the people of God?
Sin will either be judged by the penalty paid by the Savior or the penalty paid by the person who rejects the Savior.
Sin will either be judged by the penalty paid by the Savior or the penalty paid by the person who rejects the Savior.
For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Ignoring the gospel is like trampling the Lord.
Ignoring the gospel is like trampling the Lord.
B. Ignoring the gospel is like trampling the Lord.
B. Ignoring the gospel is like trampling the Lord.
How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
- How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
the terminology could not be stronger…
- the terminology could not be stronger…
The final result could not be more horrifying.
The final result could not be more horrifying.
It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
that is – if you fall into His hands…unprepared…
- that is – if you fall into His hands…unprepared…
that’s what so terrible about individuals cavalierly saying – well, people tire me out…or I don’t like people…
God deliver us from that kind of apathy or insensitivity…
what individuals choose to do with the gospel is between them and the Lord…
whether we choose to believe it and live it and passionately encourage others to do the same…that’s between us and the Lord…
Our message is one of encouragement. Let us not grow weary in encouraging one another to stay the course and draw near to God together.
Regardless of how others respond to His message, let us be known as a family of encouragers that Jesus is building; and let us build into one another a life of biblical encouragement as we link arms and move forward in His ministry.
Regardless of how others respond to His message, let us be known as a family of encouragers that Jesus is building; and let us build into one another a life of biblical encouragement as we link arms and move forward in His ministry.
The church could use more “Encouraging Ellies” and less “Negative Neds”…who will you be?