Encourager
Notes
Transcript
Scripture intro - such a great encourager, that people changed his name.
Scripture intro - such a great encourager, that people changed his name.
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Barnabas’ given name was Joseph, but the apostles gave him the name Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement” “Barney Box”
Can you imagine being so encouraging to others that Christ’s followers would choose a new name to call you to fit that?
Don’t estimate the power of our speech.
You can encourage or you can discourage
1. Open Illustrations: great changes come through speech:
1. Open Illustrations: great changes come through speech:
a. Preacher noticed and spoke to my uncertainty; lack of confidence “You can do what you want - don’t let anyone tell you other wise. He encouraged me.
b. Walking with a roommate and now enthusiastic viewer, friend - “you are selfish.” He encouraged me.”
Message is about our speech, how we talk to one another. The power it has.
“Sticks and stones...” I disagree. You can ruin someone’s week or change someone’s life.
You can change someone’s life with your speech.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
It can inspire, encourage, it can comfort; remind us of God’s love;
It can be empty speech; negative, discouraging;
A fictional 19th century Irish bartender named Mr. Dooley, in Chicago Evening Post said: “The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
That’s what sermons should do. Comfort and afflict. That’s what your speech should do! That’s what encouragement should do: 1) Notice someone’s hurt. Speak to it. 2) Notice someone’s doing a good job in ministry, affirm that. 3) Someone getting passive; not using their gifts to their full extent; speak to it.
You can change someone’s life with your speech.
2-ways to encourage someone: from a pastor’s point of view:
1) Comfort: Barnabas goes to a beaten down people. Murder, displaced; facing hard changes; hurting. He notices this and he travels a long distance to encourage them.
Depression, fear, leads to losing hope, not doing ministry because they feel they have nothing to give. Do we notice this? We can get so stressed about the ministry that I don’t notice these things in others.
Notice them, speak to them.Encourage them Change someone’s life with your speech.
2) Afflict (this one is hard): hurting others; nothing to do at the church; can’t go out; seek. passive in their relationship w God; having obvious spiritual gifts,
remember this:
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Someone is hurting others, hurting themselves; Sometimes we have to afflict. Not flatter, pretend everything is okay.
Notice them, speak to them.Encourage them Change someone’s life with your speech.
How can we have a ministry of encouragement: Notice:
Where are they hurting? Where do they lack confidence? What are they worried about? The pain has become too great.
Notice them, speak to them.Encourage them Change someone’s life with your speech.
Notice: how are they hurting others? The church? Their testimony notice it and speak to it. Not the same as criticism.
This is intentional and relational. It means noticing them. Notice someone this week. Encourage them. Change their lives.