ENCOURAGE
FIRST MENS RETREAT
- 30 YEARS AGO- FIRST MENS RETREAT
- HARKERS ISLAND
- THIS WEEKEND CAPE MAY NJ 65-70 MEN
- INCREDIBLE WEATHER-FELLOWSHIP/FOOD/PRAYER-WORSHIP/THE LORD MET WITH US IN A VARIETY OF WAYS
- THURS MORNING RUN- 100 DOLPHINS- CREATION
- 5 YEARS AGO- DID MY OWN INDEPENDENT POLL
- ASKED 3 STAFF PEOPLE CHURCH I WAS ATTENDING
- LESS THAN 5 IN 1 YEAR (ENCOURAGING TEXT)
- MENTIONED PASTOR BILLY/BRIAN CHARETTE POLL
- WHY DO WE STRUGGLE TO GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT?
- IS IT POSSIBLE WE DON’T RECEIVE IT OFTEN?
SCRIPTURE CORINTHIANS 1:3-4
3. PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES, SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COMFORT WE OURSELVES RECEIVE FROM GOD.
ENCOURAGEMENT
- TO INSPIRE-MOTIVATE- TO PLACE WITHIN
- biblical context refers to the act of giving support, confidence, or hope to someone
TO PLACE IT IN SOMEONE
PARAKLESIS
- COME ALONGISDE/COME NEAR/HELP-ENCOURAGE
DISCOURAGEMENT
- LOSS OF CONFIDENCE- DEJECTED
- LACK OF ENTHUSIASM-LOSS OF HOPE
PAUL IS AN ENCOURAGER IN SCRIPTURE
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (EPHESIANS 4:15)
SCRIPTURE EPHESISANS 4:16
16. FROM HIM THE WHOLE BODY, JOINED AND HELD TOGETHER EVERY SUPPORTING LIGAMENT GROWS AND BUILDS ITSELF UP IN LOVE, AS EACH PART DOES ITS WORK. (EACH OF US HAS A PART/ROLE/RESPONSIBILITY)
KEVIN/JANETTE/BILLY/OLIVIA/DON- DAN LEE MAKE COFFEE
ENCOURAGE LOGO
PAUL SAME WRITER WANTS TO HELP US/ENCOURAGE US
PAUL HAS SOME METAPHORS FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
HE USES 3 REPEATEDLY-
WARRIOR. ATHLETE- FARMER
SCRIPTURE 2 TIMOTHY 4:7
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful
PAUL SAYS HERE: FOUGHT THE FIGHT-IM A WARRIOR
FINISHED THE RACE- ATHLETE
REMAINED FAITHFUL- FARMER- TENDS TO HIS CROPS AND HIS/HER LIVESTOCK FAITHFULLY
DILIGENTLY
- USES AGRICULTURE TO EXPLAIN FAITH JOURNEY
SCRIPTURE HEBREWS 12:1
1.Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
WHAT IS THE RACE?
THE JOURNEY OF FAITH THAT WE ARE ON
IS IT A SPRINT OR A MARATHON? YES
ACTS 20:24
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
4 X 100 – EACH RUNNER RUNS 100
4 X 400- EACH RUNNER RUNS 400
- EXCHANGE LANE- BATON DROP
SCRIPTURE 2 Timothy 2:2
2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
HANDOFF TRACK
FASTEST RACE EVER
- EACH MEMBER- PLAYING THEIR PART
- EACH MEMBER PASSING THE BATON
HANDOFF TRACK
- RUNNER RECEIVING DOESN’T LOOK BACK (TRUST)
- RUNNER RECEIVING- IS AT FULL SPEED AHEAD
- RUNNER WHO PASSES THE BATON-STAYS IN THEIR LANE- AND CHEERS LIKE CRAZY
ARE YOU PASSING THE BATON OF FAITH? ARE YOU CHEERING? ARE YOU LOOKING BACK? ARE YOU FULL SPEED AHEAD?
EN COURAGEMENT BY ENCOURAGERS
DISCOURAGEMENT BY OTHERS PAINFUL
SCRIPTURE 2 TIMOTHY 2 4:10
FOR DEMAS, IN LOVE WITH THIS PRESENT WORLD, HAS DESERTED ME AND GONE TO THESOLINICA, CRESCENS HAS GONE TO GALATIA, TITUS TO DALMATIA.
- DEMAS WAS A CLOSE CO-LABORER WITH PAUL
- SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE RACE
- GHOSTED PAUL- THAT CUTS DEEP
- DON’T LET A DEMAS DISCOURAGE YOU
CAN’T PASS THE BATON- RUN RACE ALONE
- ANOTHER COMPANION ON THE RELAY TEAM
SCRIPTURE ACTS 11:23
WHEN THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM HEARD ABOUT THIS, THEY SENT BARNABAS TO ANTIOCH.
Barnabas (JOSEPH) name means “son of encouragement.”
SCRIPTURE ACTS 11:24
BARNABAS WAS A GOOD MAN, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FAITH. WHEN HE WENT TO ANTIOCH AND SAW HOW GOD HAD BLESSED THE BELIEVERS THERE, HE WAS VERY HAPPY. HE ENCOURAGED THEM ALL, SAYING
SCRIPTURE
23. ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL TO THE LORD. SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART. MANY MORE PEOPLE BECAME FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD
BARNABAS- PASSING THE BATON
SCRIPTURE ACTS 11:25
25. THEN BARNABAS WENT TO THE CITY OF TARSUS TO LOOK FOR SAUL.
SCRIPTURE ACTS 11:26
26. WHEN HE FOUND HIM, HE BROUGHT HIM TO ANTIOCH. THEY STAYED THERE A WHOLE YEAR. EVERY TIME THE CHURCH CAME TOGETHER
SCRIPTURE ACTS 11:26
26. BARNABAS AND SAUL MET WITH THEM AND TAUGHT MANY PEOPLE. IT WAS IN ANTIOCH THAT THE FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD JESUS WERE CALLED “CHRIST-FOLLOWERS” FOR THE FIRST TIME.
- WHEN YOU GO TO ENCOURAGE SOMEONE-
- DON’T PLAN THEIR RESPONSE
- DON’T YOU GET DISCOURAGED CAUSE THEY DIDN’T RESPOND RIGHT WAY.
- WHAT IF I DO IT AND THEY DON’T RECRIPROCATE?
TIMOTHY 4:11-12
11. LUKE ALONE IS WITH ME. GET MARK AND BRING HIM WITH YOU, FOR HE IS USEFUL TO ME FOR MINISTRY. TYCHIUS I HAVE SENT TO EPHASUS.
GLEN HOLLAND IS A MUSIC TEACHER
SCHOOL USUALLY CUTS MUSIC AND PHYS ED FIRST
HE IS DISCOURAGED- LAST DAY/ WIFE COMES
SON WHO IS DEF COMES TO WALK HIM OUT
MR HOLLANDS OPUS
CARD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
D MARTIN LLOYD JONES– FAMOUS PREACHER
ERIC ALEXANDER TRAVELED TO SEE HIM- PEOPLE ALWAYS GATHERED AROUND HIM/GRACIOUS
- WOULD YOU PRAY- ASK THE LORD-
LORD, WHO WOULD YOU HAVE ME ENCOURAGE TODAY?
- THE LAST TIME YOU RECEIVED GENUINE ENCOURAGEMENT, HOW’D IT MAKE YOU FEEL?