Better Than One

Relationships are still essential for continuous church revival and Christ-centered community.  Counselor Larry Crabb has defined encouragement as “the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough.”  Are you taking opportunities to provide encouragement to those around you?

Minister to One Another (1 Peter 4:10)  Note all that apply in the past two weeks.  Have you:

• written a note of encouragement?
• checked on the well-being of a friend, church member, or neighbor?
• shared words of affirmation?
• reached out to a newcomer at church?
• invited someone to your home?
• taken a meal to someone sick or home bound?
• mentored a less mature believer?
• prayed with someone?
• planned an activity with another family or friend?
• given time or money to meet a need?
• asked, “How can I help?”

Greet One Another (Romans 16:16)

T  F   When at church, I approach and greet guests.    

T  F   I introduce new acquaintance to my friends.  

T  F   I regularly invite believers to my home.

T  F   I make an effort to remember people’s names.   

Care for One Another (1Corinthians 12:25)   

T  F   I visit or call those who are sick or shut in.

T  F   I share my resources with people in need.

T  F   I try to find out how people are really doing.

Exhort One Another (Hebrews 3:13)

T  F   I am involved in discipling another believer.

T  F   I motivate people to reach their potential.

T  F   I confront people going the wrong way.

T  F   I encourage others to obey biblical truth.

Pray for One Another (James 5:16)

T  F   I often ask people how I can pray for them.

T  F   I stop to pray with people as needs arise.

T  F   I pray regularly with my spouse and children.

T  F   I often pray privately for those facing  struggles.

These ideas for encouraging one another will help and relate to Find It Here 2011.

Taken from revive magazine, a publication of Life Action Ministries

“One day things are rosy.  Then suddenly things you’ve been counting on are gone.”  When the unemployment numbers are near 8% in our nation, you may want to consider starting an Unemployment Support Group.  Several times in my ministry experience, I have found this type of support group to encourage and inform the unemployed.  It helps a person who has lost a job to understand he is not the only one experiencing a loss.  Here are some ingredients for an unemployment support group:

> Find some people to help you who have worked through unemployment and have successfully moved on.

> Advertise or market your support group in your church and throughout the community.

> Schedule a weekly or monthly meeting by using your own judgement and assessment of need.

> Include scripture support in your meeting such as:  Numbers 6:26; Deut. 4:31; Deut. 31:6,8; Psalm 27:13,14; Psalm 31:16; Psalm 37:25; Matt. 6:25,34; Rom. 15:13; I Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 4:7-9; Ephesians 6:10;  Phil. 4:11-13,19; Heb. 13:5B; I Pet. 1:7; I Pet. 5:7;  

> Bring in guests to help group members better understand how to search, network,  and find a job.

> Discuss articles from newspapers or magazines and other resources available in your area or on the web.

> Create an open environment so members feel free to share their feelings and emotions.

> Pray for needs, leads, strength, wisdom and the future.

> Celebrate job finds with a cake and ice cream.

Brian Waldrop who personally experienced unemployment discovered that the truth of Proverbs 17:17 rings true - ”A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  With that thought in mind, here are some do’s and don’ts for encouraging your unemployed friends and acquaintances:

*  Do inform the individual of employment possibilities, but don’t make the person feel that he or she has to jump at the opportunity.

*  Do affirm a person’s self-worth and abilities, but don’t be condescending.

*  Do ask about an individual’s job search, but don’t let the subject dominate your conversations.

*  Don’t be judgmental as to why an individual left his or her previous employment.  Do be open-minded.

*  Do consider him when planning recreation activities.  Don’t forget that the unemployed friend is probably barely making it.

Chuck Swindoll preached a sermon called “Boot Camp at Cherith” that related some of the life experiences of Elijah in I Kings 17.  By the distress and chaos of his life, God was able to transform the life of Elijah from ordinary to extraordinary.  Losing a job can open the door for someone to move from a casual relationship with God to a close and life changing walk with God.  An Unemployment Support Group can lead people to a healthy, Christ-like life.