Encourage One Another Series

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

Introduction

All Summer we have been talking about Building Up One Another. Members of One Another, Devoted, Honor, Be of the Same Mind, Accept One Another, Admonish, Greet, Serve, Carry One Another’s Burdens, Bear With, Submit to One another.

Each one of these passages presents a challenge to greater life in the Faith Community. Today’s is an important ingredient in all of these teachings: Encourage One Another.

Some people are more naturally discouragers than encouragers. A preacher who was leaving his church. At his farewell dinner, he tried to encourage one of the members of the church. He said to the older woman, “Don’t be sad at my leaving. The next preacher might be better than me.” She replied, “That’s what they said last time, but it keeps getting worse.” (Ortberg)

A book describes two kinds of people: “basement” and “balcony”. “Basement people” are the discouragers in our lives. They may be people from our past, or present, but their words go with us everywhere we go. They are the negative influences in our lives. They constantly point out what is wrong, rather than what is right with us. Basement people cause a room to light up when they leave.

In contrast to them are the “Balcony People.” They are people who are full of love and cheer us on. They encourage us to be loving, courageous followers of Christ. They sit in the balcony of our lives like a heavenly cheering section, saying, “You can do it.” “We believe in you.” “You are special to us.” Balcony people are the great encouragers in our lives. We need them!

The question for all of us is who will we be? Will we be basement people or balcony people? The choice is ours to

make. (Miller, Larson)

Our text today teaches us to be Balcony People! 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” J.B. Phillips puts it in his paraphrase, “So go on cheering and strengthening one another…as I have no doubt you have been doing.”

Imagine a church were everyone there is your greatest cheerleader. They all believe you can do it. They’re all ready to help you make it happen. They’re all there to help you back up when you stumble. And they’re all thrilled when you do succeed. That’s the kind of church we are called to be.

1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER?

The NT word for encourage is a word that means to “come alongside of, to stand with.” You encourage someone when you come alongside someone and help carry the load, you help them keep going. You guide them in which way to go.

ESPN calls it one of the 100 greatest moments in sports history. I call it the perfect picture of encouragement. IT was Derek Redmond’s dream to win an Olympic medal in the 400 meter race. In the semifinals of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, the stadium was filled 65,000 fans including Derek’s father, Jim Redmond. During the race, Derek broke out to an early lead and pulled away. 175 meters from the finish line, the race looked to be all his.

Suddenly, Derek hears a pop. It’s his right hamstring. Derek pulls up as if he had been shot. After hopping on one leg a few steps, he collapsed to the ground. At the top of the stadium, Derek’s dad, Jim, feels as though he’s just been sucker punched in the gut. Seeing his son writhing on the ground, Jim scrambles down the stands as fast as he could. Jim had no credentials to be on the field, but pushing by people as fast as he could, he yelled, “That’s my son out there, and I’m going to help him.”

Meanwhile, in incredible pain and tears, Derek realized his Olympic dreams were lost, but he was determined to finish the race. In great anguish, he pulled himself to his feet, and slowly hobbled down the track. With tears streaming down his cheeks he refused to surrender as he limped his way around the track. In the final turn with about 120 meters remaining Jim finally reached his son.

In an unforgettable moment, Jim tells Derek, “I’m here, Son,” as he took Derek in his arms. Between sobs he said, “We’ll finish together.” Arm and arm, father and son continued down the track. 65,000 fans were all on their feet cheering and clapping and crying. A couple feet from the finish line, with the crowd in an absolute frenzy, Jim let go of his son, so Derek could cross the finish line by himself.

That’s what means to encourage- to come alongside of.

Jesus uses this very same word in the gospel of John to describe the Holy Spirit. When Jesus called the Spirit the