Cathy finished up her worship series focusing on spiritual disciplines Sunday. The last two disciplines were compassion and encouragement. I had never thought of compassion and encouragement being spiritual disciplines. But we really can learn, grow, and discipline ourselves to be more like Jesus, in sharing compassion and encouragement with other people.
Cathy asked anyone who was getting too much encouragement lately to raise their hand. Not one hand went up. I believe those of us there represent most people. Many, many people are tired these days, but we are not tired from getting encouraged too much.
Two of our fellow Purdue Boilermaker sports fans invited us to a basketball game last night. Here is a picture taken during the final minute of the game.
Cathy asked anyone who was getting too much encouragement lately to raise their hand. Not one hand went up. I believe those of us there represent most people. Many, many people are tired these days, but we are not tired from getting encouraged too much.
Two of our fellow Purdue Boilermaker sports fans invited us to a basketball game last night. Here is a picture taken during the final minute of the game.
The game was already decided. Purdue was ahead by 45 points. The “walk-ons”, the end of the bench players, were in. But look at the crowd. They are cheering as hard for them as they did for the stars on the team. And most importantly, look at those star members of the team! When one of the walk-ons scored a basket, Trevion Williams, the star of the game and a potential professional player, started dancing and yelling for him. When the walk-ons came off the floor they got high-fives, back slaps, hugs from the starters and key players.
Do you think they felt encouraged? Do you think the team’s encouragement for each other makes it more or less likely players will do whatever they can to help Purdue have a successful season?
How about those on “Team Jesus”? Do you think our encouragement of others makes them more or less likely to want to be part of the team of His disciples? Do you think encouraging each other helps our discipleship efforts for Jesus?
Paul wrote to the early church:
Do you think they felt encouraged? Do you think the team’s encouragement for each other makes it more or less likely players will do whatever they can to help Purdue have a successful season?
How about those on “Team Jesus”? Do you think our encouragement of others makes them more or less likely to want to be part of the team of His disciples? Do you think encouraging each other helps our discipleship efforts for Jesus?
Paul wrote to the early church:
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Paul was encouraging encouragers. That is what I am hoping to do too. I’m praying your encouragement of others is contagious. And I hope some of that encouragement comes back around to you too.
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