We all have heard the expression, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”. I am not sure that is an accurate statement, but I think we have all heard it.
If negative words are hurtful, if mean words can hurt our feelings what about positive words?
This Sunday we will talk about encouraging others. Encouragement is such a powerful thing. How would our relationships be different if we looked to encourage those around us?
I appreciated what Richard shared last Sunday about the difference expressing appreciation and expressing affirmation. As I heard it, expressing appreciation is usually centered around something that was done. Expressing affirmation is acknowledging the qualities in a person. That was a good reminder to me.
I invite you to sit with these passages this week…
Hebrews 10:24-25 Complete Jewish Bible
24 And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other.
Romans 15 The Message
15 1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”3-6 That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
This Sunday let’s talk about the benefits of encouraging others.
You might be surprised who benefits.
