HOW TO ENCOURAGE

A lesson about how to encourage people.

As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own copy of the Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.

Introduction

Welcome! The Bible has much to say about this interesting topic. You may find it helpful to invite a mature Christian from your church to study this topic with you. You may have a lot of questions that are not answered here. Maybe there are ideas here that seem hard to understand. Do not get overwhelmed! You can contact us with any questions that you may have. The elders of your local church can help you as well.

Remember that learning the content about this topic is helpful, but knowing the information will not truly change you. For you to benefit fully from this topic, you must…

• Become born-again by securing a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through faith by grace. This information cannot change you until the Holy Spirit of God gives you a new heart that is able to apply it to your life. To begin a personal relationship with God, it is imperative to understand and believe the following:

  • God is separated from you, because He is good, pure, and holy. 1 John 1:5-6

  • You are sinful, impure, and unholy because you do not measure up to God’s holiness. Romans 3:10-12 You are a descendent of Adam and Eve who rebelled against God. Romans 5:19

  • Your sinfulness provokes God’s anger and separates you from Him because He is holy. Romans 5:12 As a result, you deserve to be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever. Revelation 20:14-15

  • God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Jesus is God in the flesh. He lived a sinless life. He was nailed to the cross, shed His blood, and died in your place for your sins. He was buried, rose again, and went to Heaven to prepare a place for all who believe. He will return one day for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

  • Only the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is enough for you to be accepted forever by God the Father the moment you believe. John 3:16 God does not accept you on the basis that you try to be a good person and do good works. Romans 4:5 He accepts you fully and forever the moment you abandon your sins and call on Jesus to save you. John 3:36

• As you understand, meditate on, and believe the information presented here about this topic, you must also do what the Bible says. James 1:21-22 Only by trusting and obeying God’s Word regarding this topic will you experience the full benefits of this information. James 1:23-24 Trusting and obeying God’s Word will change you as you learn this. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 You will be happy as a result of your obedience. James 1:25

• Seek and heed the advice of your church leaders regarding this topic. Hebrews 13:17

• Depend upon the Holy Spirit to change you. Galatians 3:1-3 You cannot change without Him enabling you. John 15:5 He will change you in His time and way; but not apart from your faith and obedience to God’s Word. Trust Him to do His work in your heart. Philippians 2:12-13

• Allow the joy that you experience from obeying God’s Word to transform how you interact with others. James 2:12-20

The Gospel enables us to Encourage Others

• Jesus is God in the flesh. He lived a sinless life of encouraging others for us. Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22 He was nailed to the cross as if He withheld encouragement from others like we do. 1 Peter 2:24 He shed His blood so that we can be washed clean of our discouraging ways. Hebrews 10:22 He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Hebrews 4:14 He now sits at the right hand of the Father, representing us to Him. Hebrews 7:24-25

• Since Christ lived a life of encouragement for us, we have been accepted in Him by God the Father as if we lived His life of encouragement. 1 Peter 3:18

• Now that we have been accepted as children of God who eagerly encourage others, we are called to encourage others the way that Christ did. 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 2:23

• Since Christ died for the times that we discourage others, we no longer have to live with that shame. 1 Peter 2:24

• Since Christ rose from the grave, we can come boldly to Him for help when we lack the desire to encourage others. Hebrews 4:15-16

• Now we can forget our past moments of discouraging others. We can focus on living lives of encouragement with confidence, knowing that God will conform us into the image of Christ, and He will never abandon us. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Philippians 3:7-14; 1 Peter 2:25

• How will you commit this to prayer daily?

oPEN yOUR eYES

• Ask God to help you see the needs of others like He sees them. Matthew 9:35-38

• Daily be watching for how you can encourage somebody. John 4:35-38

• Ask yourself concerning others, “What is the most loving thing that I can do for them right now?” Mark 10:51-52; Galatians 4:15

• Pay attention to spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial needs. James 2:15-16

• How can you prepare ahead to encourage others to the best of your ability? Philippians 4:10

Consider OTHERS’ context

1 Thessalonians 5:14

• The unruly need to be warned.

• The fainthearted need to be encouraged.

• The weak need to be helped.

• Demonstrate patience with others.

Consider…

Genesis 16:7-9

• How did they get to this point?

• Have they experienced trauma?

• How can they best be helped?

Put yourself in their shoes

1 Thessalonians 5:11

• How would you feel in their situation?

• What would you want someone to do for you in that situation?

• What would you do for Jesus if He were in their situation?

• Is this the best time to help them?

• How can you show them that their interests are more important to you than your own?

Do not wait for them to tell you their needs

• Pay attention to their facial expression, tone of voice, and body language. Do they look tired, discouraged, or sick? Genesis 4:6

• What would you need in their situation? Hebrews 3:12-13

• Some people will not be open about their needs, so think ahead. Isaiah 35:3

• How can you pray for them privately and personally?

• How can you encourage them with the same encouragement that God has given you? 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

• What can you do for them that is unique to you?

• What can you give up to encourage them?

Consider your resources

• What resources do you have to meet their needs? 1 John 3:17-18

• What wise and timely words of encouragement can you offer them? Romans 15:32; Ecclesiastes 9:17; Ecclesiastes 10:12

• Spend time with them over dinner or coffee. Hebrews 13:1-3

• Bless them with meals or help them clean or fix something.

• Delegate assistance to others who can help.

ENCOURAGE THEM WITH THE RIGHT HEART

• Encourage them in secret. Matthew 6:1-4

• Be devoted to them. Romans 12:10

• Encourage them with a servant’s heart. Matthew 20:25-28

• Encourage them for the Lord’s sake. Matthew 25:34-40

• Encourage them in such a way that they will be grateful. Acts 11:22-24

REPRESENTING CHRISt By Encouraging Others

• We do not exist simply to live for ourselves. We were created to represent God.

• When we encourage others, it is not about us and them primarily. It is about God being represented well in how we encourage others. His reputation is on the line because we represent Him.

• God wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him. We demonstrate this of this by encouraging others.

• If we make it a priority to encourage others, we will become more like Christ and represent Him well.

• When we share the Gospel, it shines a light on our lives. If we are not encouraging others, then we will be tempted not to share the Gospel.

• When we have done everything we can to be an encouragement to others, it gives us boldness in our faith. This boldness will enable us to be transparent with anyone. This will enable us to let other believers into our lives to disciple them.

• We must let the reputation of God and His love for people motivate us to grow in our ability to encourage others.

• The love of Christ is enough to motivate us to encourage others.

Conclusion

Now that you have studied this topic, we encourage you to...

• Ask us or any of your church leaders about any questions or concerns you still have about this topic.

• Pray for yourself to grow in maturity regarding this topic.

• Do your best to practice what you have learned.

• Tell someone else about what you have studied.

• Ask one of your church leaders to help you overcome your weaknesses regarding this topic.

• Teach this subject to others.

• Consider reviewing this topic once each year.

• Commit to growing in this area together with other members of a local church.

• Trust the Holy Spirit to change you as He uses His Word, others, and circumstances to make you more like Christ.