Dear Friends,

Practice is important. People will often say I used to be better, but I don’t practice these days. This could be the piano, golf or godliness. anything we want to improve it requires practice. Our old habits and tendencies creep back in and we lose the improvements we have made.

This is also true with encouragement. if you have realized you need to be a more positive encouraging person that’s only the start. you must practice every day. This Sunday I will give you things you can do every day to move out of your habits that discourage into a life of prayer, words, and actions that encourage others. Don’t miss it.

Blessings,

Joe

Preparing for Sunday, August 13, 2019-Week 9

Please prayerfully consider the following scriptures and discuss the questions as you prepare for Sunday.

 

 

Share how someone encouraged you with words?

 

 

How do words define people for good or bad?

Matthew 12:35-37 “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good, and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”

 

 

How have you seen words discourage and ruin some one’s credibility as a follower of Jesus?

James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

 

 

Describe ways of speaking that feed fear and conflict?

 

 

What is one thing you could say today to encourage someone?

 

 

Why do people become hoarders?

 

 

How can spontaneous giving encourage others?

 Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

 

 

What can you give today?

 

 

Is paying attention harder in the electronic age?

 

 

Why is paying attention so important to encourage others?

 

 

 What can you do today to aid your focus?

 

 

How can hating or being hated to discourage?

Luke 6:31-36 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 

 

Why did Jesus teach daily forgiveness as essential to being a true disciple?

 

 

How can you encourage a life of total forgiveness today?

 

 

 

Why is having a church important to encouragement?

 

 

 

What hinders that for many?

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

 

 

What one thing can you do today to include others in fellowship?

 

 

 

What attitude within keeps people from serving?

John 13:14-17 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them

 

 

How can you find a way to serve today?