Dear Friends,

Someone said if you think of yourself as a hammer pretty soon you will see everyone as a nail.

We can easily not see people as individual souls. We imagine our mechanical opinions and remedies will apply equally to everyone.

This is not Gods way.

The gospel stories reveal how Jesus and later the apostles dealt with each person uniquely.

Zacchaeus and Nicodemus had different experiences with God. Saul of Tarsus had a very different narrative than Nathaniel. No matter how many evangelism and counseling books are pumped out on the “Christian Presses” the spirit goes and works as He wishes. All our efficient mechanical systems to convert, disciple and mature saints don’t produce much fruit.

The ways of God are not our ways. God convicts, converts and consecrates one soul at a time.

We are baptized one soul at a time. We grow and are encouraged one day and one challenge at a time.

This week we will talk about the people we help and encourage. How can we learn to understand others in a way so we can patiently point them to God’s grace? People are so different and their problems so distinct..

Let’s learn what to understand and with the spirits help respond to others.

 

Can’t wait to see you,

Blessings,

Joe

Please prayerfully read the scriptures and consider the questions.

 

1Thesalonians 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

 

 

Has anyone ever played holy spirit with you when they didn’t have the full story?

 

 

How have you dealt with this?

 

 

How can you know when someone is just being stubborn?

 

 

How do you deal with a rebellious person?

1Thesalonians 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly.

 

 

What does it mean to admonish someone?

Ephesians 4:14-15  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.

 

 

Has anyone admonished you? Did it help?

 

 

How has someone encouraged you when you were faint-hearted?Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

 

 

Describe an experience where you were treated as guilty and rebellious when you were just too weak. How has that affected you?

 

 

Why is it so important to sometimes do things for people?

 

 

What does God mean when He says we should be patient?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

 

 

Who are you to be patient with? Why is this often harder with some people than others?

People with disagreeing with

Family

Strangers

Drivers

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant.