"How We Live" :Encouragement

Questions for further study…

1. Do you find it difficult to encourage others? Why?
2. Discuss the last time someone encouraged you, how did it make you feel? How did you feel toward them?
3. Do you find that you get a lot of encouragement? Why or why not?
4. Paul said “we heard of your faith”, do you find that when you speak about other people you are building them up or tearing them down? Why?
5. How do you think non-Christians will respond to you if you are consistently encouraging them and others?
6. Select some Scriptures in which you can keep on hand to encourage others with.
7. Think of the people in your life that you have neglected to encourage and make an action plan to encourage them. (write a letter or tell them in person)


Sermon text/notes
Colossians “How We Live”: Week 1 Encouragement

Verses 1-2 Intro Paul and Timothy, Paul was in prison
To Christians at Colosse. Paul during his three year ministry in Ephesus a man named Epaphras became a Christian and then he went and preached the Gospel at Colosse and people became Christians and planted a church or churches. They were under attack with false teaching and Epaphras went and visited Paul and told him what was up.

So the occasion for the writing was the heresy that was seeping into the church.

By the way Paul starts the letter we get the feel that Epahras was like…”man they took off with an amazing start and there are many people whose faith is vibrant, they are just being led astray.”

He starts off with words of encouragement.

Encouragement makes rebuke and correction that much easier to take, because you realize the person loves you and notices that you do things well too. “its not all bad” sometimes people globalize?? A problem “ah everything is terrible, these people are terrible, what are they dumb, they can’t do anything right.

Vrs 3 He is thanking God for them and praying for them (we will hit pray more next week)

Vrs 4 Others were talking about you in a good way. It always feels good to know when someone says something nice about you.

Vrs 5 Scriptural encouragement Paul is encouraging them with Scripture in the sense that he reminds them of the promises God gives in His Word.
As Christians we should use the Word to encourage one another.

Christians should have a culture of encouragement and the Gospel penetrates a life in such a way that brings encouragement. The GOSPEL in and of it self is an encouragement from Jesus…we were dead He gives life, we were lost, He sought to find us, We owe a payment for our sin, He paid our debt, this world is seems to be getting worse, The next life will be far better.


Why we don’t encourage…
1. We are self centered. Paul was in prison and he was still able to encourage them. When we are in “prisons” of life usually we go out of our way to let people know how much our lives stink.
2. We are angry with the ones that are in need of encouragement. Paul had every right to be angry that they were believing false teachings.
3. We forget. Paul’s habits were prayer and thanksgiving for what God did in their lives v3-4
4. Not modeled to us. Maybe you were not encouraged by your parents or anyone else so you find it hard to encourage others. Or the culture we are setting is not of encouragement.
5. We think it feeds peoples egos I believe that encouragement rightly taken leads to humility not pride, because if we look at the things that the Lord has done in our lives we realize we could not have done those things on our own.

Vrs 6 Gospel
What should we encourage? If we see people striving in these areas we should encourage.
1. Gospel living, living in such a way that people see the Gospel in you, Sacrifice, service, kindness to enemies. Phil 1:27 Live among the unbelievers and in a manner worthy of the Gospel. This will bear fruit.

Verse 4-5
2. Faith-looking upward toward God, life of prayer, worship, the Word
3. Love-Looking outward towards others.
4. Hope- Looking forward to the future

When we see these things in the lives of others our response should be to encourage them.
Likewise we should strive to live these things out, not for the encouragement but because that what Jesus calls us to do.

People will notice when the Gospel takes root in your life

Vrs 7-8 Paul encourages them that they have a Pastor (Epahras) who loves them and desires to minister to them.

Ways to encourage…
1. Good memories,
2. Written word
3. Correction
4. Acts of service or kindness
5. Do good, this encourages whoever has taught you
6. Have fun/celebrate
How We Live will radically affect all of our relationships as followers of Jesus we need to create a culture of encouragement.