ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER

"... and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds... " -- Hebrews 10:24 (Amplified Bible)
"Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."  -- I Thessalonians 5:11 (NRSV)  

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    To encourage means to:  give support, confidence, or hope to someone; give support and advice to someone to help them do or continue to do something; thelp stiulate development.  Encourage and building each other up go hand in hand.  Here are some ways we can encourage and build each other up which will in turn help us become healthy, thriving churches.
1.  Have high regards, great respect and favorable thoughts for each other.
2.  Be thoughtful and intentional when you speak.  Consider where someone is coming from and choose wisely your words.
3.  Be gracious.  When someone makes a mistake, be quick to forgive.  There's grace enough for everyone.
4.  Be understanding. "Understanding starts by being an active listener (not planning a reply as one is speaking), asking intelligent questions to gain further insights, and being accepting of what the speaker is sharing. Then, answer without condemning. Or don’t answer at all and decide to just be a listening ear." ("Simple Ways to Build Each Other Up)
5.  God speak not gossip.  Keep things in confidence.  Avoid hurting others by repeating unclaimed rumors behind their backs.  
6.  Be humble.  Humility is a mark of spiritual maturity.  Treat each other with respect, regardless of position and treasure them as gifts from God.
7.  Be hopeful.  Your witness of hopefulness allows others to be open to better things to come.
8.  Love others as Jesus has loved you -- unconditionally, seeing the best in people, and wanting the best for them.
9.  Share what you know.  Share your experiences of God in your life and affirm how you see God working in their lives.  Be a mentor.
     How can and to whom can you build up and inspire others?  How can you work towards making that a reality?
                                                Resource:  https://www.becomingminimalist.com/ten-simple-ways-to-build-each-other-up/

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