• When you feel discouraged, how does it typically affect your spiritual walk and daily life?
• How has someone’s words, whether positive or negative, impacted you recently?
  There are three important factors to encourage one another: 

1. With your deeds. An act of service, a gift, or a note can make a huge difference. Barnabas, whose name literally means “Son of Encouragement,” did this in Acts 4:36 when he sold property and gave the money to the church. Barnabas wasn’t the only one who sold property and used it to help the church, but he was a model that others followed. Something we will see several times with Barnabas is that he was often the first to step out, the first to come forward, the first to offer acceptance, the first to jump in and help. That’s what encouragers do. They’re willing to be the first. They won’t wait for someone else to do it. But once they do it, then others are inspired to jump in as well. Encouragers are God’s jumper cables for the Church.
2. With your presence. Just being there and hurting with someone makes all the difference. Listen and care. Encouragers try to see in people what God sees in them. In Acts 9, Saul has just become a Christian. After a long history of persecuting Christians and overseeing their executions, no one in the church wanted to get close to him. No one trusted him. No one thought of him as the great Apostle Paul, called to be an evangelist to the Gentiles. But look what Barnabas does in Acts 9:26-28. Barnabas encourages Paul and takes him to Antioch. He trains him as a minister of the gospel. He became the great Apostle Paul because Barnabas was willing to see in him what God saw in him. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. We all need to be sons and daughters of encouragement. 
3. With the truth. Remind others of the truth of God’s word. Don’t pretend that their circumstances are different or better than they really are. No empty platitudes. Titus 1:9 says, ”He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” 

• What is one practical way you could use your deeds, presence, or words to encourage someone this week, at home, at work, or in your community?

• Take a moment to reflect on a few verses together by having someone in the group read the verse and share what the verse means to them. 

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:11 
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 
  3. Proverbs 12:18 
  4. Proverbs 11:25 

Proverbs 12:18
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.