THE NEGLECTED GOAL

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(No Transcript)
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THE NEGLECTED GOAL
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A duty for all

• Better leader?
• Better teachers?
• Better deacons?
• Better elders?
• Better wives?
• Better husbands?
• Better parents?
• Better Christians?

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,
but only such as is good for building up, as fits
the occasion, that it may give grace to those who
hear. (Ephesians 429, ESV)
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Speaking of becoming an Encourager
A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for
his feet. (Proverbs 295, ESV)

• Flattery false, with an agenda to get
• Encouraging speaking truth, helpful,
  rooted in love not getting
• This is a work for EVERYONE

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Speaking of becoming an Encourager
Therefore encourage one another and build one
another up, just as you are doing. 
(1 Thessalonians 511,
ESV) COMMANDED OF EVERYONE And we urge you,
brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the
fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them
all. (1 Thessalonians 514, ESV) Therefore
encourage one another with these words. (1
Thessalonians 418, ESV)
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Speaking of becoming an Encourager
And let us consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works, not neglecting to meet
together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you
see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 1024-25, ESV)
One reason we meet together is to ENCOURAGE
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Encouragers are Needed
Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles
Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a
Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that
belonged to him and brought the money and laid it
at the apostles' feet. (Acts 436-37, ESV)
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Encouragers are Needed
Now those who were scattered because of the
persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as
far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking
the word to no one except Jews. But there were
some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on
coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, pr
eaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord
was with them, and a great number who
believed turned to the Lord. The report of this
came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and
they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and
saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he
exhorted them all to remain faithful to the
Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good
man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a
great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts
1119-24, ESV)
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Encouragers are Needed
Now those who were scattered because of the
persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as
far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking
the word to no one except Jews. But there were
some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on
coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, pr
eaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord
was with them, and a great number who
believed turned to the Lord. The report of this
came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and
they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and
saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he
exhorted them all to remain faithful to the
Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good
man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a
great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts
1119-24, ESV)
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Encouragers are Needed
Now those who were scattered because of the
persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as
far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking
the word to no one except Jews. But there were
some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on
coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, pr
eaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord
was with them, and a great number who
believed turned to the Lord. The report of this
came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and
they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and
saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he
exhorted them all to remain faithful to the
Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good
man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a
great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts
1119-24, ESV)
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Encouragers are Needed
While they were worshiping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them.   (Acts 132, ESV) The Holy
Spirit set apart an encourager to go with the
teacher
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Encouragers are Needed
Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied
him and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and
Secundus and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy and
the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. (Acts 204,
ESV) So that you also may know how I am and
what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and
faithful minister in the Lord will tell you
everything. I have sent him to you for this very
purpose, that you may know how we are, and that
he may encourage your hearts. (Ephesians 621-22,
ESV)
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Encouragers are Needed
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities.
He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and
fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to
you for this very purpose, that you may know how
we are and that he may encourage your
hearts,  (Colossians 47-8, ESV)
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Encouragers are Needed
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and
Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made
up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit
as well as yours. Give recognition to such
people.  (1 Corinthians 1617-18, ESV) In every
kingdom task ENCOURAGERS are needed
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Jesus was an encourager
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to
him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor. And he rolled up the scroll and gave it
back to the attendant and sat down.  And he
began to say to them, Today this Scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 417-21,
ESV)
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Jesus was an encourager
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to
him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor. And he rolled up the scroll and gave it
back to the attendant and sat down.  And he
began to say to them, Today this Scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 417-21,
ESV)
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Jesus was an encourager
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to
him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor. And he rolled up the scroll and gave it
back to the attendant and sat down.  And he
began to say to them, Today this Scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 417-21,
ESV)
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Jesus was an encourager
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to
him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor. And he rolled up the scroll and gave it
back to the attendant and sat down.  And he
began to say to them, Today this Scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 417-21,
ESV)
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Jesus was an encourager
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to
him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor. And he rolled up the scroll and gave it
back to the attendant and sat down.  And he
began to say to them, Today this Scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 417-21,
ESV)
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Jesus was an encourager

• John 810-11- He encouraged an adultress
• John 141-3- He encouraged his disciples
• Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in
  God believe also in me. In my Father's house are
  many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told
  you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if
  I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
  again and will take you to myself, that where I
  am you may be also. (John 141-3, ESV)

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Encouragement changes our Lives

• Our goal in assembling?
• Our goal in singing?
• Our goal in praying?
• Our goal in reading scripture?
• Our goal in the Lords Supper?

• Encouragement has natural reactions and results
• It builds togetherness
• It builds trust
• It inspires others

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Encouragement changes our Lives
Encouragement makes evangelism, teaching, and
inviting more effective. The wise of heart is
called discerning, and sweetness of
speech increases persuasiveness. (Proverbs 1621,
ESV) The heart of the wise makes his speech
judicious and adds persuasiveness to his
lips.  (Proverbs 1623, ESV)
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Encouragement changes our Lives
Encouragement makes evangelism, teaching, and
inviting more effective. To make an apt answer
is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good
it is!  (Proverbs 1523, ESV) With patience a
ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will
break a bone.  (Proverbs 2515, ESV)
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Beware Obstacles to Encouragement

• Focusing on the negative
• Low Expectations
• Gossip
• Not looking for opportunities
• Not seeing the need

The kind of encouragement is not as important as
the fact of encouragement!