~ Encouraging Others ~

By Joy Lynn
Last time, we talked about friendship and being kind to your friends.
Today, we are going to talk about YOU encouraging others !o your words
and actions build"up others# Or do they put people down#
$e are going to start out with a %erse, which is always a good thing to
do. &phesians '()* says, +Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the
hearers.,
- synonym for corrupt is dishonest. This %erse is saying to not let any
bad or hurtful words come out of your mouth. .nstead, say good, helpful
words. &dification means the instruction or impro%ement of a person morally
or intellectually. .n one word, encouragement. The Bible tells us specifically
to encourage others
-re there any words or actions that you use that could hurt someone
else# /alling them, friends or not, mean names or treating him or her
differently than you treat others#000000000000000000000000000000
$ould you like others to do the same thing to you# 00000000000000000
This all goes back to Luke 1(23, The 4olden 5ule. +Treat others as you
want to be treated., !o you obey this rule# $hy or $hy not#
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6ro%erbs 33()7 says, +The generous soul will be made rich, -nd he who
waters will also be watered himself., -ll right, generous could be like
sharing or %olunteering. Be generous, be rich. 8ow, . don9t mean, money
rich. . mean, being rich with friends or people who lo%e 4od as much as you
do. The second part of the %erse says, +-nd he who waters will also be
watered himself., .f you help others to grow in the Lord, you will grow too
$hat kind of words come out of your mouth# Only kind helpful words#
Or do you sometime say mean and hurtful words# James 2(3: says, +Out of
the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. ;y brethren, these things
ought not to be so., The Bible says that we should not let both good and bad
words come out of our mouths. $hat kind of words do you think <=OUL!
come out# . really hope you said good words.
Okay, now let9s talk about how your words can effect people. 6ro%erbs
3:(33 says, +The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But %iolence co%ers
the mouth of the wicked., This %erse may be harder to understand.
$hat do you think this means# 00000000000000000000000000000
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The %erse is implying that /hristians should use words with care. They
should think about what they are saying B&>O5& they say it. On the other
hand, those who speak foolishly, or without thinking, are called wicked in
the Bible. &%er heard the saying, +Look before you leap,# $ell, the same
applies here. Think before you speak.
3. $hy should you encourage others#
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). !o you always look before you leap#
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2. $hat about thinking before you speak#
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<ample 6rayer(
!ear 4od, =elp me to encourage others with my words and actions.
6lease, help me to look before . leap and think before . speak. .n Jesus
name, -men.
?-ll %erses are taken from the 8@JA Bible