Encouragement
Definition of encouragement: Something that we say to influence people to keep growing
with Jesus.
The Greek word for encouragement, parakaleo, means “to call alongside.” This word
was sometimes used in extra-biblical Greek to describe military situations in which
soldiers were strengthened to fight on in battle.
Four Types of Encouragement
1. Explaining their potential in Christ
a. Jesus with Peter – renamed to show potential: Simeon = rash impulsive;
Cephas (Aramaic)/ Petros (Greek)/ Peter (English) = Rock
b. Paul with Corinthians (1 Cor 1, 3, 12) – they were set apart form Gods
glory, part of much bigger community, enriched in speech knowledge,
blameless before God, have fellowship with Christ. Even when life is a
mess can encourage this way.
c. Read about the impact of encouragement in Larry Crabb’s book
Encouragement: The Key to Caring (co-written with Dan Allender). See
the chapter on the “Power of a Well-Timed Word,” and especially Crabb’s
story on pp. 23-24 about the man in his church who encouraged him.
2. Noticing their accomplishments
a. We need to know that what we do matters. Ever feel unappreciated by
family?
b. Young Christians as they try to walk are acutely aware of deficiencies.
They need encouragement.
c. Consider Paul with Thessalonians (1 Thes 2) and his words to Philemon.
d. Catch students doing something good: good sharing, reaching out to
friends, being friendly to new people.
3. Showing how God is faithful
a. When we take an honest look at our lives, we often see painful things.
People are then tempted to withdraw or even to blame God. Show students
that they now have a new identity, and that God is fully committed to
honor his promises to them.
b. Find a list of Bible promises and explain how we can be encouraged by
knowing God is a promise keeper.
4. Urging them to go on following Christ despite pain
a. Like marathon runners hitting the wall, students need challenged to go on.
This is important because students often face stiffer opposition to walking
with God than they expected.
b. Quote passages that call for perseverance:
Gal 6:9,10 “Don’t lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will
reap if we don’t grow weary.”
1 Peter 5:9,10 “Resist the devil knowing that you are not alone in your
suffering and temptation-lots of believers are going through it. After
you have suffered a little while, God with strengthen you and you will
have grown.”
How do you become a strong encourager?
1. Be a good listener: Listening to students carefully in and of itself is a big
encouragement to them. And listening to other gifted encouragers as they build up
students is a great way to learn. What do they say that makes them an effective
encourager?
2. Initiate: Meetings where only the teacher has prepared suck. Meetings where the life of
Christ is released to the group through multiple encouragers rock. Give the students you
serve a vision for contributing to the meeting through encouragement.
3. Resist common lies: When considering encouraging someone you may think, “she’ll
get a big head.” But it’s not our job to manage how people receive encouragement. We
simply speak true words to build others up up. You may also hesitate to encourage,
thinking, “he didn’t do that perfectly, so I should wait to encourage until him until gets
everything right.” To this, Francis Schaeffer would respond, “If you demand perfection
or nothing, you’ll get nothing every time!” If you think, “I could say something
encouraging, but she already knows this” you are very likely mistaken. Many of our
students face a constant barrage of negative comments at home. Your words of
encouragement will be words of life.