Practices that Strengthen Community- Encouragement
A couple months ago the clergy of the diocese had a virtual meeting with a psychologist who gave us some strategies for weathering the strange times we are in. He gave a lot of helpful advice. Most clergy have done a bit of training in mental health, and most have at least a bit of experience with mental health challenges. So, a lot of the advice was known, but a review is always a good idea. I think C.S. Lewis once said that we need reminding more than we need to be taught new information. So, it is good to be reminded of these things we can do to strengthen our mental health.
To deal with the stress that comes with all the consequences of dealing with the pandemic, he suggested things like- keeping active (e.g. going for walks everyday that are at least half an hour), talking to others about how your are feeling (rather than bottling your feelings up), eating well (rather than eating junk food, even if it is temporarily comforting), getting enough sleep, doing relaxation exercises, prayer, avoiding misusing drugs and alcohol, and avoiding watching the news 24/7 (as it tends to be pretty negative).
By now most of these things are common sense, even for those who don’t have any training in mental health. We have seen this advice on TV, in magazines, on the internet, or any number of other sources. The problem isn’t necessarily that we don’t know these things (though a reminder is always good, as I said). … The problem is that when I’m feeling down it is a lot easier to reach for an extra drink, than to reach for an orange. It is easier to sit on the couch and watch a show while eating chips, than go for a walk. I know the things I need to do, but sometimes I don’t want to do what I know would be good for me. It is a bit like Paul says in Romans 7:15,
“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
I mentioned this problem to our visiting psychologist and he said that what we need when we feel like that is “another brain”. He explained that we need someone to encourage us to do what we know is good for us. We need a friend, or a spouse, or someone who will help us stick to the plan.
Today we are continuing in our sermon series on practices that strengthen community. This week we are looking at the practice of encouragement. … We can’t live the Christian life on our own. We need others around us to encourage us, especially when we are feeling like we would rather not do what we know to be good for us.
In the letter to the Hebrews we read,
“let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The writer is encouraging them to continue gathering because they need each other. They need others to provoke them and to encourage them. … What we are considering today is how to “provoke one another to love and good deeds” and to “encourage one another”.
What I just described with the visiting psychologist applies to our spiritual lives as well. Generally, we know what is good for us. We know we should pray everyday, and we usually feel better if we do. We know we should study Scripture. We know what service we could do to show love to those in our lives. But it is so much easier to turn on the TV and grab the chips.
The German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together, says the Christian
What I just described with the visiting psychologist applies to our spiritual lives as well. Generally, we know what is good for us. We know we should pray everyday, and we usually feel better if we do. We know we should study Scripture. We know what service we could do to show love to those in our lives. But it is so much easier to turn on the TV and grab the chips.
The German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together, says the Christian
“needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ. The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; His own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure” (p.23).
(Of course, our sister’s word is equally effective.) Bonhoeffer is naming what many of us know to be true. Sometimes our heart feels empty and we need someone else to pour their faithful words into us. When our faith is weak, sometimes we need to lean on the faith of a brother or sister. We need each other. At times I will have something you need. At other times you will have what I need.
The community through the past encourages us too, and God speaks through their inspired words. … Perhaps you have been in a difficult place. You have felt attacked by life, and you have heard the Psalmist speak these words into your life
The community through the past encourages us too, and God speaks through their inspired words. … Perhaps you have been in a difficult place. You have felt attacked by life, and you have heard the Psalmist speak these words into your life
“Because you have made the Lord your refuge,/the Most High your dwelling-place, /no evil shall befall you, /no scourge come near your tent. /For he will command his angels concerning you /to guard you in all your ways” (Ps 91:9-11).
Maybe you were able to push away the cynicism for just a moment, and you heard them as being spoken to you, and you have maybe even felt the invisible and encouraging presence of those protective beings.
Maybe you have felt like the person described in Isaiah 40. (I like how the International Children’s Bible translates it.)
Maybe you have felt like the person described in Isaiah 40. (I like how the International Children’s Bible translates it.)
“The Lord does not see what happens to me. He does not care if I am treated fairly” (Is 40:27b).
And maybe you have heard God’s encouraging words through Isaiah-
“[God] gives power to the faint, /and strengthens the powerless. …those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, /they shall mount up with wings like eagles, /they shall run and not be weary, /they shall walk and not faint” (40:29).
Jesus speaks encouraging words over us through Scripture as well. He says,
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (Jn 14:27).
He offers you peace that cannot be affected by the circumstances of your life. He promised it to us. And he left us the presence of the Holy Spirit who is called the Paraclete, which is a Greek word that can be translated as Helper, Comforter, or Advocate (something like your lawyer in a court room).
The Bible is full of encouraging words for the community of God’s people. The Bible is, at the same time, God speaking through the community and encouraging us- And we are a community shaped by this God. We know we are going to stumble. He came to save us, not because we were good enough to deserve it, but out of love,
The Bible is full of encouraging words for the community of God’s people. The Bible is, at the same time, God speaking through the community and encouraging us- And we are a community shaped by this God. We know we are going to stumble. He came to save us, not because we were good enough to deserve it, but out of love,
“while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (see Rom 5:8).
The Christian life requires dramatic transformation. It is a marathon, not a sprint. We need each other to run this race. And yes, we have God, and the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on, but we need each other as well.
What does it mean to encourage each other? I hope that we are generally encouraging to each other, but the kind of encouragement I’m talking about comes from someone you have grown close to. It could be a spouse, but hopefully we have 2 or 3 of these people in our lives. This kind of encouragement comes from a Christian brother or sister who you can call at 2 in the morning when life falls apart. It is someone who knows how you are trying to grow as a Christian, and what your struggles are. It is someone who will pray for you every day. We know them well enough that we have earned the right to speak honestly into their lives. They know we love them and so we can say things that might be hard to hear, and might be even harder to say. They know that we are in their corner no matter how messy things get.
I remember watching American Idol when it first came on TV and once in a while there was someone who was an absolutely terrible singer who got to the stage and suddenly everyone heard how awful a singer they were. Everyone in the room (and across the world on TV) knew it but them. I always felt so bad for them, and I remember asking myself, “isn’t there anyone who loves them enough to let them know they can’t sing”. … We are not speaking about that kind of encouragement. An encouragement that strokes the ego and flatters the person into a delusion. It is not an encouragement with low expectations.
The kind of encouragement we are looking for is the kind that cheers them to be the best version of themselves. It is a challenging kind of encouragement. It is an encouragement that sees who we are in Christ- and desires to see us live into what they see. And it also means to help us see that we can’t do that on our own. This kind of encouragement requires prayer. It means being a part of a community. In that community our souls are being shaped.
My challenge to us this week is to consider who you can be an encourager to, and to also consider who might be your encourager. These are probably relationships you already have, but consider being more purposeful in your encouragement this week. AMEN.
What does it mean to encourage each other? I hope that we are generally encouraging to each other, but the kind of encouragement I’m talking about comes from someone you have grown close to. It could be a spouse, but hopefully we have 2 or 3 of these people in our lives. This kind of encouragement comes from a Christian brother or sister who you can call at 2 in the morning when life falls apart. It is someone who knows how you are trying to grow as a Christian, and what your struggles are. It is someone who will pray for you every day. We know them well enough that we have earned the right to speak honestly into their lives. They know we love them and so we can say things that might be hard to hear, and might be even harder to say. They know that we are in their corner no matter how messy things get.
I remember watching American Idol when it first came on TV and once in a while there was someone who was an absolutely terrible singer who got to the stage and suddenly everyone heard how awful a singer they were. Everyone in the room (and across the world on TV) knew it but them. I always felt so bad for them, and I remember asking myself, “isn’t there anyone who loves them enough to let them know they can’t sing”. … We are not speaking about that kind of encouragement. An encouragement that strokes the ego and flatters the person into a delusion. It is not an encouragement with low expectations.
The kind of encouragement we are looking for is the kind that cheers them to be the best version of themselves. It is a challenging kind of encouragement. It is an encouragement that sees who we are in Christ- and desires to see us live into what they see. And it also means to help us see that we can’t do that on our own. This kind of encouragement requires prayer. It means being a part of a community. In that community our souls are being shaped.
My challenge to us this week is to consider who you can be an encourager to, and to also consider who might be your encourager. These are probably relationships you already have, but consider being more purposeful in your encouragement this week. AMEN.
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