Encouraging One Another, “Each of us by the other’s faith.”

Learn why community support is essential for faith growth and how to cultivate a nurturing environment for believers.

Theme: Encourage One Another With Our Faith

“For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11&12)

Thought:

When I read the first chapter of Romans, I see Paul commending these believers for their faith, and then, even though he has not met any of them, he shares how he longs to see them. He desires to help them be established in their faith, which he says will show itself in his encouraging them with his faith and their encouraging him with theirs.

The questions these verses raise for me, especially related to faith, are: how can I encourage others with my faith, and how can I let them encourage me with theirs? What can I say or ask to prompt this with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

Now, when I think of encouraging someone, the picture that comes to my mind is walking up to someone, putting my arm around their shoulder, and saying something positive like, “great job,” or “keep it up,” or “don’t give up, you can do it.” These and other phrases are encouraging, and I should look for opportunities to say them often, but is that necessarily encouraging someone else in my faith?

A couple of months ago, I was sitting in our church next to a dear brother, waiting for a member meeting to begin. Some verses had been on my mind for a while, so I shared with this brother the questions these verses raised and what God was teaching me. I don’t remember them being especially profound, or that I was even making a great discovery, but we had a really good conversation. The next time I saw that brother, he said our conversation was very encouraging and that it gave him something to think about regarding that scripture. We continued to talk about those verses a little more, and I think I encouraged him with my faith, and his response encouraged me with his.

If you are like me, you often say hi to someone on a Sunday morning and then ask how they’re doing. They respond with “Good. How are you doing?” Then you respond in kind. Did we encourage one another with our faith? No. Part of my problem is that I haven’t thought this through in advance, and I’m not really quick on my feet when it comes to meaningful questions and conversations. I need help. I need to think through some meaningful questions in advance that will provoke good conversation about my faith in Christ.

Without being too canned, here are some questions you and I can ask some of our friends as we run into one another, or thoughts on meaningful conversations we can initiate at church:

• To begin with, who have I talked to lately, where a follow-up conversation or question would be meaningful to them? Who shared a problem, a prayer request, a need, or a struggle? (Which I will keep in confidence and follow up with sensitivity)
• Beyond the weather and one’s own health, it means a lot when someone asks how a spouse or a child is doing, especially if they’ve mentioned a need.
• As I begin my day on Sundays, I find it helpful to ask the Lord to put someone on my mind or help me meet someone I can serve or encourage that morning.
• If I meet someone new, I can ask them how they heard about our church and what prompted them to come. If they’ve been a few times, I can follow up with, “What did you think of the message? Did you have any questions?”
• There are some people I have seen at church for months or years, yet I don’t know their background. I might ask, “Tell me, Dave, how did you come to know the Lord? What circumstances or people did God use to bring you to Himself?”
• I might start a conversation with “I’m looking for another good book to read this year. Is there a book you’d recommend?” And I am always looking for another good book, especially with a personal recommendation.
• I’ve learned over the years to pray for opportunities that I’m not expecting and then look for God bringing people into my life. Who will God bring into my life today that I can have a conversation with, and whom I plan to follow up with, whether it’s a need that arises or a question I want to get back to that person about?
• It’s helpful to be intentional about putting others first. Rather than heading to church hoping to be encouraged by the message or by others, go looking for someone to encourage. And ask questions and listen more than talk.

In this section, “Encourage One Another With Our Faith,” I’d like to examine the one-another passages in the New Testament, what they mean, and how we can apply them in our lives to “Encourage one another with our faith.”

Reflection: 

Who can you encourage next week, and how will you encourage them with your faith? Who can you go up to at your church this week and thank for their ministry, or who might you call to let them know you were thinking of them? Be sure to let someone encourage you with their faith.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Give me the words to say this week to draw their hearts toward you, and help me ask questions that prompt curiosity and hunger to know you better, and want to read Your Word more.