First, we can affirm others’ value and potential in Christ. Although it was 40 years ago, I still remember where I was standing when an older Christian whom I respected told me that Jesus had designed me to lead and teach others about him. I could only see my sins and weaknesses, but they saw Jesus vision for my life—and they communicated it by the power of his Spirit. Have you ever been encouraged in this way? As you “consider” others, God can give you a word of this kind of vision for them!
Second, we can recognize and praise others’ steps of faith to follow Christ. New Christians (especially) are just learning how to pray, study the Bible, share their faith, and serve their brothers and sisters. They compare themselves to more mature Christians and tend to feel “behind.” How powerful it is when someone sees these steps for what they are—heroic steps of faith—and expresses God’s delight in them! Have you ever been encouraged in this way? As you “consider” others, God can give you a word of this kind of recognition for them!
Third, we can remind of God’s comfort and faithfulness to those who are suffering. Just a couple of days ago, I was with a brother who was deeply discouraged about his marriage, his sin-problems, his future, etc. I realized that he had lost sight of God’s faithfulness to him. So I asked him questions to get these things off his chest, I prayed silently while he talked, and I reminded him of a couple of God’s promises and how God had proven these promises to him in the past. I wasn’t spectacular or profound—but God used me to break the spell of discouragement and breathe hope back into his soul. Have you ever been encouraged in this way? As you “consider” others, God can give you a word of comfort for them!
Fourth, we can exhort others to take a scary step of faith to follow Christ. Several years ago, I was being asked to take a role of leadership that I did not feel adequate to take. I was paralyzed by this situation—not wanting to be disobedient to God, but feeling woefully inadequate. Then out of the blue, a brother whom I had mentored sometime earlier asked me to come to his house. He spent an hour telling me what God had shown him about how he had equipped me to play this role, and then urged me strongly to step forward. This powerfully strengthened me to embrace this new role! Have you ever been encouraged in this way? As you “consider” others, God can give you a word of exhortation for them!
When a group of Christians begins to relate to one another in this way, the result is a spiritual explosion. “Stimulate” is a very strong word; paroxusmos is the word from which we get “paroxysm”—an explosion of anger (Acts 15:39) or (in this case) of serving love toward others. God’s Spirit can work through our encouragement to ignite others with his love and hope so that they pass this on in a redemptive explosion of love and good deeds to one another and to people beyond the group!
This is exactly what happens. Why is it that some gatherings of Christians are spiritually electric, while others are stale and boring? It is not the teacher, or the aesthetics of the room, or the quality of the food, etc.—although these things have a part. It is the number of people who have come considering how to encourage others! When only one or two come with this mind-set, they cannot off-set the spiritual weight of the environment. But when several or most come with this mind-set, Christ’s power is unleashed to build everyone up (1 Cor. 14:26)!
What is your normal mind-set as you gather together with other Christians? Yes, sometimes we are so beaten down that we must come to be encouraged. But normally we can come ready to encourage others. Do you do this? There is a connection between your answer and how spiritually explosive your group is!
Conclusion
I urge you to pray: “Lord, what one step do you want me to take this week to become a more effective encourager?”
See for example Xenophon, Anab. 3, 1, 32: "They called in the general." Cited in Colin Brown, ed., Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing, 1980), p. 569.
Paraklesis, the noun, is used 23 times in the New Testament epistles. Parakaleo, the verb, is used 54 times. Its synonym, oikodomeo (build up; see Acts 9:31 and 1 Thess. 5:11 for this synonymous usage), is used 8 times in this sense in Acts and the New Testament epistles. Its noun form, oikodome (edification), is used 12 times in this sense in the New Testament epistles. Also, the basic structure of the New Testament epistles embodies encouragement—reminders and explanations of God’s promises and provisions in Christ, and exhortations to trust God’s provisions by loving him and others.
For biblical examples of each of these, see my book Loving God’s Way, “Encourage One Another.”