Encourage One Another | Grandma's Ramblings

My husband and I belong to a small group. We meet every Tuesday evening. This group is different from any group I have been involved with in the past.

Many small groups in churches are organized around common interests or hobbies. This might be a cooking club, a book club, a crafts club. Others are organized around sharing information. This might be a Sunday School class, a Bible study or a study of a book on biblical ideas and beliefs.

While these groups are good (I also belong to a Bible study group that meets every Wednesday morning), my Tuesday night group is focused on helping us more effectively practice our faith.

We do share how God’s Word has helped us. We do begin and end in prayer – and we pray for one another throughout the week. But we go a little deeper in our relationship to each other.

Too often our interactions that occur on Sunday morning before or after worship as we sip our coffee is shallow. We talk about the weather or sports. We share our latest activity from the past week or our plans for the coming week. Many times, when asked how we are doing, many of us automatically reply, “Fine. How are you?” no matter how rough the week may have been.

In our Tuesday night group one of our main questions is: “How have you felt God’s presence this past week?” Or, “Where are you seeking guidance from the Lord?” “Where have you seen God at work in your life this past week?”

Focusing each week on how we have or have not seen God at work in our lives, how we have or have not sought God’s guidance the past week, begins to grow us closer to one another and closer to Christ. It is understood that anything shared in the group remains confidential and we as grow to know and trust one another, it gives us a chance to be totally honest with ourselves and with others. We begin to “watch over one another in love.”

It has been a comfort to me as I have shared prayer requests to know that they take my needs seriously and pray faithfully for me. It encourages me to also be more faithful in my prayer time as I take their needs to the Lord each day.

We focus on “encouraging one another” which the writers of the Bible often tell us to do.

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11  

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

“Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

This week, I challenge you to take a look around you and see who you know that could use some encouragement. A call or a text just letting them know you are thinking of them. Or, maybe a card to say thanks for their friendship. Let us use the AT&T’s commercial from the 80’s: