Identity - Encouragement - Richard Sutton - 12-6-2020
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Richard Sutton taught the church about the biblical gift of encouragement, the fourth motivational gift listed by Paul in Romans 12:4-8. Sutton began with a personal story about his father-in-law Bill Wallstrom's consistent encouragement toward his daughters, then used a humorous tale about buffalo to illustrate how discouraging words can wound us. The teacher explained that encouragement comes from the Greek word "parakaleo"—meaning to be called alongside another person—and that it involves coming alongside others to spur them on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25). Sutton distinguished between encouragement as a specific spiritual gift and the general Christian command to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). He presented multiple quotes from famous figures demonstrating the universal human need for encouragement and shared research from the University of Michigan Business School showing that high-performing teams use approximately six times more positive comments than criticism. The lesson emphasized that encouragement is not merely optional but essential to the health and strength of congregations, families, businesses, and athletic teams. Sutton concluded that every Christian bears responsibility to be an encourager, especially as believers face challenges and persecution that require mutual support and comfort.
Key Scriptures
For just as we have many members in one body, and all the members do not have the same function, so we who are many are of one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly. If prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith. If service, in his serving. Or he who teaches in his teaching. Or he who encourages in his encouragement. Or he who gives with liberality. Or he who leads with diligence. Or he who shows mercy with cheerfulness.
Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good works, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.