Love as a Community: Encouraging (2022-01-30)

Love as a community by encouraging the people of the church 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 Key verse: 1 Thess. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up...” 3 Focus of Encouragers We need Community Groups of Encouragers focused on… 1) internals over externals (5:8) But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. - Encouragers Promote Integrity over Prosperity - Encouragers Promote Attitude over Appearance 2) grace over works (5:9-10) 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. - Encouragers Promote Acceptance over Accomplishments - Encouragers Promote Unconditional over Conditional 3) tomorrow over yesterday (5:11) (5:2, 11)  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.….11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. - Encouragers Promotes Future Hope over Past Hurts - Encouragers Promotes Potential over Problems