Encouragement + Church Planting Partners
Good morning Immanuel. Let's be reminded by our dear friend Scott Thomas that everyone needs encouragement!
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29).
Truett Cathy (founder of Chick-fil-A) was fond of saying, “How can you tell if someone needs encouragement?” His answer was, “They are breathing.” I believe that is also true for every Christian, whether they eat chicken or not.
The Apostle Paul first addresses our natural tendency: to let corrupt talk come out of our mouths. Corrupt talk is rotten, like fruit left out too long. We wouldn’t put rotten fruit in our mouths, and Paul urges us not to let it come out of our mouths. Just as putrifying fruit is distasteful, our rancid words are just as vile.
Instead, we use our words to build up others–giving them exactly what they need at that moment. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold” (Prov. 25:11). This type of encouragement reflects the grace of God. And when we give the grace of God to others, we receive it at the exact moment. For some, speaking grace is like a foreign language. But we can become fluent in the language of grace with a bit of practice.
Dear family and friends, let’s be grace-giving, hope-building, faith-daring encouragers today. It’s not difficult, and it costs nothing. Start with one person today.
Member Spotlight - Scott Thomas (Church Planting Partners)
Psalm 16:3 says, “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Scott Thomas is one of the excellent ones, and we at Immanuel have had the honor of receiving his ministry as Pastor as well as launching him into his new role through his work at Church Planting Partners.
Church Planting Partners is a non-profit ministry partnering in the gospel for healthy church planting and healthy servant leaders. Learn more about the work he’s doing at CPP here, and consider giving to support this important ministry!
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