Gospel Community: Thoughtful Exhortation

Sunday we began a short study on the exhortative nature of gospel community. When we join the church, we commit to being part of each other’s sanctification, or progress in Christlikeness. One of the instruments God uses to grow us is our interaction with each other as we urge each other on and “stir up” one another to love and service.

The challenge with exhortation (encouragement) and the more sin specific “admonition,” is that it can put our relationships at risk. This relational risk often keeps us from engaging in these critical conversations which can stunt everyone’s spiritual growth. When we withdraw from thoughtful exhortation, we quench the Spirit who wants to work in and through us. In addition, the person the Spirit wants to “stir up” through our exhortation remains the same.

So how do we engage each other with relational skill, so that we can see the greater fruit of the Spirit? Scripture actually speaks to this in passages like Philippians 2, James 3, and Hebrews 10. Join us Sunday as we consider God’s direction for engaging in thoughtful exhortation.