There is a saying that most with which most of us are familiar. “Birds of a feather flock together.” When the phrase is used, it insinuates that people that share characteristics, personality traits, hobbies, or other similar any kind of mutual feature will often associate with one another. The phrase is quite accurate because there are species of birds that commonly are found grouped together.
Birds aren’t the only animals that congregate. Wolves, orcas & lions form packs. Herds are groups of elephants, buffalo, and deer. Ants, bats, beavers, and rabbits make up colonies. Do you know what a group of cockroaches is called? An intrusion. How about butterflies? A rabble. What about cheetah? It’s a coalition. Lastly, what is a group of crows known as? A murder.[i]
- Increased protection from predators
- Better chance of finding food and water with group effort
- More opportunities for reproduction and mate finding
- Shared workload of caring for and protecting offspring[ii]
There is a good bit of wisdom in the behaviors of animals that we need to consider.
Our focus today is that “God intends for believers to gather in identifiable groups for the purpose of declaring His glory to the nations. These groups are called the body of Christ, the church, and serve as His ambassadors to the nations. The church is gathered to be sent.”
Have you ever participated in a search party? Even if you haven’t, you’re probably somewhat familiar with how it works. Everyone is gathered for a single purpose and that is to find someone who is lost. They are given instructions. They’re told what to look for, specific things to be aware of, and warned of any danger that may be within their search area. Those involved go out in different directions in order to cover as much territory as possible. If something of potential value is found, contact is made with those in charge. At an appointed time, they regroup and go over the events of the day, including the findings or leads. And if the lost person hasn’t been located, additional efforts are made to find that which is lost.
Now, imagine if you were hosting a search party for a missing person. Several hundred people show up and they’re given directions and told to canvas a certain area. Everyone disperses and heads out towards their specified territory. You would assume that your chances of recovering this lost person would increase with the more people you have in the field, right? But what if many of your search party members just simply walked through their areas, not paying any attention to their surroundings, not looking for the missing person? What if the search party just came for the free snacks and had no intention of doing any searching? That would be a waste of resources, wouldn’t it? It would be disappointing to think that people assigned to look for the lost didn’t take the task seriously.
Hebrews 10:24 CEV “24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things.
25 Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.”
In those two verses, the author (some think it was Paul, but it’s not certain as to who wrote the book) implores the readers to encourage one another. And he gives the reason. It’s to be thoughtful and to do helpful things or as the NKJV version puts it, “to stir up love and good works”. He also states that we shouldn’t fall out of the practice of gathering together.
Birds of a feather flock together but believers of Christ should be enticed. We should want to be inviting and persuasive to others. We should constantly be encouraging and supportive of others within the church and outside of the church.
ENCOURAGING
On a scale from 1 to 10, how encouraging do you consider yourself to be with people in the church? What about those outside of the church?
I came across an article that speaks to Christians about encouragement. The author used an acronym of B.U.I.L.D.U.P. to make it easier to remember.
B.U.I.L.D.U.P.
(B)- Be warm and inviting from the heart
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).
When we take the time for consistent prayer and Bible study—God’s presence rubs off on us. Our arrival in the home, work, school, or neighborhood should usher in a spirit of peace and joy because we are children of the King. We need to become more aware of whether our presence invites people towards us or turns them away.
(U)- Use your gifts from the Holy Spirit for discernment
“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them?” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
The Lord knows everything within and around every person walking on the earth at every single moment. Since we are connected to the Holy Spirit, we can pray for discernment on strategic opportunities to encourage other people. Pray even in the midst of a conversation that God will quicken our minds with the right words for the perfect moment.
(I)- Instill the word of God when the opportunity arises
“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8).
God’s word has answers for every situation in life. As believers we are given insight to the scriptures that can help strengthen and encourage other people. A wise person won’t use the scriptures as a weapon to beat people down with, but rather as a gentle guidance leading the down-trodden towards a way of hope.
(L)- Listen carefully to what they are saying
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
Although we may think we have the perfect answer or comment to build someone up, many times it would be best to let them share first what’s on their heart and mind. We should strive towards patience and self-control while trusting in God to reveal His will in time. Sometimes our strongest encouragement is done without us saying a word and just listening.
(D)- Demonstrate encouragement with your attitude and actions
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
Whether or not people share with us about what they think of us, the light of Christ can’t be hid even in the darkest places on earth. How we relate to those who are harsh, judgmental, or unfair reveals how close we are to God. The Spirit of God will equip us to deal with adversity in such a way that people around us are encouraged either in their faith or towards living a life of faith.
(U)- Understand their difficulty instead of downplaying it
“Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none” (Psalm 69:20).
Ignoring the difficulty may not build someone up especially if they are struggling. Sometimes avoiding the tough conversation can make their situation worse because they can’t find empathy. As believers we can ask God for wisdom to give a word of encouragement even in the worst of days. Our response should be sympathetic and grounded in the love of Christ.
(P)- Press towards the positive
“Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!” (Ecclesiastes 9:4).[iii]
So let me ask again, how encouraging do you consider yourself to be? Are we making application of most of these? Being inviting, recognizing the struggles of others, offering God’s Word as a means of reinforcing or even introducing God’s interest in our lives. Are we listening instead of fixing?
Let me rephrase the question. Would others describe you as being encouraging? I’m afraid we might be surprised with survey results should that question be posed to people you know.
Would others describe you as being encouraging?
GATHERING
In order to have people in our life to encourage, we have to gather together. We need to make a connection and have a relationship with others. There needs to be some unification, some camaraderie and it’s nearly impossible to have that without gathering.
It’s not just physically gathering together. It’s about emotionally gathering together. It’s about shared experiences and living life together.
I was in a meeting recently and a single, particular person was being discussed. This person has never married, is an only child, both parents are deceased, no relatives living close by. This person has a job but comes to the church to volunteer on their days off. When asked why they spend so much time volunteering, the person replied, “The church is the only family I have left. I’d get lonely if I didn’t spend time here.”
I have thought a lot about that person since the meeting. I’ve wondered about others that we see in the Worship Center, in the hallways, maybe even in this room and considered, “Do they feel connected? Do they feel like part of the family, or do they just feel as if they’re occupying a seat??
“Survey data from 2019 shows that 58% of Americans often felt like no one in their life knew them well. In 2020, young women in the US were most likely to report losing touch with friends. A 2021 American Perspectives Survey shows that Americans report fewer close friendships than ever. Respondents claimed to talk and rely less often on their friends for emotional support.”[iv]
We have to be intentional about connecting with others and reaching out when someone is going through a tough time or if there’s something to celebrate, if someone is struggling with their faith, or if someone has simply gotten out of the habit of coming. Those Esther moments in our life like we talked about last week – those times in which God seems to be hiding from us – those are moments we need to share with someone who will meet with us and encourage us frequently and keep us reminded that God is always at work in our lives.
What are the benefits of gathering together? Support. Accountability. Seeing the Holy Spirit at work in others.
Why do some people resist it? Get out of the habit. Full of hypocrites. Don’t feel welcome. Intimidated.
Do you think there’s a difference in being part of a small group such as a Life Group and just attending the worship service?
It’s easier to greatly love on a few people, isn’t it? It’s much more of an investment when we get to know each other one-on-one and can share what’s happening in our lives, what’s bothering us, what’s tempting us, what’s discouraging us, or what we may doubt. And then to be able to trust that person or those people to love us enough to intercede in prayer for us and to keep the waves of encouragement flowing all throughout the week and not just on Sundays.
John 13:35 NIV “35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John says EVERYONE WILL KNOW. Not just other Christians, not just Southern Baptists or members of FBC Jonesboro. Everyone will recognize that we belong to Jesus IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Loving one another doesn’t include gossiping about each other. Loving each other doesn’t include ignoring someone. Loving each other doesn’t include not listening to someone who is talking to you. Loving each other doesn’t include forgetting about them and what they may be going through.
The church should be a safe place to share, grow, and learn. The church should be a family that cares and loves and encourages. The church was God’s plan. “It was God’s design from the beginning to create a people for Himself (Isaiah 43:21) who would declare His ultimate care and concern to the nations. He created a people for Himself that would know Him and His ways, and He gave them a purpose, a mission – to declare His name and renown, to the peoples around them. From the very beginning, God had the intention to bless the nations and call them to Himself.” [v]
So, if we are abiding by Hebrews 10:24 & 25, we should be encouraging one another and gathering together in order to stir up love and to do good works. In other words, gathering and encouraging one another should prompt us to carry out His mission.
THE MISSION
How many of you have ever used the phrase, “You had to be there.” “It is used to say that people cannot understand something because they did not experience it or see it themselves. The phrase has been used for a long time to avoid explaining a complicated or personal story to an outsider .”[vi]
Some of us live our life outside of the church with a “you had to be there” attitude rather than “wish you were here” attitude. We are not always good stewards of the opportunities God gives us to warmly invite others into the flock, the herd, or colony of Christianity.
Sometimes, it’s not just inviting your neighbor to church. Sometimes it’s seeing someone at church that isn’t plugged in and inviting them to our Life Group or Bible Study. Sometimes it’s striking up a conversation with someone sitting by themself in the pew behind you. Sometimes it’s as simple as speaking to and smiling at a stranger in the grocery store.
Part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Mission Statement reads: “As a convention of churches, our missional vision is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.”[vii]
I want to end with something to think about. Hebrews 10:24 & 25 is all about encouraging one other, gathering together, and carrying out the mission of spreading God’s love to everyone. At the beginning of the lesson, I mentioned the advantages that animals receive by grouping themselves.
- Increased protection from predators
It’s much easier to battle our enemy when we have fellow Christians praying for us, supporting us, and keeping us focused and alert in God’s Word.
- Better chance of finding food and water with group effort
We are most often nourished and refreshed when we gather together and share what God’s doing in our lives. We are more accountable with our prayers and daily Bible studies when we are in a group.
- More opportunities for reproduction and mate finding
Being part of a group that offers encouragement and unconditional love as well as frequent outreach would cause others to want to be a part of that. We should be growing and we’ll only grow if we share what God is doing within our group/church.
- Shared workload of caring for and protecting offspring[viii]
Galatians 6:2 ERV “Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you are obeying the law of Christ.”
“The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God.”
Robert Murray McCheyne
[i] Collective Nouns for Animals – Animal Corner
[ii] 14 Herd Animals (Photos & Facts) – Wildlife Informer
[iii] : https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/7-christian-tips-for-building-others-up/#ixzz8C0Oo0G69
[iv] https://www.scienceofpeople.com/loneliness-statistics/
[v] Credit to Andy Cauble
[vi] You had to be there origin – Search (bing.com)
Beacons of Light 