ENCOURAGER: Goodbook 12-20-13

Goodbook messages arrive every Tuesday and Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our lives. We are reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture reading, you can follow the Advanced Track. 

Reading: Acts 20:2-3 

He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 

Application: 

Man, this guy just can’t stop encouraging people. Everywhere he goes he encourages others. Even when he is under attack and his life is being threatened, Paul chooses to encourage others. What an encourager! So today I have a word of encouragement and a challenge for us. 

First, a word of encouragement. This past Tuesday, I preached at Encounter Christmas. Christmas can be a difficult time for people. Many are facing big challenges and big struggles. In the message, we magnified the small baby Jesus to see how big he really is. Here are ten ways Jesus is bigger. I pray they encourage you. 

1. Jesus is bigger than death! Ephesians 1:18-20 says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” 

2. Jesus is bigger than our problems! In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

3. Jesus is bigger than our sin! 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 

4. Jesus is bigger than our doubt! In Luke 24:38-39 Jesus says, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:38-39) 

5. Jesus is bigger than our past! Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” 

6. Jesus is bigger than our plans! Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." 

7. Jesus is bigger than our pain! Isaiah 53:4-5 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” 

8. Jesus is bigger than our fear! 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 

9. Jesus is bigger than our needs! Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” 

10. Jesus is bigger than anything and everything! Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Therefore God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. 

Now for a challenge. Everywhere Paul went, he encouraged people. Let’s do the same. Try it for a day, for a week, maybe forever. Everywhere we go, let’s find at least one person who we can encourage and encourage them. I think we’d be surprised how it impacts our outlook on life when we focus less on our discouragements and more on encouraging others. So everywhere we go, let’s find at least one person to encourage. I mean everywhere – grocery store, gas station, car dealer, office, home, etc. If you need encouragement, others do too. Let the encouraging begin! 

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