North Shore Church

1. I Thank God… (v.3-8)
· <Read verses 3-8>
· Paul does something here…that he does in a lot of his letters…he starts with encouragement to the church.
o He highlights their faith…their hope…and their love
o And he makes a big deal out of it.
· Why would Paul start here in light of all the issues that he needs to deal with?
o The easy answer is that his letters were inspired by God…
o The next answer is that Paul understood people enough to know how to best communicate in a way that they will listen.
o Here’s what I mean…
o When we encourage people, it communicates safety.
§ If we start a conversation and the first thing I tell you is all the things that are wrong with you…your decisions…and your attitude, the first thing that you are going to do is respond with defensiveness.
· Meaning, you’re going to shut down the ability to think clearly or even want to change behavior at all.
§ But, if I begin by telling you what you are doing well a sense of value comes over you and you are now willing to listen to other things that I might have to say.
o That encouragement helps to balance perspective.
§ Our brains…according to studies that have been done…naturally focus on what’s wrong.
· We give more weight to criticism and failure
· And focus less on praise we are given or successes we have had.
§ Since our brains function this way, it always helps to start out with something positive.

2. I Pray for…

3. I am Qualified… (v. 12-14)

· Bringing them together…
o We need to encourage one another by noticing God’s grace at work in their lives.
o We need to pray for one another’s spiritual growth…not just their circumstances.
o And we need to find peace in the comfort that we are qualified to be adopted into God’s family by His power and not our own.
· If every believer, and by default, every church began to live in relationship with other people in this way…what an incredible reflection of the kingdom of God we would become.