SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - MAY 24TH

Focal Passages:

Acts 4:36-37; 9:26-28; 11:19-26; 13:14-15,42-43


Spiritual Preparation Through Personal Bible Study - by Jerry Lemon, Senior Adult Minister, First Baptist Church, Waxahachie, TX.

I went to our church’s prayer room early one morning. This prayer request caught my attention: “Remember the brokenhearted, the jobless, and those under great stress in our congregation. Pray for sensitivity, that we, the members of Christ’s body, may encourage one another.” I reflected on what was happening in our family, church, community, and world. I wholeheartedly agreed with the prayer request and spent time talking with the Heavenly Father about it, asking Him to help all of us, His children, to be encouraged and to become encouragers.

We all need to be encouraged. Yet, too many people know how to discourage others more than to encourage them. Discouragers often ignore or discount the gifts, talents, and efforts of others. Rather than being known as discouragers, believers should be known as those who encourage others.

Many believers need encouragement. Some are discouraged; others need to know their efforts are not in vain. In the early church Barnabas was known as an encourager. In fact, everywhere he went he was encouraging other believers. By studying the actions of Barnabas, the encourager, we will learn at least four ways to encourage others and be motivated to seek to be better encouragers.