Four Principles for Better Fellowship

Hebrews 10:23-25 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

As we assemble for fellowship, we are to consider how to stir up one another toward the two goals of love and good works. The word translated "stimulate" in the passage above literally means to provoke or contend. These are words that are typically associated with negative events in our minds, but it need not be that way. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that just as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another--sparks and all.

So, how does this work? Imagine the Sunday morning gathering where you walk in, chat with some people, participate in the service, chat a little more, and head home. Where in that series of events can you stir up others to love? Where can you provoke others to good deeds? Here are some principles to help you discover these things:

1. Show up with a servant's mindset. If you're going to live out Hebrews 10:23-25, you must be focused on others. You're wanting others to be pushed toward these Christian ideals, meaning that you are an instrument in the Father's hand to do that. You're not showing up for yourself, but for God and His people.
2. Listen to what others say. To know how to encourage a person, you need to know that person. To know that person, you have to take time to listen. Save your stories for another time and try to get to know someone else by letting him or her talk. We might wonder, "If everyone just listened, no one would be talking." Yeah. That won't happen any time soon.
3. Seek opportunities to speak a word of truth. As you listen to others and seek to serve them, embrace the opportunities that God gives to share truth. This may be an encouragement; it may be a reminder; it may be a rebuke. Whatever it is, do it gently, kindly, with love--all for the glory of God.
4. Join someone in service to the Lord. Very few things encourage Christians to do more of the good things they're already doing than when someone comes along and says, "Let me join you in that." Whether it is a ministry in the church (greeting team, nursery, safety, etc.) or outside the church (evangelism, volunteering, etc.), you can be provoked to good deeds by hearing of someone else's good deeds, and, in turn, you provoke them to do it more as you encourage them by joining them.

I hope these ideas help. Let us keep our eyes on the day of Christ's return and work on serving Him while we wait!