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Encouraging one another is so important whether you're talking about a family, a person, a ministry or a church. The real question is what role are we playing, building up or tearing down?Our launching pad today is 1 Thessalonians 5:11. It's a launching pad because it's just one of several verses in the New Testament where we're commanded to encourage one another. Paul wrote to that church stating, \as in fact you are now doing.\Biblical encouragement can be examined by five questions. 1.What are we talking about when we talk about encouragement?Most people associate encouragement with flattery or compliments or trite little expressions like: \encouragement is. Those expressions are fine, nothing wrong with them, but they are not Biblical encouragement. Encouragement means to put courage in. Isn't that a great concept? I encourage a fellow human being when I instill in his or her heart courage to face the world, that's encouragement. The Greek root word translated encourage in our New Testament is paracollatos, the verb form of the noun, paraclete. Paracletewhich means to lay alongside. Jesus said there will be a comforter. Some translations use the word %u201cencourager%u201d who will come alongside you for the purpose of building up your life. (John 14) He was referring, of course, to the coming of the Holy Spirit, and that is exactly what the Spirit does. His Spirit lays alongside our Spirit to encourage us. Paracollatosis used 109 times in the New Testament. Most of the time it's translated encourage, sometimes exhort, sometimes comfort, but put all together you get the biblical idea of encouragement. One man's definition says, \someone become a better Christian when life is rough.\putting courage in the heart.Focus more on affirmation than appreciation. That may seem like a subtle difference to you, but it's really pretty major. Appreciation is usually for what somebody has done, it%u2019s performance based. I appreciate you for what you did, your accomplishments. There%u2019s nothing wrong with appreciation, but affirmation is more valuable. I appreciate you rather than something you've done for me. When we affirm, we encourage.2.Who is responsible for the ministry of encouragement?a.Preachers%u2014\gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in the faith.\b.Teachers%u2014Those who were teaching went everywhere encouraging the brethren. (Acts 15) You see encouragement is a vital part of preaching and teaching. I try never to construct a lesson by God's guidance without including in it elements of encouragement even if it'sa