Encouragement moves the mission forward. Read Acts 14:21-23. The story of the church of Antioch is the story of encouragement. Earlier in the Book of Acts, the leaders in Jerusalem hear about a church that is made up of Gentiles. Gentiles were not Jews and did not have the foundation of the Jewish story which included Moses, The Ten Commandments, King David, or the exile. How could they possibly have the right theology about the Messiah who was promised in the Old Testament when they didn’t know the Old Testament? Barnabas went on behalf of the leaders in Jerusalem and found evidence of grace at Antioch. He went to Tarsus and talked Paul into coming to Antioch with him to strengthen the new Gentile believers at Antioch. They spent a year there teaching them. Their encouragement moved the mission forward and the church was strengthened spiritually and numerically. The passage in Acts 14 tells the story after a year of encouragement. During a worship service, the gentile Christians at Antioch lay hands on Paul and Barnabas and commissioned them to go on a missionary journey to share the gospel and start new churches. When we encourage one another to follow Jesus, we are strengthened spiritually and numerically. People who feel the love, grace, and mercy of God through the encouragement of other believers are more motivated to encourage others creating a cycle of grace.

Most Holy God, help us to be encouragers and continue the cycle of grace today. Strengthen our church spiritually and help us to move the mission forward by encouraging one another. Amen.