How we help each other grow

I love it when a church sermon meets me exactly where I'm at. That happened yesterday with the message that I heard at SouthMetro Vineyard Church. It was called "How We Help Each Other Grow".

God wants us to take care of each other -- 1 Th. 5:11 says, "Encourage each other and build each other up."

Here are the key ways from yesterday's message that we can help each other grow:

1. By affirming each other's worth

• With acceptance
• With attention
• With affection
• With appreciation

2. By praying for each other's growth

3. By admitting our own mistakes; the benefits of honesty are:

• Emotional healing
• A fresh start
• God's power to change
• Deeper fellowship

4. By encouraging each other's commitment

• Commit to love Jesus Christ
• Commit to love other believers
• Commit to grow in God's Word
• Commit to serving in ministry
• Commit to sharing the Good News

It's so easy to fall in the trap of putting each other down. I know that's not what God wants; He wants us to lift each other up and bring people closer to Him.