Much
of what is on this sheet many of us probably know. It is, however, good
to revise and make sure we do these things.
If
you are good at this, help others to become good as well.
With
a partner, think of reasons why YOU like being encouraged. List them
below:
Shares
times or people who have encouraged YOU.
2.
What is Encouragement?
ENCOURAGEMENT
is the expression we use, either verbal or non-verbal, in helping lift
up a person to cope who may be having a difficult time in their life
and experience.
In
Hebrew 10:24,25
there are 3 elements necessary for encouragement:
Element
|
Verse
|
Needed
Activity |
1.
Opportunity |
meeting
together |
Meeting
with others |
2.
Consideration |
let
us consider |
Think
about principles |
3.
Continuation |
all
the more as you see.... |
Go
on working it out |
Encouragement
happens when
- you
encounter other people
- they
share with you
- you
listen to them
- you
respond appropriately to them so that
- they
are lifted up in themselves and
- they
feel better about themselves so
- they
are better equipped to handle the day.
3.
Watching for Opportunities
Encouragement
is more effective when an opportunity is seized rather than created.
With
a partner, list below signs in other people that they need lifting up
through encouragement
4.
Effective Listening
The
art of Listening is something that most of us are not naturally good
at doing.
With
a partner list signs that someone else is not listening to you when
you are trying to share something.
Good
listening means:
1.
hearing all the words
2.
focusing on the feelings that are beneath the words
3.
reflecting back
4.
giving non-judgmental acceptance
5.
empathising
Exercise
: In threes, go through the following simple listening exercise:
- one
person shares for about 25 seconds about a holiday they have enjoyed.
Person 3 times them and stops them.
- person
2 then reflects back' what they have heard, starting with the words,
I have heard you saying
to indicate that they have heard what the
other was saying.
- person
1 then shares a further 30 seconds and so it continues 2 or 3 times
until the main leader calls stop after about 3 or 4 minutes.
- person
3 then scores person 2 on how well they heard'
5.
Responding
Once
communication has started and you have started to listen, you then need
the art of replying in such a way that the person feels you care, you
are interested, you understand and you are willing to give them time.
Our words can have different effects:
a)
Negative Words
Words
to be avoided
Words
that don't help or lift up but pull down.
With
two partners list some of those sorts of thing:
b)
Positive Encouraging Words
Words
that indicate love and acceptance - that are chosen with care - that
are spoken with gentleness.
With
two partners each say one thing to the other two, about them, which
are things that fit this description.
c)
Closing Words
Words
that shut down a conversation or don't encourage it on.
With
your two partners list some phrases that shut down' a conversation:
d)
Opening Words
Words
that open up the conversation and encourage the person to talk.
Questions
that don't require just a yes' or no' answer.
With
your partner(s) list several of those:
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
6.
The Heart of Encouragement
Realise
that this is bringing UNDERSTANDING, not necessarily a resolution to
their possible problem.
The
person wants, first and foremost, to feel accepted and understood.
7.
The Fruit of Encouragement
When
a person has been encouraged it means that they feel accepted and understood
With
your partner(s) list some signs that a person HAS been encouraged by
us:
................
...............
8.
Opportunities to Encourage
Finally,
with your partner(s) list some times or places where you will have opportunity
to encourage others:
Sunday Services
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