By Steve A. Hamilton

Philippians 2:1-4

Introduction: Have you noticed when someone has a problem with the church that they quit attending services?  By the time that person finally relates what is wrong they have already decided to leave the Lord.  Normally that declaration is accompanied by many accusations.  Some are obviously false but one accusation that we hear is how little effort members made to contact them.  

          I wonder how much validity there is in that accusation verses a person just looking to divert attention from his sinful situation.  But at the same time, if indeed few or no one contacted that person, whether that person is wrong or not, do they not have a valid point?

I. “Exhort one another daily” (Heb. 3:12-13)

          A. I would like to think that those who need exhorting (i.e. needing to be built up) have a responsibility to make it to church.  After all, it is at the assemblies of ourselves together that we have opportunity to encourage each other (Heb. 10:24-25).

          B. When we are sick, we don’t avoid the doctor.  Unless, we don’t realize we are sick.  Exhorting includes the meaning to urge or even admonish.

          C. If people are left to themselves without encouragement, they can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.   That is why we should exhort one another DAILY!

II. Who is to blame

          A. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying anyone else is to blame if someone strays from the Lord but the person who strays away.

          B. We are either for the Lord or we are against Him (Matt. 12:30).

          C. From the earliest of times, “His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11-12).

          D. It should not surprise us when Christian’s fall away (2 Pet. 2:20-22).

III. We all have a responsibility to exhort (1 Thes. 5:14-15).

          A. This lesson is particularly hard for me to preach because I know I am as much to blame as anyone else here for not contacting the weak. 

          B. The weak have a necessary part in the body (1 Cor. 12:22-25).  We are to cater, bestowing greater honor, on those who are weak.

          C. Paul made it his practice to exhort the brethren (Acts 14:21-22).

          D. Honestly brethren, we have not been doing well in this department.

IV. We must exhort members to contend for the faith (Jude 3).

          A. It would be nice if we had Elders who could identify members who are weak and in need of exhortation.  They could ask various members to make sure the weak member is contacted on a daily basis if needed.

          B. However, we don’t have the luxury of an Eldership so we are going to have to be more diligent in our efforts to encourage one another.  Perhaps when a weak member is identified, we could make a concerted effort among the members to call on that member each day.  It would be better to be accused of contacting a weak member to much than not enough.

          C. The Lord told us to go the extra mile with our enemies.  Shouldn’t we do the same for our brethren (Matt. 5:39-42)?

Conclusion: When I was preparing this lesson I was hoping to show that the sinner should not expect any encouragement if they were not willing to do their share by at least attending services.  I quickly learned I was wrong.  So I humbly ask you to consider these same passages and likewise repent for our lack of diligence in exhortations among the weak.

Song #598 “You Never Mentioned Him to Me”

Last modified: 05/02/08