Exhortation comes from the original biblical term ‘paraklesis,’ which means ‘to call alongside’ in the Greek New Testament. It is an act of advising, encouraging and stimulating someone to action or to lead a better life. It is a form of Spiritual teaching that is found throughout the Bible, and it is characterized by motive, purpose and advice or instruction.
Exhortation is a way of holding oneself and others accountable to live in alignment and obedience with God’s commands. It is an essential element of Christian ministry and is the basis for Christian counseling. The Bible calls on believers to exhort one another in order to encourage and support each other in living a holy, joy-filled and God-centered life.
Types Of Exhortation In The Bible
The Bible begins with foundational exhortation in the form of the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20. Following the Ten Commandments, the Bible contains numerous other exhortations from both Jesus and other biblical writers. Exhortations are found throughout the Bible in the form of warnings, commands, encouragements and instructions.
The Bible teaches that exhortation is not just the responsibility of pastors, but of all believers. It is a reminder that each person has an important role in the spiritual formation of their community and that accountability should be taken seriously.
In scripture, there are several different types of exhortation:
- Exhortation to Righteous Living: These exhortations can be found throughout the Bible, calling believers and non-believers alike to repent from their sins and turn from their sinful ways.
- Exhortation to Humility: The Bible calls for believers to be humble, understanding that pride and arrogance are condemned by God and can lead a person away from His will.
- Exhortation to Love: Jesus’ greatest commandment was to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus call for love to be the distinguishing mark for Christians.
- Exhortation to Serve: Jesus commanded us to serve as He served, and to do unto others as we’d have them do unto us. Serving others is an essential part of living according to the gospel.
Exhortation isn’t just found in the stories of the Bible. It is also in the letters of the apostles and other writings. In the book of Hebrews, there are numerous exhortations, such as to persevere in faith, guard against ungodly behavior and offer hospitality to strangers. The book of Romans is full of exhortations, such as to be living sacrifices and to bless those who persecute you.
Exhortation is an important element of spiritual discipleship, and the Bible is full of examples of how to encourage, support and motivate others to live in accordance with biblical principles.
Benefits of Exhortation
Exhortation brings many benefits, both to those receiving the exhortation and to the exhorter. Exhorting someone is a way of supporting and motivating them, helping them to make wise decisions and take right actions. Exhortation can also be used to urge others to take corrective action if needed, or to put an end to behavior that is contrary to God’s will. Exhortation can help to transform lives by offering spiritual guidance and by pointing people towards a closer relationship with Jesus.
Exhorting others can also bring blessings to the exhorter. It can help to develop and strengthen faith and can bring a sense of unity and purpose to a community. Furthermore, helping others can bring a deep satisfaction and joy. Exhorting others can be an invaluable way of serving and loving those in the body of Christ.
How to Exhort Others
Exhorting others can be a daunting task and can be difficult to do without making someone feel judged or attacked. It’s important to ensure that exhortation is done in a spirit of love and humility and with a desire to help someone. Here are a few tips and actions one can take when exhorting others:
- Pray before speaking with someone. Pray for the right words, patience and understanding.
- Listen more than you speak. Get to know the other person and their needs, so that you can be better equipped to offer genuine and helpful advice.
- Be gentle and understanding. Exhort with love, gentleness and patience. Make sure to communicate with humility and kindness.
- Stay focused on the goal. Keep your focus on the spiritual good of the person you’re exhorting. Let your efforts be motivated by a desire to help them mature in the faith.
- Take ownership of the situation. If you’re exhorting someone, take responsibility for the situation. Don’t blame or point fingers, but rather offer support and hold yourself accountable.
- Be positive and encouraging. Exhortation should focus on offering positive encouragement and support rather than simply pointing out what is wrong. Praise the positive traits of the person and offer support and guidance.
The Nature of Exhortation
Exhortation is not meant to be a dictatorial means of control. Rather, it is meant to be a way of teaching and guiding others to a better life. It is not meant to be forceful or harsh, but rather an act of service, love and kindness. Jesus was an example of this in how He taught and interacted with others. He used gentleness, patience and understanding when offering guidance and direction, and He practiced what He preached.
Exhortation is an important part of living according to biblical principles. It is a way of propelling others forward and encouraging them to live in alignment with the will of God, and it is a means of helping them to live a life of joy and purpose. Exhorting others is an act of service and love, and it is an essential element of Christian discipleship.
The Need For Exhortation
The need for exhortation is greater now than ever. In today’s society, there is a great need for individuals to be held accountable and motivated to live in accordance with biblical standards. Exhortation is essential in order to keep the body of Christ unified and strong. It is a way of offering encouragement and support to others and helping them to grow in their relationship with Christ.
The Bible calls for Christians to exhort one another and to offer support and guidance. Exhorting others can be a difficult but fulfilling task and it is an act of love and service. It is an important element of spiritual growth and could be the difference between someone choosing life and choosing death.
Motives For Exhortation
Exhorting others can be a difficult task. It isn’t always easy to hold someone accountable for their actions, and it can be hard to challenge someone in a loving and constructive way. Therefore, it is important to make sure that our motives for exhorting others are pure and that we are doing it out of a genuine desire to help them grow in their faith. Ultimately, our motives should be to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Exhortation is a biblical calling and an essential element of spiritual discipleship. It is a sacred act of service, love, and encouragement and it is a way of helping others to know and love God. Exhorting others is a fulfilling task and can be a powerful way of showing God’s love in action.
