Breathe | Week 5 | Pastor Kevin Kringel
Breathe
Week 5Breathing Life Into Others
Main Theme: Spiritual CPR - Breathing life into others through encouragement, support, and love.
Introduction
- Importance of breathing life, akin to providing spiritual CPR.
- Acknowledgment of those who have offered support in our lives.
Scriptural Foundation
- Jeremiah 17:7-8: Trusted, planted, and rooted in God.
o Spiritual maturity involves being rooted in faith and community. - Assessment of Atmosphere:
o Healthy vs. unhealthy environments (maturity).
o Reflect on personal impact—do you bring oxygen or deplete it?
The Choice of Impact
- Faith vs. Fear: Are you uplifting or suffocating those around you?
- Microscope vs. Telescope:
o Microscope: Over-scrutinize shortcomings.
o Telescope: Focus on potential and possibilities beyond current limitations.
Biblical Examples of Breathing Life
1. Jonathan and His Armor Bearer (1 Samuel 14:6-7):
o "Do all that you have in mind; I am with you heart and soul."
2. Galatians 6:2:
o "Carry each other’s burdens"—not to fix, but to support.
3. Gideon’s Encouragement (Judges 6:12):
o Recognizing the potential within others.
4. Barnabas, Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36; 9:26-27):
o Advocacy and opening doors for Saul.
1. Jonathan and His Armor Bearer (1 Samuel 14:6-7):
o "Do all that you have in mind; I am with you heart and soul."
2. Galatians 6:2:
o "Carry each other’s burdens"—not to fix, but to support.
3. Gideon’s Encouragement (Judges 6:12):
o Recognizing the potential within others.
4. Barnabas, Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36; 9:26-27):
o Advocacy and opening doors for Saul.
Be a Refreshing/Restorative Person
- Proverbs 11:25:
o "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
- Metaphor of a pitcher of water:
o Encouraging, supporting, fostering positivity.
o When you pour into others, God refreshes you.
Encouragement in Community
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11:
o "Encourage one another and build each other up."
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
- John 16:17:
o The Comforter will come to guide and support. - Filling and encouraging:
o The Holy Spirit increases and restores rather than depletes.
Reflection
- After interactions, do people feel uplifted or diminished?
- Aim to lift one another up and actively support each other.
Conclusion: Communion and Community
- Acts 2:42, 44-47:
o Commitment to teaching, fellowship, and breaking bread together. - Augustine of Hippo: "No one should be a Christian alone. The Church is a community of those who believe and gather to share the good news."
Call to Action:
- Find others to encourage and pray with, breathing life into those around us.
Closing Thoughts: Let’s embody the spirit of encouragement, supporting one another in love and faith as we navigate life together.