During our special family-themed Sunday service, we learned about Christ-like encouragement--how it brings hope and stirs us up to love and good works. We also caught a glimpse of what it means to belong to Christian community--to be part of the new covenant family that Jesus invites us into through a saving relationship with him.

Through the videos we watched, the songs we sang, our special storytelling, and our focus on encouragement, it’s hard to miss the beautiful picture that was painted: because of Jesus, our lives are unique, different, and even radical. How we love, support, and encourage others is a reflection of how God loves us, works in our lives, and encourages us. Hebrews 10:19–25 captures this perfectly, highlighting how Jesus has changed everything for us—and how we now live differently as a result.

Everyone needs Christ-like encouragement, cheering on to stay the course, to persevere, and to keep going amid the struggles, challenges, and battles we face in life. But Christ-like encouragement goes even further: it has the power to point people to God, helping them discover Jesus and grow in their walk with him.

We ended our special service with a challenge:
- Who can you encourage this week? Who can you stir up to love and good works?