Encourage one another daily
Photo by Federi Corespini on Unsplash
Greetings!

I've been thinking lately about encouragement. Our words are so powerful. We can use them to tear one another down, or we can use them to build one another up. It's a choice we make daily.

As Christians, we should choose the latter. The world is great at using words to tear other people down. Christians should focus our efforts on using our words to build one another up.

Your words of encouragement for BeADisciple and my work mean so much to me. Almost every newsletter, someone takes the time to write back to me a personal note of encouragement. I also receive thank you replies with beautiful, uplifting words for my work. I was advised to keep such emails and pull them out on days when I need some encouragement. I do that often, but I'm not asking for that today. Today, I'd like to ask you to send an encouraging message or speak encouraging words to at least one other Christian. Let's build one another up rather than tearing one another down.

Hebrews 3:13 says "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

Friends, it is "Today"! Use your words to build up your fellow Christians so they don't become hardened by the world.
Lisa Buffum
Director of Online Education, BeADisciple.com
PS Two bits of business I'd like to lift up. First, Advent begins November 28, and I will be leading a new Advent study this year on the "I am" statements of Jesus. Let's prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord! Look for enrollment to be open the end of this week. It will begin November 29.

Second, we have ten (10!) IFD certification programs that should all begin January 17, 2022. Please look these over and be in prayer about whether one of these may be right for enhancing your ministry in the coming year.
This Month's Featured Courses
Sentiments of a Survivor: Having
the Conversation about Cancer
During the Advent season many Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They may study the events that preceded His birth, including the journey of Mary and Joseph journey into Bethlehem.  But what if Advent brings another journey, either in their own lives or in the lives of someone they know? A person who has not had cancer personally almost certainly knows someone who has, or does. This transformative class will take the learner from scared to prepared when talking about the diagnosis, treatment, and “after cancer life” for themselves or a loved one by studying the story of someone who survived the unexpected ordeal and talks about it with faith, humor and honesty. It may be the greatest gift you give someone this year! 
Biblical Storytelling Weekly for Advent
Biblical Storytelling Weekly for Advent offers an in-depth journey through Luke’s exploration of the incarnation, Luke 1-2, along with suggestions for learning and telling (or reading) the stories.  

This is designed as an Advent journey for both biblical storytellers and liturgists who prefer to read! It’s not an introduction to biblical storytelling as such, though we’ll encourage one another to learn parts of the story by heart, as desired. As we delve into Luke’s story together, we’ll explore parts of it which are rarely read in church, and develop skills for either telling or reading it.  
Mentoring Young People in Their Faith
“Being there” for young people means more to them than you know! Youth and young adults people need the examples and experiences of faithful adults to become mature Christians themselves.

But it takes more than just casually interacting with a young person to grow their faith. Having a trusted Christian adult mentor to talk with about call — and how to follow that call — is critical in helping young people follow their God-given passion and purpose. And when young people follow their call from God, they are more engaged, more driven, and more devoted to the ministries of the church.