Hey friends. Imagine if Jesus were right there in the car with you on your way to school. What stories would he tell? What encouragement would he give you as you end your week? Let's buckle up and dive into the Bible to see what Jesus might say to us right here on Carpooling with Jesus. I'm Pastor Justin. And today we're going to talk about something powerful: encouraging words. Do you know that the words you say can make a huge difference? Ready to find out how your words can help others make their day better? Let's dive in. In the book of First Thessalonians chapter five, verse 11, it says, therefore encourage one another and build each other up, as you are already doing. So what does it mean to encourage others? Encouragement is simply using your words to help someone feel good about themselves. It's like giving them a boost to make their day even better. Especially when they're feeling down, your words have the power to lift someone up, especially when they're feeling down or worried. Encouragement could be telling a friend that they did a great job on a school project, cheering them on during a game, or simply reminding them that they are special and loved by God. When you encourage others, you are building them up and making them feel happy and confident. I think we can all agree, words are powerful. They can lift people up, or they can bring them down. So it's important for us to choose our words wisely. Whether it's in the lunchroom, in the classroom, or at recess, what we say matters. Think about a time when someone encouraged you. Maybe it was a teacher telling you how great you did on a test. Or a friend telling you how awesome your new haircut is. Maybe it was a parent whispering in your helmet before a BMX race or a sports game, you got this, you're gonna crush it. How did it make you feel? Probably pretty good. Like you could take on anything. Encouragement can make us feel proud, happy, and motivated to do even more than we thought we could. And when we encourage others, we share that positive feeling with them. It's like spreading happiness all around, and it costs nothing. Now here's a fun challenge for you. Try and give at least three people genuine compliments or encouraging words to your friends, teachers, or family today. It could be looking at your teacher and saying that was a great lesson, or telling Mom or Dad, I loved my lunch. You could even tell someone you make me smile. You'll be amazed at how much of a difference your words can make. Encouragement doesn't have to be big. Sometimes it's a simple compliment that can make someone's whole day. Imagine how much better everyone's day would be if we all used our words to lift each other up. And just think about how much Jesus wants us to use our words to love and care for others. So let's make it a habit. Every time you see someone who looks like they need a little encouragement, maybe they're having a rough day or they just need to hear something nice, give them a word of kindness. Remember, when you encourage someone, you're showing them the love that Jesus has for us. Let's wrap up today with our short Friday prayer. God, thank you for this week. Help us finish strong today and bless our weekend with joy and rest. Amen. And remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. He's with you and wants to help you be an encouragement to others today and every day. I'll see you next week on Carpooling with Jesus, where we turn every car ride into a faith-filled moment. Here's today's question to talk about together before you get out of the car. Who is someone you will give a word of encouragement to today? Have a great weekend.
