Encouraging Young Believers

I had just become a Christian, and I understood that I needed to attend church. So, one Sunday morning, I gathered enough courage to visit a small red brick church on the east side of town. I didn’t know anyone there except the pastor, and I hardly knew him at all.

Mr. Horton was one of the first people I remember meeting that Sunday. He was an older gentleman, maybe in his seventies. I was in my twenties.

Each Sunday as I entered the white double doors at the church, Mr. Horton was usually there, standing ready to deliver a lively handshake and words of encouragement.

Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances (Proverbs 25:11).

When I dared to explore the unknowns of the Wednesday evening service, Mr. Horton was again there to welcome me. I still remember his excitement as I showed up for my first mid-week service. His surprise and delight inspired me to “keep on!”

Our friendship grew over time. Once, he took me into the pastor’s office and pointed to a set of books by Reverend Charles Spurgeon. He told me that he had read the entire set. I don’t think he was bragging. Instead, I think he was pointing to his accomplishment as an example of how I could grow in my faith.

As Charles Spurgeon once said:

Leave the young believer to discover the roughness of the road by degrees. Tell him of the strength which dwells in God, of the sureness of the promise, of the delightfulness of fellowship with Jesus, of the charms of communion with Christ. Entice the young Christian on, as good mothers teach their children to walk by holding out here a [sweet treat] and there some tempting thing that they may put their trembling feet one before the other, and at last know how to walk.

Another time, he chatted with me about the cherished hymn, “Blessed Assurance.” Someone had written the title on a chalkboard, and he used it as a pivot point to talk, with much delight, about the wonders of Christ.

Mr. Horton was an immense help to me as I walked those first miles of my Christian life. I’m so thankful God had him there for me.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a beloved 20th-century minister who served at Westminster Chapel in London for almost three decades. I’ve heard people mention his use of the little phrase “Keep on!” After he finished a sermon, it was the habit of some to line up to speak to the pastor. As he wrapped up each of those brief conversations, he usually concluded with this encouragement: “Keep on!”

“Keep on!” is an apt way of describing what Mr. Horton’s life communicated to me as a new Christian.

The Bible commands us to encourage our brothers and sisters in their faith; that obviously includes those brothers and sisters who’ve just started their spiritual journey. The writer of Hebrews challenged Christians to “encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today’” (Hebrews 3:13). The apostle Paul told the believers at Thessalonica to “encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

How are you doing when it comes to encouraging young believers?

I’m guessing there’s a young believer in your church who needs the encouragement that you have to offer. Would you be willing to take that person under your wing? I’m certain that you can be a tremendous help.

Keep your radar up before church starts this Sunday or maybe between services. Ask God to help you spot someone who needs encouragement. You might think you don’t have anything to offer. But you do. God can use you to fan the flames in that new Christian’s heart just by taking time to visit with them, showing that you care. Consider ways to talk to them about spiritual matters. God will help you.

Later this month, on the 30^th, my wife and I will celebrate our 40^th wedding anniversary. We were married at that small red brick church. It’s been fun to pull out the wedding album and look through all the photos. There’s one picture of me standing next to my best man. Who was my best man? It was that older gentleman – Mr. Horton.