We all know people who are struggling.
	The may be struggling financially, physically, socially, in their marriage, with their kids, at work, following through, or knowing where their life is going…
	What is your word of encouragement?

Main Entry: en·cour·age

Function: transitive verb

1 a : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : hearten <she was encouraged to continue by her early success> b : to attempt to persuade : urge <they encouraged him to go back to school>
2 : to spur on : stimulate <warm weather encourages plant growth>
3 : to give help or patronage to : foster <government grants designed to encourage conservation>

— en·cour·ag·er noun

synonyms encourage, inspirit, hearten, embolden mean to fill with courage or strength of purpose. encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency <the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts>. inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something <patriots inspirited the people to resist>. hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal <a hospital patient heartened by good news>. embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance <emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb>.

Who do you go to for encouragement and who comes to you?

	People need people but they need God and His word even more. God is the source of encouragement and people who make the connection are able to fill themselves from an unending supply. If they are filled by you the source dries up.
	How does the good news of God’s word encourage you?

	14 – They go to the synagogue.
	15 – "if you have a message of encouragement…"
	16 – 20 Paul covers 450 years of history!
	20-22 covers the judges and the first two kings mentioning David as a "man after my own heart."
	23 – He skips everything else connecting David to the Messiah.
	24-31 shows how it was foretold and supported by evidence but he only blames the leaders in Jerusalem.

Acts 13:32-33 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: …" and he provides the scriptural evidence in 33-35.

	36-37 Jesus did not see decay.
	38-39: "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
	This news encourages his audience, how does the news that sins can be forgiven completely encourage the people that connect with you?

40-41 Paul leaves them with a warning "Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you…" AC 13:41 " `Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.' " Habakkuk 1:5

The Result: 42-47 Mixed response. Some are encouraged and others are not. Verse 46: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles."

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

^{AC 13:49} The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.