God exhorts us to “consider how we may SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). So, how do we help busy, stressed out, disillusioned, or spiritually immature people to engage in true fellowship, attend training opportunities, get involved in ministry, etc.? How can we help unmotivated people get motivated?
Hebrews 10:24 suggests it may take some time and effort to carefully think through how we may spur others on. If motivating unmotivated people was an easy process, we wouldn’t find a command to fix our minds on how to do it.
Start by Being an Example If You Want to Spur People On
In considering how to spur others on, think of Jesus’ example. He lived out what it meant to be in a relationship with God. “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray …'” (Lk. 11:1). This undoubtedly wasn’t the first time they saw Him praying. His example motivated them to want to pray.
If we model not only the proper actions but also the right attitudes to go along with what we do, we just might find unmotivated people become motivated. Zeal tends to be caught more than taught. So, let’s ask what our lives teach. Are we able to say “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1)?
Other Means of Helping Unmotivated People Become Motivated
In addition to being an example, the following will help to motivate people. Click on the links to read more:
- Body Life Results in Motivation in Church due to Love & Grace
- Use Your Spiritual Gifts to Spur Others on to Serve
- Value Motivates to Serve
- Motivate People by Meeting Them Where They Are
Most importantly, let’s remember that it’s the Spirit’s job to convict and convince people. We’re simply conduits He may use in the process. As we “consider how we may spur one another one”, let’s embed all we do in prayer and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25).
My Pastor presented his sermon about the Importance of Prayer & Fellowship yesterday, which got me more motivated on this idea I’ve had for a week now. How would I begin & continue to get up to 48,000 people motivated to form a circle of prayer, 16 miles long, around a lake, which has many homes & businesses surrounding it? There’s about 61,000 people in the area.
Hello, Barry. First and foremost, it needs to be something God is behind. I would encourage you to spend MUCH time in prayer for His wisdom and direction. You probably need to rally a group of people around the idea who join you in praying about it and ultimately are willing to participate with you in planning and implementing it. If you can’t get a group of people to assist you in this, keep praying about whether this is of God. To do something the magnitude you described needs a core group as motivated as you are to effectively accomplish it. If you develop that core group, the specific ideas that fit your setting will come as you brainstorm ideas together. Each person on this team will in turn have a network of people with whom they can begin to grow this vision.
Think about your own journey in being motivated toward it. You mentioned that you had the idea prior to the sermon. That is much how motivation toward something like the prayer circle works. It undoubtedly took varied and repeated impressions on your heart and mind with the pastor’s sermon just being the most recent. Likewise, you will need to give people time to come on board and communicate about it repeatedly and in varied ways to help motivate others toward it.
You undoubtedly have a passion for this rooted in some kind of purpose. You will need to do a good job of helping people understand WHY this is worth their time and effort. As mentioned in this post, part of motivating people is need-oriented.
I hope what I wrote gives you something to think about to get started. Once you get more people on board, the “how” will undoubtedly come together.
Thank you very much for the excellent reply. Hours of prayer is the main thing & I already attend 4 churches & have many ideas in which to motivate people into making it happen. It appears so simple to me as long as I can get all my ideas across on paper & make it known thru next-door.com, you tube, radio, city hall etc. All most people have to do is, walk down their own street, to the main road around the lake, start a line of people & prayerfully, before the end of the day, the lines will begin to connect & others will wonder what’s going on & want to join in. I’d love to see revival in the Lord, in my city & be the start of revival across America. I believe God has opened a door for us, with this peculiar president we now have & we need to get out there & be praying God’s word audibly, be doers & not just hearers & talkers only. In 3 of the churches I go to the presence of the Holy Spirit is very moving & I’ve attended 16 weeks, so far of dicipleship studies since July 2016 & the visions & dreams intensify, drawing me closer to the Lord.
You are welcome. When God opens a door, it’s so important for us to follow Him through it. Yes, much prayer is the main thing as God can move in hearts, motivating people in ways we never could.