The Bible speaks frequently about encouraging one another (1 Th 5:11, Heb 10:23-25, Eph 4:29, 1 Peter 4:8-10, Gal 6:2, Ecc 4:9-12, Proverbs 12:25, Proverbs 27:17, Acts 15:32, Col 2:2, 1 Thes 4:18, Rom 14:19, Rom 1:11) and even encouraging our neighbor (Rom 15:2).
Encouragement shouldn't be the only thing we do, however. The Bible also speaks of teaching and admonishing one another (Col 3:16, 2 Tim 4:2). The verse in Proverbs about iron sharpening iron encompasses both encouragement and admonishment whereby we "sharpen" one another (Proverbs 27:17). We should be gentle and respectful when we do this (Gal 5:22-23, James 3:17, 2 Tim 2:24-26, Prov 15:1, 1 Peter 3:15, Titus 3:2, 1 Cor 13:4-5, Col 3:12, 1 Tim 6:11, 1 Thes 2:7, Prov 15:4, Col 3:12-15, Prov 25:15, 1 Peter 3:4, 1 Peter 2:23, Matthew 5:5, Titus 3:1-2).
Job in particular calls out his friends for the critical way they spoke to him:
Job 16:4-5 I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you
and I could shake my head at you. But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Pastors may seem like they can handle everything but they need to be encouraged because of the strain that handling everything entails. As congregants, we should be humbly serving the pastor as he serves us in a humble servant leadership role.
Below is a link to a word from C.H. Spurgeon on encouraging your minister.
