Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Be a Stretcher-Bearer – carry others into the presence of Jesus!

Dear Friend,                                  

I love the famous encounter between Jesus and a paralytic:

“Then they came, bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four of men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.When Jesus saw their faith…,” he forgave the paralytic and healed him!  Mark 2:3-5*

It was my teacher, Chuck Miller, who opened my eyes to this text when he asked the simple question, “Who are the stretcher-bearers in your life?”

Who are the people – when you are down – physically, emotionally, and spiritually or in any other way – who carry you into the presence of Jesus? Who will stop at nothing to lift you up? Whose faith Jesus sees – and raises you up? Be grateful for them!

For whom are you a stretcher-bearer? Perhaps you are “on a roof” and you cannot be near the person you care about – yet you are entrusting that person to the Lord who loves.

Thank God for the stretcher-bearers in your life and with your “people eyes,” the eyes of Jesus for people, offer yourself as a stretcher-bearer who carries others to the Lord who loves them.

Joy to you -- E. Stanley Ott            

© Copyright 2020 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

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Who are some the stretcher-bearers in your life - now or in your past - and in what situations in your life?

For whom are you a stretcher-bearer, carrying others to the Lord who loves them?

Small Groups are a great place to carry others and to be carried to our Lord. For help see www.pod-church.com

Other podcasts that touch on concepts related to stretcher-bearing include:

People Refresher https://www.buildingoneanother.com/episodes/are-you-a-people-refresher

Ministry Moments https://www.buildingoneanother.com/episodes/ministry-moments

https://www.buildingoneanother.com/episodes/3

Heart with Heart https://www.buildingoneanother.com/episodes/1

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The picture was taken from this newsletter: https://hopeumcia.org/2014/03/19/whose-stretcher-bearer-are-you/

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