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How to Start and Run a Local Church |
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| Exhortation |
Exhortation is different than teaching—a person who exhorts says little that his listeners do not already know, but encourages and motivates them
to do a better job of what they already know they should do. ("Preaching" often encompasses both "teaching" and "exhortation".) Some people clearly have the gift for exhortation, and some
do not. A person who encourages others must be able to do so in love—without making himself appear better than others.
There is no reason why a speaker has to be introduced as either a "teacher" or an "exhorter". They can simply give their message. However, they should
know what they are hoping God to accomplish through them. Someone who does have the gift of encouraging and motivating others should be very careful not to introduce new teachings while he
is doing it. (Aaron and his golden calf comes to mind—he was a powerful leader, but he led Israel into sin.) Exhortation should be to solid, well-understood Bible principles.
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