Those who speak in strange tongues help only themselves, but those who proclaim God's message help the whole church.

Since you are eager to have the gifts of the Spirit, you must try above everything else to make greater use of those which help to build up the church.

This is what I mean, my friends. When you meet for worship, one person has a hymn, another a teaching, another a revelation from God, another a message in strange tongues, and still another the explanation of what is said. Everything must be of help to the church.

Now, concerning what you wrote about food offered to idols. It is true, of course, that "all of us have knowledge," as they say. Such knowledge, however, puffs a person up with pride; but love builds up.

"We are allowed to do anything," so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. "We are allowed to do anything"---but not everything is helpful.

And so it was that the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. Through the help of the Holy Spirit it was strengthened and grew in numbers, as it lived in reverence for the Lord.

So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help strengthen one another.

Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith.

He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.

Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.

Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.

And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.

Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith.

But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

In many different ways John preached the Good News to the people and urged them to change their ways.

After the reading from the Law of Moses and from the writings of the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message: "Friends, we want you to speak to the people if you have a message of encouragement for them."

They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God," they taught.

Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke a long time with them, giving them courage and strength.

if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

Our appeal to you is not based on error or impure motives, nor do we try to trick anyone.

Finally, our friends, you learned from us how you should live in order to please God. This is, of course, the way you have been living. And now we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.

And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.

We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.

Until I come, give your time and effort to the public reading of the Scriptures and to preaching and teaching.

Slaves belonging to Christian masters must not despise them, for they are believers too. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their work are believers whom they love. You must teach and preach these things.

to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience.

He must hold firmly to the message which can be trusted and which agrees with the doctrine. In this way he will be able to encourage others with the true teaching and also to show the error of those who are opposed to it.

In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled.

Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters and please them in all things. They must not talk back to them

Teach these things and use your full authority as you encourage and rebuke your hearers. Let none of them look down on you.

Instead, in order that none of you be deceived by sin and become stubborn, you must help one another every day, as long as the word "Today" in the scripture applies to us.

Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

I beg you, my friends, to listen patiently to this message of encouragement; for this letter I have written you is not very long.

I write you this brief letter with the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful Christian. I want to encourage you and give my testimony that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

All of you may proclaim God's message, one by one, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.

He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.

Now, however, you should forgive him and encourage him, in order to keep him from becoming so sad as to give up completely.

That is why I am sending him to you---to tell you how all of us are getting along and to encourage you.

That is why I am sending him to you, in order to cheer you up by telling you how all of us are getting along.

You know that we treated each one of you just as parents treat their own children.

while we sent Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ. We sent him to strengthen you and help your faith,

So then, encourage one another with these words.

And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.

Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.