In this episode of the Faith with Friends podcast, hosts Lisa Lorenzo and Shaunda Longo discuss the importance of encouragement, forgiveness, and hope in the body of Christ. They define discouragement as feeling dismayed, disappointed, disillusioned, or beaten down. The hosts turn to the Bible for guidance on how to encourage others, emphasizing the importance of genuine encouragement that plays into a person's strengths, rather than simply saying nice things to make someone feel better. They encourage listeners to actively seek out opportunities to encourage others and to be open to receiving encouragement themselves.

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The hosts provide ten ways to build up the body of Christ, including intentionally investing in each other's spiritual growth and offering godly wisdom. They also discuss the importance of serving with humility and valuing others above oneself. The hosts emphasize that forgiving others is a crucial aspect of the Christian faith, as Jesus forgave us. Forgiveness frees us from the gunk inside our hearts and helps us to live in love. They acknowledge that forgiveness can be difficult, but it is an act that God empowers us to do, and it ultimately brings out the best in us.

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Practical support, such as carrying one another's burdens, is another way to build up the body of Christ. The hosts share personal stories of how practical support from friends has impacted their lives. They also discuss the importance of rejoicing in successes and mourning in sadness with others.

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The hosts encourage listeners to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and to constantly redirect themselves and others to the promises of God. They emphasize the importance of living a godly example, not to be perfect but to reflect the values and character of Christ in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. The hosts also address the issue of gossip and encourage listeners to step away from relationships or situations that lead to gossip and to ask God to change them and make them more like Him.

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In conclusion, the hosts encourage listeners to actively pursue peace and mutual upbuilding within their communities. They remind listeners that the Holy Spirit convicts us when we might say something ugly and encourage us to listen to that conviction. The hosts emphasize that building up the body of Christ is a continuous effort that requires intentional actions and a heart of service. The hosts also provide ten tangible ways to build up the body of Christ, including speaking truth, offering hope and encouragement, and sharing God's word.

In this episode of the Faith with Friends podcast, hosts Lisa Lorenzo and Shonda Longo discuss the importance of encouragement, forgiveness, and hope in the body of Christ. They define discouragement as feeling dismayed, disappointed, disillusioned, or beaten down. The hosts turn to the Bible for guidance on how to encourage others, emphasizing the importance of genuine encouragement that plays into a person's strengths, rather than simply saying nice things to make someone feel better. They encourage listeners to actively seek out opportunities to encourage others and to be open to receiving encouragement themselves.

The hosts provide ten ways to build up the body of Christ, including intentionally investing in each other's spiritual growth and offering godly wisdom. They also discuss the importance of serving with humility and valuing others above oneself. The hosts emphasize that forgiving others is a crucial aspect of the Christian faith, as Jesus forgave us. Forgiveness frees us from the gunk inside our hearts and helps us to live in love. They acknowledge that forgiveness can be difficult, but it is an act that God empowers us to do, and it ultimately brings out the best in us.

Practical support, such as carrying one another's burdens, is another way to build up the body of Christ. The hosts share personal stories of how practical support from friends has impacted their lives. They also discuss the importance of rejoicing in successes and mourning in sadness with others.

The hosts encourage listeners to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and to constantly redirect themselves and others to the promises of God. They emphasize the importance of living a godly example, not to be perfect but to reflect the values and character of Christ in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. The hosts also address the issue of gossip and encourage listeners to step away from relationships or situations that lead to gossip and to ask God to change them and make them more like Him.

In conclusion, the hosts encourage listeners to actively pursue peace and mutual upbuilding within their communities. They remind listeners that the Holy Spirit convicts us when we might say something ugly and encourage us to listen to that conviction. The hosts emphasize that building up the body of Christ is a continuous effort that requires intentional actions and a heart of service. The hosts also provide ten tangible ways to build up the body of Christ, including speaking truth, offering hope and encouragement, and sharing God's word.

# Show Notes: Faith with Friends Podcast with Shonda Longo

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## Introduction

In this episode of Faith with Friends Podcast, Lisa Lorenzo is joined by Shonda Longo, an encourager and a friend. Shonda and Lisa discuss the importance of encouragement, why we are called to encourage each other, and how Jesus models each of the ways to encourage others.

​

## Overview

In this podcast episode, Lisa Lorenzo and Shonda Longo discuss the importance of encouragement, the different ways to encourage others, and how Jesus models each of these ways. They emphasize the need for genuine encouragement that builds others up and plays into their strengths. The hosts also discuss the importance of pursuing peace and mutual upbuilding within the body of Christ. The episode includes 10 ways to build up the body of Christ, including speaking truth in love, praying for others, and encouraging others through acts of kindness and support.

​

## Timestamped Chapter Summary

- Introduction (00:00:00)

- Lisa introduces Shonda Longo (00:00:22)

- Definition of discouragement (00:01:20)

- Why we are called to encourage each other (00:01:42)

- Romans 1419 and the pursuit of peace and mutual upbuilding (00:03:12)

- The importance of extending grace and forgiveness (00:04:10)

- The gift of encouragement and the calling to encourage others (00:04:43)

- Ten ways to build up the body of Christ (00:05:15)

- Speaking truth in love (00:07:19)

- Praying for others (00:09:46)

- Maturing in love and truth and healing through prayer (00:10:11)

- Sharing the Word (00:11:04)

- Offering Godly wisdom (00:13:20)

- Serving with humility (00:14:49)

- Serving others selflessly (00:15:08)

- Practicing forgiveness (00:17:23)

- Abounding in hope (00:20:06)

- Living a Godly example (00:21:16)

- The danger of gossip and the importance of edification (00:23:26)

- Offering practical support (00:25:09)

- Rejoicing in successes and mourning in sadness (00:30:16)

- Tangible ways to feel God's love in good and bad times (00:30:38)

- Recap of the 10 ways to build up the body of Christ (00:31:06)

- Part one of a two-part series (00:32:12)

- Living a Godly example changes you and those around you (00:32:22)

- Glorifying God through practical support (00:32:39)

- Rejoicing and mourning with others bonds relationships (00:33:10)

- Conclusion (00:33:45)​

## Quotable Phrases

- "Being an encourager really means to play into those person's strengths."

- "You can't just say nice things to make somebody feel better because that's being disingenuous."

- "There is a gift of encouragement, but you're still called to do that."

- "The importance of pursuing peace and mutual upbuilding within the body of Christ."

- "It's not our job to tear down others. God can convict, God corrects. It's our job to confront in love."

- "Speak the truth and I speak love, and I speak the truth in love. But I've never looked at it the way that that verse expressed it, because it matures others."

- "We have the power of prayer, the power of lifting up others, praying for them, and seeking God's guidance on their behalf."

- "Hope is a person and his name is Jesus."

- "What you do speaks so loud that I can't hear what you say."

- "Using you might mean putting you in difficult situations because I want other people to see how you respond, how you trust me in it."

- "When you're a baby Christian, you think something, you say something, and then when you start growing, you think something, you shout it, then you say it, then you think about it, and then you pray about it and you don't say it."

## Conclusion

Encouragement is a calling from the Lord that requires us to pursue peace and mutual upbuilding within the body of Christ. Genuine encouragement plays into a person's strengths and builds them up, pointing them to God. As believers, we are called to actively pursue peace and unite within the body of Christ, setting aside personal preferences and focusing on our shared faith and love for Jesus. The episode includes 10 practical ways to build up the body of Christ, including speaking truth in love, praying for others, offering Godly wisdom, and serving with humility.

​

Shonda and Lisa also discuss the importance of serving others selflessly and practicing forgiveness. Serving others selflessly means using our gifts and abilities to support and bless others, which has eternal value and draws us closer to God. Practicing forgiveness is a foundational aspect of our faith in Jesus, as He forgave us and calls us to forgive others. Forgiveness frees our hearts and helps us to live in love, as God intended.

​

In addition, the hosts talk about the importance of abounding in hope and living a Godly example. Hope is a person, and that person is Jesus. We are called to live out our faith in a way that reflects the values and character of Christ, setting an example for others to follow. The hosts also caution against the dangers of gossip and emphasize the importance of edification, building others up in love and truth.

​

The episode concludes with tangible ways to feel God's love in good and bad times, such as having friends and family support us. Shonda and Lisa recap the 10 ways to build up the body of Christ and remind us that building others up really builds up ourselves and our relationships. This is part one of a two-part series, so be sure to tune in next week for more on Godly friends and relationships.

Show Notes: Faith with Friends Podcast with Shonda Longo

Introduction

In this episode of Faith with Friends Podcast, Lisa Lorenzo is joined by Shonda Longo, an encourager and a friend. Shonda and Lisa discuss the importance of encouragement, why we are called to encourage each other, and how Jesus models each of the ways to encourage others.

Overview

In this podcast episode, Lisa Lorenzo and Shonda Longo discuss the importance of encouragement, the different ways to encourage others, and how Jesus models each of these ways. They emphasize the need for genuine encouragement that builds others up and plays into their strengths. The hosts also discuss the importance of pursuing peace and mutual upbuilding within the body of Christ. The episode includes 10 ways to build up the body of Christ, including speaking truth in love, praying for others, and encouraging others through acts of kindness and support.

Timestamped Chapter Summary

• Introduction (00:00:00)
• Lisa introduces Shonda Longo (00:00:22)
• Definition of discouragement (00:01:20)
• Why we are called to encourage each other (00:01:42)
• Romans 1419 and the pursuit of peace and mutual upbuilding (00:03:12)
• The importance of extending grace and forgiveness (00:04:10)
• The gift of encouragement and the calling to encourage others (00:04:43)
• Ten ways to build up the body of Christ (00:05:15)
• Speaking truth in love (00:07:19)
• Praying for others (00:09:46)
• Maturing in love and truth and healing through prayer (00:10:11)
• Sharing the Word (00:11:04)
• Offering Godly wisdom (00:13:20)
• Serving with humility (00:14:49)
• Serving others selflessly (00:15:08)
• Practicing forgiveness (00:17:23)
• Abounding in hope (00:20:06)
• Living a Godly example (00:21:16)
• The danger of gossip and the importance of edification (00:23:26)
• Offering practical support (00:25:09)
• Rejoicing in successes and mourning in sadness (00:30:16)
• Tangible ways to feel God's love in good and bad times (00:30:38)
• Recap of the 10 ways to build up the body of Christ (00:31:06)
• Part one of a two-part series (00:32:12)
• Living a Godly example changes you and those around you (00:32:22)
• Glorifying God through practical support (00:32:39)
• Rejoicing and mourning with others bonds relationships (00:33:10)
• Conclusion (00:33:45)

Quotable Phrases

• "Being an encourager really means to play into those person's strengths."
• "You can't just say nice things to make somebody feel better because that's being disingenuous."
• "There is a gift of encouragement, but you're still called to do that."
• "The importance of pursuing peace and mutual upbuilding within the body of Christ."
• "It's not our job to tear down others. God can convict, God corrects. It's our job to confront in love."
• "Speak the truth and I speak love, and I speak the truth in love. But I've never looked at it the way that that verse expressed it, because it matures others."
• "The power of prayer, the power of lifting up others, praying for them, and seeking God's guidance on their behalf."
• "Hope is a person and his name is Jesus."
• "What you do speaks so loud that I can't hear what you say."
• "Using you might mean putting you in difficult situations because I want other people to see how you respond, how you trust me in it."
• "If you're not doing that, step out, recheck your heart and ask God to change you and make you more like Him."
• "When you're a baby Christian, you think something, you say something, and then when you start growing, you think something, you shout it, then you say it, then you think about it, and then you pray about it and you don't say it."

Conclusion

Encouragement is a calling from the Lord that requires us to pursue peace and mutual upbuilding within the body of Christ. Genuine encouragement plays into a person's strengths and builds them up, pointing them to God. As believers, we are called to actively pursue peace and unite within the body of Christ, setting aside personal preferences and focusing on our shared faith and love for Jesus. The episode includes 10 practical ways to build up the body of Christ, including speaking truth in love, praying for others, offering Godly wisdom, and serving with humility.

Shonda and Lisa also discuss the importance of serving others selflessly and practicing forgiveness. Serving others selflessly means using our gifts and abilities to support and bless others, which has eternal value and draws us closer to God. Practicing forgiveness is a foundational aspect of our faith in Jesus, as He forgave us and calls us to forgive others. Forgiveness frees our hearts and helps us to live in love, as God intended.

In addition, the hosts talk about the importance of abounding in hope and living a Godly example. Hope is a person, and that person is Jesus. We are called to live out our faith in a way that reflects the values and character of Christ, setting an example for others to follow. The hosts also caution against the dangers of gossip and emphasize the importance of edification, building others up in love and truth.

The episode concludes with tangible ways to feel God's love in good and bad times, such as having friends and family support us. Shonda and Lisa recap the 10 ways to build up the body of Christ and remind us that building others up really builds up ourselves and our relationships. This is part one of a two-part series, so be sure to tune in next week for more on Godly friends and relationships.