Fellow Christians rarely need to be treated like novices or backsliders. They often simply need to be released from the oppression of discouragement and accusations that squash the work of God in their lives. Once this overburden is removed you will find underneath a beautiful work of God already there and ready to flourish. That’s why encouragement is of such great value. It lifts people. In contrast, one-on-one advice-giving tends to weigh people down, adding to their feelings of inadequacy and aloneness.

Preaching, of course, is perfectly acceptable when addressing a body of people. It’s when talking with an individual that it becomes an inappropriate mode of address.

Taken from Bear Each Other’s Burdens: A First Aid Course For Emotions

Reach out! May be freely copied. Just include this notice: © Grantley Morris, www.net-burst.com