A Simple Guideline on How to Create an Exhortation v1

Exhortation defined:
• To lift up
• To encourage
• To challenge
The definition of exhortation pretty much sums up the reason why we need to exhort. The best part about exhortation though is; not only is it outward (to the listener) but it is also inward (for the speaker).
Meaning, an exhortation affects both the listener and the speaker.
An exhortation (spiritually speaking) is encouraging the listener to realize the importance (and benefits) of living a Christian life based on the experiences of the speaker (or from third party experience), cemented by the foundation of the teaching of the Bible.
One thing the speaker must understand is exhortation is not a preaching but a sharing of one’s life experiences grown about from a single verse in the Bible. Similarly, an exhortation singularly focuses on one aspect, thought, idea or concern and flourishes from that one point. It is therefore like a laser beam rather that a light bulb.
(Just to be clear, this entry is not an exhortation but a teaching. Ok then let's roll!!!)
Alright then start let’s charge up and target our main point: How to create an exhortation.
There are five things I learned that helped me create an exhortation that had positive results not only on JIGS 2 but to his listeners as well.
1. PRAYER.
Prayer is as important to an exhorter as water is to a rose. For without water, a rose plant will wither and die. In the same manner an exhorter no matter how smart and talented in writing and speaking will not be effective for there will be no lasting effect on the listener and the speaker. So pray first then write and/or talk.
2. AN EXHORTATION MUST NOT BE TOO LONG NOR SHOULD IT BE TOO SHORT.
Exhortations must not be too long that the listener will either forget the main point or will be confused as to what the point is. Exhortations must not be too short either or the listener will wonder where/what the point is. My rule of thumb is basically, sharing what I have learned from that specific main point I have. For example, if I am talking about giving, then I will share the reason why I gave and how it affected me. And number three helped create a simple and no-roaming-around-the bush-direct-to-the-point type of exhortation.
3. AN EXHORTATION MUST NOT HAVE POINTS AND OR BULLETS.
Exhortations must have “point 1”, “point 2”, “point 3” and so on and so forth. An exhorter must not say “I will give you three points” or “in point one there are three aspects”. An exhorter has only one point and that point is the main point. Remember the laser beam? One point and one point only: There is only one point to relay and one point to share. No more or it will not be an exhortation and no less or there will be no point.
4. THOUGHT THE BIBLE HAS THOUSANDS OF VERSES, AN EXHORTER NEEDS ONLY ONE.
There must be no “open your Bible to this and open your Bible to that.” You reserve that for Bible studies. The Bible must be opened only to the very verse that the exhorter will use. Don’t go prancing around the Bible.
5. ONE WORD: PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. (WELL, OK TWO WORDS)
Use your personal experience (or someone else’s TRUE experience) to further your main point. What experience, you ask? Experiences in life and the lessons learned. The lessons learned will be the glue that will make an exhortation stick effectively to the minds of the listeners.
These are, JIGS2 believes, the bones that will make up the skeleton of an exhortation (it could very well be everything else). But honestly, the real secret, err secrets, to exhortation is not a secret at all. Firstly, study and learn. (Learn from the Bible, learn from experiences and learn from surroundings.) Secondly, allow the Holy Spirit to move in you always.
Alright then go on and keep on exhorting in the free world!!!