Six Steps to Encouragement is a new training course from Matthias Media. Its motto is: "God's word changes us, and through us it can change others too." As one might expect from the title, the course operates over six sessions, and is designed to fit into six sessions of a small group.

Six Steps to Encouragement is centred on the conviction that we are all God's fellow workers, and that he has given us his word to speak to one another. From this conviction, the course teaches the practical, theoretical and biblical aspects of encouragement.

The course uses an innovative mix of video input, Bible study, practical examples, hands-on exercises and case studies to help participants think through the issues of encouragement. The video teaching from Gordon Cheng and the homework, where participants practise one-on-one Bible reading, are particularly helpful components.

The course would be especially effective in training those who may lack confidence in serving at church. While the course contains case studies in encouraging those who are suffering, it does not focus on any one particular solution to encouragement. Rather, it points out that encouragement can be achieved in a variety of ways according to the situation.

Like Matthias Media's other foundational course, Two Ways to Live, Six Steps to Encouragement is a course that deserves to see wide usage. Like Two Ways to Live, it is well-rounded, flexible, thoroughly biblical, and will enable many to speak God's word to others with confidence and courage.

Six Steps to Encouragement is available through the Matthias Media website.