⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”^[a]

¹⁷ Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well,^[a] especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.

²⁸ Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

¹⁷ Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

³ But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

³² Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.

¹⁵ After the usual readings from the books of Moses^[a] and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”

²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all the believers there.^[a] The believers from Italy send you their greetings.