Sermon Title: BARNABAS: SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Scripture Text: ACTS 4:32-37; Various Text
Sermon Series: FINE PRINT: HONORING THE LESSER-KNOWN AND CELEBRATING THEIR FAITHFULNESS
Sermon Notes:
ACTS 4:32-37 NIV
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
“The church is not built on the gifts and talents of a few but on the sacrifices of many.”
encouragement | Greek: paraklesis
“to call alongside”
I. AN ENCOURAGER MEETS THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
ACTS 4:36-37 NIV
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
JAMES 2:15-16 NIV
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
“Paid in full – with a glass of milk.”
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly
REFLECT:
How can you encourage someone today by meeting a need?
“Do all the good you can,
John Wesley
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
Edith Wharton
ACTS 9:26-28 NIV
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
“People will become their best only if … an effective leader is present to help facilitate the process.”
John Maxwell
REFLECT:
Who is/are people that you can encourage and empower today?
II. AN ENCOURAGER HAS A KINGDOM MENTALITY
ACTS 11:22-26 NIV
22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
ACTS 11:30 NIV
30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
ACTS 13:2 NIV
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
ACTS 14:1 NIV
1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
REFLECT:
How do you respond to someone else’s promotion?
III. AN ENCOURAGER BELIEVES IN SECOND CHANCES
ACTS 16:36-40 NIV
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,
38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
1 TIMOTHY 4:11 NIV
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
REFLECT:
How do you handle your failures? And how do you handle the failures of others?
We encourage others by meeting their needs.
We encourage others by empowering them.
We encourage others when we don’t care who gets the credit.
We encourage others when we believe in giving second chances.
Who is your Barnabas?
More importantly, whose Barnabas will you be?