3.6.26 5.21.2023 Mentor Acts 9.26-31 Acts 11.19-26

Last week we considered Lydia as a representative model for all Mothers (for Mother’s Day of course, do you think I’m some kind of a barbarian?) There are two Sunday’s left in this series. Today’s message is particularly important and near to my heart. The Church always needs to ask itself “where will our next preacher come from?” One of the best ways to face the future is to create it. Today the issue is

Mentoring.

As a preacher of the Gospel, I want to ensure that I am giving advice, guidance, encouragement, and opportunity to the next generation. The history of mentoring in the Church goes all the way back to the beginning, to 12 guys selected from the larger band of disciples to be with Jesus and to learn from Him. The 12 became the nucleus for all that the Church would become, then they nurtured and prepared the next generation.

Engage: Responsible preparation of the next generation of ministry leaders begins with the local congregation. Many of our colleges are in trouble, some have not survived. Pulpits go unoccupied. Larger Churches are more interested in their “special” methods than in well-rounded Biblical leaders. Some churches are served by unqualified, uncalled, unfocused, ministers. Many preacher who are qualified, called, and focused are often in over their heads, burned out, beat down, even under constant attack from their own leadership. Thankfully, these are not issues for me.

Look around you. The next teacher, the next president of the Women’s Council, the next Elder, perhaps even the next preacher

is in this room.

Though colleges and other para-church organizations are helpful we need to make sure that we as a church, as a congregation are upholding our part of the bargain. We need to be “Barnabassing” the next generation.

Expand: Paul had been a violent persecutor of the Church. I’m sure you know his story. Between the two phases of his life was an awkward feeling-out phase with those whom he had formerly persecuted. It was then that Barnabas took the initiative to mentor Saul, to introduce him to the Apostles, and to integrate him into ministry. When their careers are over Paul will be synonymous with the expansion of Christianity and Barnabas for his association with Paul. Today we examine the texts that tell the story.

Excite: Ministry is largely story telling. We tell the story of Jesus. We help people to understand their own stories. We intersect the trajectories of our stories and His story. That is what Barnabas does with Saul. He

helps him understand how his past, redeemed by Christ, created a new story of ministry opportunity.

Explore:

Mentoring is a fancy term for encouraging the next generation and including them in ministry.

Expand: More than mere cheerleading, an effective mentor encourages us by …

Body of Sermon:

1 Endorsing our story.

Acts 9:26–27 ESV

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

1.1 Before the Congregation.

(9.26)

1.2 Within the individual.

(9.27)

But Barnabas took him…

Next an effective mentor will guide us in…

2 Engaging our talents.

Acts 9:28–31 ESV

28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

2.1 How to use them.

2.1.1 Preaching boldly.

2.1.2 Spoke and disputed

2.2 What to expect from others.

2.2.1 Initial fear of the Church and it’s leadership.

2.2.2 Negative, hostile reaction when his former friends became his enemies.

2.3 The impact of our service.

2.3.1 Even through the difficult times the message was proclaimed.

2.3.2 Despite the difficulty the Church was built up.

Now, our second text. It comes from Acts 11 and continues the story of the mentoring relationship of Barnabas and Paul

Acts 11:19–26 (ESV)

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,

24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

An involved mentor will continue to push us into

3 Expanding our impact.

3.1 By believing in us.

Acts 11:25 (ESV)

25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

3.2 By challenging us.

Acts 11:26 (ESV)

26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.

3.3 By releasing us.

They both led and taught but Paul was clearly becoming the better speaker and teacher.

The Kingdom benefited because Barnabas believed in Paul, challenged Paul, and turned him loose. There is never any hint of jealousy.

Shut Down

Let’s conclude this discussion.

Barnabas was

older,

more experienced,

and better connected.

He knew that Saul the Pharisee, who became Paul the evangelist had more to offer the Church than He did. He did not resent his ability he encouraged it.

There is an interesting transition in how Barnabas and Paul are described in the Book of Acts. Early in their relationship their names are written as “Barnabas and Saul”. As their partnership grows and moves from Antioch to the world beyond, they are described as “Paul and Barnabas”. Barnabas, recognizing Paul’s gifts, receded into the background. They continued to serve together until a rift developed that led them into separate circumstances in which they continued to pursue the same mission.

Where would the Church have been without Barnabas persistently prodding the converted Rabi Saul? Where would we be if Barnabas had given up on him?

Most preachers I know have a whole laundry list of Barnabas figures who mentored us through crisis, emergency, and chaos.

You may think you’re too old. You are not. You may think that you don’t have experience. You do. In fact, this preacher often tells younger ministers that there is only 1 way to get 20 years, of experience.

Your age and station in life, earned in this Church, as a faithful disciple is what we need to train and encourage the next generation.