Opening Doors for the Rejected

Acts 9:26–28 KJV (WS)

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

Introduction

An interesting thing happened at camp this last week.

The speaker got up and asked the kids what kind of school they went to.

There were about 120 Jr. Campers there this week.

He asked how many of the kids went to public school; less than 20 hands went up.

He asked how many kids went to Christian School, and less than 30 hands went up.

Then he asked how many kids were homeschooled and the rest of the hands went up.

Alicia and I had to laugh because, if that question would have been asked when we were going to jr. camp it would have been the exact opposite.

It was different being a homeschooler in the 90’s.

There wasn’t this broad acceptance of the practice.

Instead, whether you were at camp, church, or even around family, you felt like an outsider looking in.

You felt like you just couldn’t connect with the people you were around because there was this big glaring disconnect between you and them.

This is the way a lot of people feel when they try to start attending church.

Even if they are a believer already, being new to a church can feel like you are the outsider.

Even if you attend for awhile, some times people never get over feeling like they are the guest in someone else’s house.

We, as a church family, should not be okay with this.

Instead, we should seek to help more people to get assimilated into this body.

How do we do that?

Well, Barnabas, in today’s passage gives us a pretty good example to follow.

It all stems from this new guy that comes along and tries to join the church at Jerusalem.

You might know him, his name is Saulus Paulus, but we typically just call him Paul.

Vs 26 - Saul shows up back in Jerusalem and attempts to break into the Christian community.

This is his first time back to the city since he left for Damascus to hunt down the Christians.

A lot has changed since he exited the city.

Saul had previously acted as Christianity’s primary antagonist.

Since the believers were largely huddled together in a single location, it meant that a single human enemy could cause a lot of hurt.

Saul was that human.

You have to know that there were people still in the church at Jerusalem that had been affected by Saul’s persecution.

They had personally been imprisoned by Saul.

He had kicked their door in.

They had family who had been arrested and beaten by Saul.

Maybe, they had even lost family members because of Saul.

If you would have been there, and you had been hurt by Saul, how would you have responded?

Best case, would you have just ignore him?

Worst case, would you have done something to hurt him?

Saul tried to break into the Christian circles in Jerusalem.

He wanted fellowship and communion with other believers.

He may have wanted to make amends.

He wanted what he had experienced in Damascus.

They had welcomed him.

They had loved him.

They had let him preach.

The Christians of Jerusalem, though, reject Paul.

This was an action taken out of fear.

That’s what the passage tells us.

Fear is a dangerous motivator.

Fear makes us act in a way that we wouldn’t normally act.

The church at Jerusalem had received many converts from all walks of life.

Yet, they struggled to see past Saul’s past.

Their fear stemmed from their disbelief that Saul was truly a disciple.

How could this man be a Christian?

This must be a trick of some kind.

The Christians in Damascus had been deceived.

The reports were not true.

Maybe they knew that old saying, “better safe than sorry.”

So when it came to Saul, they were going to err on the side of safety versus regret.

Saul was shut out.

This would have been the end of it, if it weren’t for Barnabas.

Vs 27 - Barnabas advocates for Saul.

He lends him his credibility.

Barnabas goes and finds Saul.

I don’t think they knew each other before this.

This is when they meet.

Maybe Barnabas witnessed Saul’s attempts to join the church.

Maybe he follows him back to his house.

I can imagine Barnabas introducing himself to the younger Saul and asking to hear his testimony.

After listening, Barnabas is convinced of Saul’s conversion.

He then brings him to the apostles.

Barnabas accompanies Saul to go back to the church and present himself again.

This time, Saul goes to church accompanied by Barnabas.

The results are much different.

Barnabas vouches for Saul.

Barnabas does all the talking this time.

He tells Saul’s story.

Since it is coming from him, the son of consolation, people believe it.

He tells the disciples Saul’s story of conversion.

They all knew he left for Damascus.

Barnabas tells them how he met Jesus on that road and got saved.

They had all been saved too.

They had had their lives dramatically changed by Jesus.

When hearing about Saul’s conversion, they have a decision to make.

Is the gospel efficient for them but not for Saul?

Or, could God even save a man like Saul.

Barnabas also tells them about Saul’s preaching ministry in Damascus.

Damascus had benefitted from Saul’s ministry.

Saul had powerfully preached in their city.

Would Jerusalem miss out on God’s gifting of Saul because of their past relationship?

We know how much God will use Saul, but for the church at Jerusalem, they must decide whether or not to accept Paul, primarily on the basis of Barnabas’ testimony.

Verse 28 lets us know what happens.

Vs 28 - Saul is accepted upon Barnabas’ recommendation.

Whereas he had been rejected, now he is accepted.

We can not downplay the importance of Barnabas’ role in this change.

He took the time to get to know Saul.

He vouched for Saul among the believers.

He took a risk in doing this.

I’d say his risk payed off.

Barnabas was not a pastor nor a staff member of the church in Jerusalem.

He was a church member that took responsibility for assimilation of this guest.

He was successful in his efforts.

Look at how Saul becomes a part of the Christian community in Jerusalem.

When they went into the city, Saul was with them.

When they went out of the city, Saul was with them.

What this is telling us, is that by accepting Saul, the church at Jerusalem added a very dedicated member to their number.

He didn’t just get involved with what was convenient.

He was faithful and engaged in everything that was going on.

I bet it wasn’t long before the people of the Jerusalem church came to love the new Saul.

Saul’s assimilation into the Jerusalem started and succeeded because Barnabas had an open heart for the rejected.

He went and found Saul.

He took Saul and brought him to church.

He vouched for Saul and confirmed his testimony to others.

Saul was accepted into the congregation.

Application

Do you know what it feels like not to fit in?

Barnabas must have known as well.

There are people out there that feel like they don’t fit in anywhere.

I tell our guests all the time, I don’t envy them in their search for a church home.

It can be hard to break in.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was someone who would advocate for you so that the group accepts you faster?

YES! We nominate you pastor!

Well, I’m honored and I will do my best, but…

Each of us that is a member of this church can be a person who ushers in new members to our church.

We all bear the responsibility for helping people get connected in our church.

Barnabas wasn’t the pastor.

He just took responsibility for those that were on the fringes, on the outside looking in.

Could you do this for someone else?

You could go and talk to them to find out their story.

Maybe you could spend some time with them outside of the church service.

You could accompany them any time they come to church.

Meet them in the lobby.

Sit with them.

Introduce them to your friends.

Help them move from outsider to insider.

Will you open your heart to those that need an advocate?

Who knows…the person you help get connected may become a key part of the ministry here.

Your investment in them could be the deciding factor.

5 years from now, when they are serving God in our church, we might look back and say, if it wasn’t for your investment, they might not be here.

Conclusion

There are a lot of Saul’s out there.

They feel rejected.

They feel like they’ll never belong or fit in.

We need some more people like Barnabas.

People who will open their hearts to the rejected.

People who will take responsibility for helping them find their place.

Will you open your heart to the rejected?

Will you be a Barnabas, here at our church?