A Built Up Church

Intro

A healthy church grows when discerning voices and encouraging voices are governed by love and guided by truth.

A Balanced Voice(V.26-27)

Saul is at first received with skepticism, rightly so, but not written off

One voice spoke on his behalf and the whole assembly listened

And what I love about the name of Barnabas is that it means “son of encouragement”

Both characteristics here are important in a church, but must be balanced

Voice of Discernment

1 John 4:1 ESV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The devil is constantly trying to divide, he is a roaring lion seeking who he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)

One of my favorite songs is called “Worship is Warfare” by Meet Your Maker and in the bridge of the song it says this:

When Satan cannot distract us from worshiping, he wants to divide us about worshiping. Let it be said loudly: Worship is an act of war

bottom line is we have to practice skepticism to guard against false prophets sneaking in to wreck havoc on us from the inside

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Discernment is not a skill that happens over night, it comes with growth

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Let the heart of our discernment/skepticism come from a heart of wisdom, not preferences or personal history with someone let us be guided by the word

Voice of Encouragement

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Remember they got to where they were by God’s grace and his grace alone

Christ has cast their sin as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)

They are no longer seen as whatever sin, their identity is now child of God. encourage them in that identity

The fruit of their life will no longer be: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies (Galatians 5:19-21)

The fruit of their life will be: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

To the new believer we have the responsibility to encourage and disciple you, but you also have a responsibility to show yourself approved

Barnabas somehow knew of the genuineness of events leading to Saul’s conversion and spoke up on it

This encouraging voice has an impact in two different ways

One your voice gives credibility to the younger in faith

You tie your credibility to them when you speak on their behalf

Two your voice gives encouragement to the new in faith

Points on Encouragement

Many of you are good at encouraging me, how well do you do that for others?

We can be quick to drop a criticism on people, how often do we see something positive and go out of our way to encourage someone when we see something they are doing well?

I challenge you to take time this week to contact at least one person and encourage them.

As we walk this balancing of two voices let it be guided by love

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Let these things guide you

Mindful Ears(v. 28-30)

Saul got busy quick in his new found faith

On that note, their should be noticeable differences in how you start to talk and act

As Paul began his work he was not alone, when the church heard of concerns they warned Paul and acted upon what they heard to protect a fellow believer

As believers we seek to serve one another, and that means protecting one another

We never have the right to use the excuse of I have too much going on to worry about so and so

When you hear of slurs against God, the church, and other believers how do you respond?

Do you speak up or say not my problem?

The primary challenge to today’s church is to have mindful ears towards gossip

Illustration A house with smoke alarms but no response plan still burns down.

Connection Hearing gossip but refusing to act is not neutrality—it’s negligence.

Proverbs 6:16–19 ESV

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

James 1:26 ESV

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Godly Voice and Ears Lead to Growth of the Church

Growth comes when we have balanced conversations, of skepticism, encouragement, and love

Growth comes when we encourage one another, not tear one another down

Do not go around talking about one another rather talk to one another

I am willing to sit with you and whoever if you need a mediator

Growth comes when we protect one another

Let us not be divided and destroy ourselves

Growth comes as members mature

Growth comes when we fear the Lord

We must truly fear the Lord, show him great respect not treating him like a tool in our utility belt

Growth comes when we depend on the Holy Spirit for comfort

Life gets tough and we will be tempted to run many directions for comfort, but it is essential we run towards God for comfort.

Outro

Application Points

1. Examine Your Voice

Are you known more for suspicion or support?

When you speak about others, are you guarding truth—or just airing opinions?

Would your words sound different if love were the governor?

Discernment without love divides. Encouragement without truth deceives.

2. Examine Your Ears

When gossip reaches you, do you stop it—or spread it?

Silence in the face of slander is not neutrality; it is participation.

Hearing without action is spiritual negligence.

A church that hears smoke but never responds will burn.

3. Encourage With Risk

Barnabas risked his reputation to stand beside a new believer.

Who is God calling you to vouch for, disciple, or defend?

Encouragement costs credibility—but it builds the body.

4. Speak To One Another, Not About One Another

Matthew 18 is not optional.

Division grows in whispers; unity grows in direct, loving conversations.

If mediation is needed, pursue it—don’t avoid it.

5. Pursue Maturity, Not Comfort

Growth comes when members mature, not when problems disappear.

Fear the Lord—not culture, not conflict, not inconvenience.

Run to the Spirit for comfort, not to distractions or division.