Barnabas Factor Chapter 12

Our book begins stating a sad fact. “it seems that many people consider themselves society’s personal medical team. They think it is incumbent upon them to examine everyone’s speech, dress and actions. Quickly they pass over the good traits to focus on any flaw they can find. When a shortcoming is spotted they magnify it out of proportion to reality. the final step is to spread the word to whoever will listen.”

we dont want to catch that disease that person has. This has always been the case, in Bible times, 50 years ago, 30 years ago and today. Many people say today is worse. Today it is easier to shame someone, just post it on social media, and in this way it can and often does spread more rapidly. Peter gives us great advice on this subject.

1 Peter 3:8–12 ESV

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 3:8-12

When thinking of an example to help us understand how true this is I thought of a growing problem in the world and within the church. We as a society have labeled the newer generations with a disease. the millennial and iGen are BAD. Yes I have an opinion, I am a millennial and my children are both iGens. Milennials are opinionated, offended so easily, liberal, just typically viewed as a wasted group. Are there people like that, for certain. Are those people in the Baby Boomers or Generation X, yep they existed then also. We are often described as a lazy generation. Now, I can laugh at the Millennial costumes with the best of people. Now in the same regard, the Millennials have stereotyped older generations and that is wrong. Every generation has its goods and bads. Even in Bible times. So much good comes out of each generation if thats what you focus on. Are you a glass is half full or half empty kind of person?

From the “silent generation” came several great movements and people. (Martin Luther King, rosa parks)

This name came from the children in this time were expected to work hard and be quiet. It was commonly understood that children should not be seen or heard. This generation can often be stereotyped as unwavering to change, but at one time these people started the civil rights movement.

-Martin Luther King

-strong individuals that many lived through the depression

-

We can look at negatives and stereotypes and dismiss an entire group of people. Or we can focus on the good in them.

It is all about what you focus on as to what you will see. I see the silent generation as those that are hard working, survivors. They sacrificed much and have lived through a lot of changes, many they helped begin. I see the millennials generation that is pushing boundaries, making technological advances that are astounding, and asking why. Within the church alone, more people are asking why. Not just taking the preachers word for it, but studying. I am proud to be in this group. Just within our congregation our millennials are hard working Bible students.

Here are a few statistics.

Millennials as employees

Millennials Statistics

Are there bad things? Yes!!! 39% are satisfied with the way things are going in the country. that number is far too large. but consider the other side that 61% are not happy.

By next year, millennials will account for 36% of the U.S. workforce and by 2025, they will account for 75% of the global workplace. [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics / The Business and Professional Women’s Foundation]41% of millennials do what their managers tell them to do, which is greater than older generations. [Strategy+Business]84% say that helping to make a positive difference in the world is more important than professional recognition.

Ok so why bring this up? we often make snap judgements. Largely based off what we see online about people and groups of people. We see a photo of a teenage girl going to Prom and instantly think she is going to do something terrible tonight and she is a terrible person. We see an old man snap at a chid and think they are just a rude grumpy person- they may just be a suffering through illness or having a bad day but we judged them by what we saw. We need to be a people that is looking at the world like Jesus did, which is our chapter today.

Today we are learning about How Jesus responds to the world.

Mark 2:17 ESV

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

We are given a Biblical example of how to handle situations. If you see something is wrong, or someone is doing wrong to you. Talk to them.

Matthew 18:15–17 ESV

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The church is a spiritual center for disease control. but it does have strict standards. Love, humility, and consideration are at the core of the Christians code of ethics.

I saw a shirt once that said. The church: a hospital for sinners not a museum for saints. We all need Jesus and his grace.

When Jesus looked at a person, yes he saw the sin, but he didn’t focus there. He concentrated on the good and enlarged it.

Our book has us pulling “medical charts” of people we see in scripture.

Chart #1 Simon

John 1:40–42 ESV

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Cephas translated means stone or rock.

It was Simon Peters brother Andrew who first recommended Jesus to him. When Andrew spoke to Jesus, he followed him. Then he ran to tell Simon Peter.

He then took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and this is what most would have seen...

Simon

good-ole-boy

unstable

impulsive

rash

He would falter in faith

He would break promises

Sim would sink into the Sea of Galilee because he lacked faith

He would deny Him

Here is what Jesus saw.

Simon Peter; Cephas

someone who would be steady in the face of duty and trial.

He would make a grand confession “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”

When Jesus was not popular and people were leaving Peter would say “Lord to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of life.”

Peter would preach the first gospel sermon.

His determination helped him to not give in to the Sanhedrin’s desire for him to not preach.

Peter would become an elder in the Lord’s church

He would write letters to the saints, encouraging them to persevere in the midst of hardship.

Jesus did not confine his thoughts to what Simon was at the moment. He saw what he could be an challenged him to live up to it. All of this happened because Jesus saw the good. Encouragement transformed him from a fisherman to a Fisher of men.

We are going to briefly look at two more examples our book gives us.

Chart #2 Matthew

Matthew 9:9 ESV

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Matthew:

tax collector

viewed as a traitor hated by most. Viewed as worse than a murderer or thief.

materialistic

What Jesus Saw

Matthew:

1. He would devote his life to sharing his new found riches

2. he would overcome materialism

3. he would use his ability to write to document the gospel account

Chart #3 The Adulterous Woman

John 8:10–11 ESV

10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

The Adulterous Woman:

adulterous sinner

impure

dirty

Jesus saw something beautiful in that tarnished woman

The adulterous woman:

A bright future

Her sins were forgiven and forgotten

she would build a better life

No one wants to be put under a microscope. No one wants to be know and forever limited by their weakest moments. Everyone longs for someone to see the good and best in him.

Matthew 7:12 ESV

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Challenges:

Encourage someone bereaved, be sensitive (Garrett’s lesson about if it isnt with love it is wrong.)

Pray for God’s help to look for and bring out what is best in others.

Honestly answer the form at the end of the chapter titled “Living like Barnabas”

what do I need to improve on if I am honestly answering. God knows our hearts, why try to hide from ourselves?

What would my chart look like?