Barnabas - the Encourager
Company of the Committed - Acts • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 31 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Barnabas - the Encourager!
Barnabas - the Encourager!
Names are interesting and essential for connecting.
Names usually have a meaning.
Hess - name meaning
Hess - name meaning
“German, Dutch, Danish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): regional name for someone from the territory of Hesse (German Hessen). South German: from a short form of the personal name Matthäus (see Matthew). German and Dutch: from the Germanic personal name Hesso” - Ancestry.ca
Hess = haus= house
House - name meaning
“The name House comes from one of the family having worked as a person employed "at the house"; in most cases, this was a religious house or convent. The surname House is derived from the Old English word hus, which means house. In some cases, the name House may be af form of the surname Howes.”
Thomson - name meaning
“Thomson is a Scottish patronymic surname meaning "son of Thom, Thomp, Thompkin, or other diminutive of Thomas", itself derived from the Aramaic תום or Tôm, meaning "twin". The Welsh surname is documented in Cheshire records before and after the 1066 Norman Conquest.” - Wikipedia
Vincent - name meaning
Latin. Meaning, "conquering", "winning". Other names. Nickname(s), Vince, Vinny, Vinnie, Vin. Related names, Vincentius, Vicente, Vincente, Vincenzo. Vincent (Latin: Vincentius) is a male given name derived from the Roman name Vincentius, ...” Wikipedia
What warrants a name change?
In the first century church in Jerusalem, Barnabas was one of a few people for whom his new life in Christ, his character/giftedness and ministry warranted a name change.
Simon/Peter
Saul/Paul
Abram/Abraham
Sarai/Sarah
Jacob/Israel
Joseph was also a good name, a great name - 11th son of Jacob, Mary’s husband/father of Jesus 1/2 brothers and sisters -
James - - came to be called Barnabas because:
Barnabas was - the son encouragement - 4:36-37
Church in Jerusalem - growth and needs - 4:32-35
3,000 added to 120 on the day of Pentecost - 2:41; 1:15
Caring relationship with each other and the Lord - 2:42-46
All things in commonn
Met in houses
Possession sold as needed - distributed to an cared for all
The Lord added to their number - multitudes 5:14 - increasing in number 6:1
Favour among all people - except religious leaders - 4: 1-22
Joseph - Levite, native of Cyprus
Levite - may have never served in the temple
Born in Cyprus
Owned land
OT prohibited Levites from owning land - ;
Could own houses -
field/property not specified as to Cyprus or in Palestine
Encouraged fellow believers/genuine care was who he was - not unique to Joseph/Barnabas but especially came to who he was
Sold field and brought funds to the Apostles’ feet - selfless giving - JESUS
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:35
BUT - Ananias & Sapphira - also sold and together agreed to lie to the Apostles that all of proceeds of the sale of their property rather than a portion were being. Their downfall was not in the amount that they gave. That was for them to decide. Their downfall was in their premeditated lie to test the Spirit of the Lord - 5:9 - false testimony - re the level of their commitment.
Results:
Great fear - 5:11
While some hesitated to join with the believers - 5:13 - multitudes of both men and women added to the Lord - more than ever - 5:14
2. He encouraged Saul, a new believer- 9:26-27
Context:
Saul converted on his way to Damascus to threaten and murder disciples of the Lord - 9:1
Ananias befriended Saul, the new believer - 9:10-19
Saul baptized and preached Jesus in the synagogues in Damascus - with strength confounding the Jews - 9:18-22
On threat of death Saul escaped from Damascus - 9:25-25
Encouraging and using our gifts might seem dangerous.
Having arrived in Jerusalem, the disciples did not believe Saul - afraid - 9:26
The disciples in Jerusalem would have heard the same details as Ananias had - 9:13-14
PLUS Saul had part of the stoning of Stephen - Saul approved of the execution - 8:1
BUT Barnabas,
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. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Acts 9:
ILLUSTRATION:
Drug & alcohol rehabs in CIS - Nizhny Novgorod - Dzerzinsk included men who had been in prisons, some for serious crimes including murder.
Using our gifts sometimes makes others uncomfortable.
Ananias re believers
Saul re believers and unbelievers
BUT amazed.
And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
Acts
BUT growth and comfort
Acts 9:
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.
3. He encouraged the new believers/church - Antioch in Syria - 11:19-30
Context:
Spread of the Gospel to Gentiles:
Philip - sharing the Gospel outside of Jerusalem
Samaria/Samaritans - 8:4-25
Ethiopian eunuch - diaspara - 8:26-30
Peter:
Cornelius - Gentile in Joppa - 10:9-48
Scattered believers from Jerusalem spoke the Word to Jews and Hellenists - Gr speaking non Jews - 11:19-21
Great number believed in Antioch.
Glad when he saw the grace of God
Glad - encouraged
Grace of God - evidence of repentance that leads to new life in Christ - 11:18, 23
His encouragement/exhortation
Exhorted them all - equally - to remain faithful to the Lord - not the church in Jerusalem
With steadfast purpose
That which is true faith will last - repeated exhortation - continue in the faith
And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
Jn
Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
1 Jn
A good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith
Good
Full - repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit
Full of faith
AND A GREAT MANY PEOPLE WERE ADDED TO THE LORD.
SHOULD BE THE NORM RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION
Encouraged and enabled others to use their gifts/conduit of others’ encouragement
Went to Tarsus to seek Saul.
Several years had elapsed since Saul had fled from Jerusalem -
Perhaps disinherited because of conversion
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Seek - anazeteo - indicates difficulty of search - hunt for
Brought Saul to Antioch - for a whole year they taught a great many people.
Disciples first called Christians /
Probably seen as derogatory
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Acts: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Growth
What was a term of derision, though, soon became a badge of honor to the early church. The historian Eusebius relates the account of the martyr Sanctus, who replied to all his torturers’ questions simply, “I am a Christian” (Ecclesiastical History V, I [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1973], 172).
Financial relief sent to Jerusalem
4. He was an encourager and an integral part of Antioch ministry and outreach - 13-14
Barnabas and Saul had delivered financial help to Jerusalem - would have been huge encouragement - diaspara and their converts care, James killed, Peter in prison
John Mark brought to Antioch
Cousin of Barnabas - 12:12; Col 4:10
Acquaintance of Peter -
Included in 1st missionary journey
An encourager, a prophet and teacher - 13:1
1 of 5 including Saul
Pastor teachers - give clear understanding of God’s word.
Do not despise prophecies,
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
Barnabas & Saul set apart by the Holy Spirit and Church in Antioch - 13:2-3
Local church leaders and local church not Jerusalem or the apostles set them apart
Sent by Holy Spirit
Cyprus - proclaimed the Word - teaching of the Lord - 13:4-12
Barnabas’ home
Proclaimed word of God - 13:5
Encouragers always tell the truth even though it might hurt - false prophet Elymas -
and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
Proconsul believed.
Antioch in Pisidia - Paul & Barnabas/his companions - 13:13-52
Jn Mark left them - cannot encourage all of the people all of the time - 13:14
Word of encouragement/message of this salvation - 13:15, 26, 44, 16-43, 46
Urged/encouraged them to continue in the grace of God - 13:43
Responses to the Word of God - 13:44-52
Devout converts - 13:43
Word of the Lord spread - 13:49
Although some opposition - disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit
Iconium - continued to preach the Gospel - 14:1-7
Great number believed - 14:1
Although some opposition - continued witness and preaching the Gospel
Lystra & Derbe - in spite of tribulations the Gospel advanced - 14:8-23
Stone in Lystra - Paul left for dead
Revisit to encourage churches and appoint elders.
Back to Antioch in Syria - God opened a door of faith to the Gentiles - 14:24-28
5. Paul & Barnabas were encouragers, bridge builders & peace makers - 15
Jerusalem Council - What to ask of Gentile believers?
An encouraging consensus - 15:20
Teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord - 15:36-41
How would/should the word of God encourage us today through Barnabas’ life and ministry?
Spiritual gifts are best invested in serving others and with others to strengthen and encourage other believers - the body of Christ.
Gifts are meant to be used within the local body of which Christ is the head.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Cor 12:
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
1 Cor
2. The word of God/the Lord/the message of salvation must always be our focus.
Time in the Word
Daily Bread or another devotional
Review the sermon outline
Home group, personal Bible study
3. The Gospel is most effectively/fruitfully preached by both our words and deeds.
Ask God for and accept God given opportunities to encourage and serve (that match your gifting, time and resources).
Serve and encourage is ways that are consistent with God’s Word.
Encourage and disciple others with the goal independence and interdependence rather than dependence.
