OceanSide church of Christ

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Barnabas
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.              Introduction

A.   Encouraging others is one of the greatest needs of the Lord’s body

B.   One man in the New Testament was nicknamed for encouragement

                                          i.    That man was Barnabas

C.   Barnabas is mentioned 28 times in the New Testament

                                          i.    23 of those are in the books of Acts alone

                                        ii.    He has been called a major, minor character

D.   There are two major pros to an encourager in the church

                                          i.    Encouragers pull people in

                                        ii.    Encouragers keep people

1.    If you were going to select someone to start a church an encourager is the way to go

E.   Encouragement is a universal need

                                          i.    Teachers, deacons, preachers, and even elders need encouragement

                                        ii.    Elijah was a great man but he needed encouragement (1 Kings 19:13-18)

1.    He got to the point that he desired death

2.    He felt he was the only faithful man alive

3.    God reminded him there were 7,000 others

F.    Consider some lessons we can learn from Bar – Nabas (son of encouragement)

II.            Barnabas was helpful

A.   The Jews gathered together in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost

                                          i.    They had planned to go home afterward but they heard the gospel

                                        ii.    They stayed longer to be around one another

1.    However, funds ran out and brethren gave aid (Acts 2:45)

                                       iii.    In Acts 4, many stayed longer and needed more financial help

1.    Barnabas was one of those who helped (Acts 4:34-37)

2.    He gave fully unlike Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-2)

B.   How encouraging this must have been to the brethren

                                          i.    We need to be helpful to our brethren in all capacities as needed

                                        ii.    Sending cards, making calls, visiting, and much more can help

1.    We should encourage others as we are encouraged of God (2 Cor 1:3-4)

III.           Barnabas was hospitable

A.   After Paul’s conversion he stayed in Damascus for many years

                                          i.    However, he was run out by the Jews and went to Jerusalem

                                        ii.    When he tried to join himself to the brethren they feared him

1.    How discouraged Paul must have been

2.    Yet, Barnabas came to him and took him to the apostles speaking highly of him (Acts 9:27)

B.   Barnabas received Paul

                                          i.    Hospitality is more than opening up your home

1.    It is opening up your heart to receive someone

2.    Barnabas put himself in Paul’s shoes and received him

                                        ii.    The good Samaritan was hospitable (Luke 10:33)

                                       iii.    We are commanded to be hospitable as well (Rom 12:13, 1 Pet 4:9)

IV.          Barnabas was hopeful

A.   On their previous missionary journey John Mark left Paul in Perga (Acts 13:13)

                                          i.    When it came time for another journey Paul didn’t want to take him

                                        ii.    However, Barnabas wanted to give him another shot

B.   Barnabas saw the best in people and not their checkered past

                                          i.    Interestingly, the focus stays on Paul and Silas and we do not read what happened with John Mark and Barnabas

                                        ii.    We can assume it went well because Paul accepted John Mark later (2 Tim 4:11)

C.   Do you see the best in people or avoid them because of their past?

                                          i.    I am glad God sees us for the present and not the past