Being A Barnabas In A World Where Everyone Wants To Be Paul Series

Sermon – Being a Barnabas in a World Where Everyone Wants to be Paul

Scripture - Acts 11:20-24 “However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.”

Introduction: Every group needs an encourager because everyone needs encouragement at one time or another. However, the value of encouragement is often missed because it tends to be private rather than public. It surprises me that few people recognize that Barnabus is a nickname. Joseph was his real name, but the Church called him Barnabus, the son of consolation. Barnabus was a great help to those around him. When there was a need He was the first person to step forward. He was the first to sell his property and lay the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. He was the first to recognize what God was doing in the life of Paul and encouraged the Apostles to receive Him. He was send to Antioch to see what God was doing among the gentile believers. He encouraged them. When John Mark was on the verge of being left out, He encouraged Paul to give him another chance. Barnabus saw too much value in Mark to leave him behind.

The book of Acts reveals Barnabas’s mentoring relationship with Paul, Mark, and the leaders of the Christian Church as a significant factor in the development for influential leaders in the early Christian church. Today, we need more Barnabuses in a world where everyone wants to be Paul. Barnabas was an early leader in the Christian church through his financial gift to the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36), his selection as a representative of the Jerusalem church to confirm the work of God in Antioch (Acts 11:22), and the prominent position his name occupies in the list of leaders in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1). Barnabus was a mentor, a hero maker. Mentoring is described as “a relationship in which a more experienced leader helps a less experienced candidate to succeed. Barnabas’ relationship with Paul began when he introduced him to the apostles in Acts 9, but his mentoring relationship started in earnest when Barnabas recruited Paul to help him teach the new followers of Christ in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas guided Paul during his development from a novice follower of Christ to the greatest propagator of the faith in the early church. Senior leaders today can follow the example of Barnabas and contribute to the development of the next generation of leaders.

Recently, I was on a call discussing the need for encouragement in this season of life and ministry. Many of our friends and colleagues are walking away from ministry and the church. It can be overwhelming to think about the changes that need to be made as we look ahead to a post-covid world. In the midst of all that, a wise friend encouraged me to be a Barnabas in a world where everyone wants to be Paul. He encouraged me to use my influence, skills, and gifts to encourage others and let them have center stage. Many people want to be center stage – perhaps especially ministry leaders! – but there is also a significant role to play as “the son of encouragement.” Observe in Acts 11:22-24, how Barnabus encouraged the believers around Him toward renewal. Then on the first missionary journey that began with Barnabas and Paul soon became Paul and Barnabus. Without fanfare or drama, Barnabus pushed Paul to center stage. It takes a special kind of person to be an encourager of others. The text says, “Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.” What lessons can we learn from this son of consolation? Encouraging people are available to be used.

Lesson 1: Encouraging People Are Available to be Used.

In verse 22, the church in Jerusalem sends Barnabas to Antioch. Encouraging people are Available to be used. Whether that’s on a dangerous mission or to step out in faith or giving a special gift for the success of others, they are ready. They get their encouragement directly from Christ, our source, and they extend it to others. We talk a lot about red, yellow, and green light people in the Renewal Lab. Encouragers are green light people – they are ready to take risks for the Kingdom in order to learn and grow. They do so with humility and love for God. It has been said, “the hardest instrument to play in the orchestra is second fiddle.” Paul wrote most of the epistles and Mark had a Gospel in his name, Barnabas had to settle for a nickname and remain in the background. Can you be a Barnabas in a World Where Everyone Wants to be Paul? Encouraging people are observers of what God is doing and who God is Using.