Encourage One Another Series

A. Perhaps the first example of an encourager in the Bible is Jonathan, son of King Saul.

1. You might remember that David had to flee from King Saul, because the king was jealous of David and King Saul was attempting to kill him.

2. So, David fled and went far from friends and family in an effort to save his life.

3. We can only imagine David’s fatigue, fear, and discouragement.

4. But one day David received a surprise visit from his closest friend, Jonathan.

5. The king’s son had made a special trip to be at David’s side in his time of need.

6. The Bible says: While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don't be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. (1 Sam. 23:15-18)

7. What an encouragement Jonathan’s presence and words must have been to David!

B. The Apostle Paul was quite an encourager.

1. After starting several new churches on his first missionary journey, Paul retraced his steps.

2. The Bible says: Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. (Acts 14:21b-22)

3. Often when Paul would leave an area, he would gather the church and encourage them.

4. For instance, when he was about to leave Philippi, after having been imprisoned there, the Bible says: After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. (Acts 16:40)

5. After Paul was the cause of a riot in Ephesus in Acts 19, he gathered the church. The Bible says: When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. (Acts 20:1)

6. But Paul’s greatest method of encouragement was letter writing.

7. All the letters that Paul wrote to churches and individuals are full of encouragement.

C. By far, the greatest encourager of the Bible was a guy named Joseph, who was a Levite from Cyprus.

1. You probably know him better by the name of Barnabas, than by Joseph.

3. Barnabas was the nickname the apostles gave him, because Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement.” (Acts 4:36)

4. How would you like to be given that nickname?

D. So, how was Barnabas an encourager? Let me quickly give you three examples.

1. First, Barnabas was an encourager by helping needy saints.

a. In Acts 4, we are told about how the early church was meeting the needs of the poor people among them.

b. The Bible says: There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.