Barnabas
Acts 4:36-37
I. Barnabas…. His name describes the man….” son of consolation” 1. Name given by the Apostles…. (nick name) 2. His name means “to encourage” …this is needed much in our day. 3. This was a man of the N.T. Church……. Acts 11:22-23, 1 Thess. 2:11-12, Hebrews 10:25 a. Example of a man in the restaurant…ordered eggs, coffee, toast…and a few kind words…don’t eat the eggs!
II. Barnabas was an Exhorter as a Giver 1. To the other men of God….and to the Church
III. Barnabas was an Exhorter as a Friend to a New Christian. Acts 9:26-27 1. Barnabas was the only one who stepped in and vouched for him. 2. Others would not forget the past…2 Corinthians 5:17. How often we hear that…I remember…. man’s words…God’s words…. I forgave and forgot.
IV. Barnabas was an Exhorter to Those Who had Tried to Serve God and had Failed. 1. Acts 15:36-41…John Mark had started and then went back. This did not stop Barnabas from giving him a second chance. 2. Thank God for the second chances, and for those who encourage them. a. It’s all you need sometimes. My life in Waco. b. Moses, Samson, Jonah and Peter 3. Mark did make good on his second chance. 2 Timothy 4:11 4. Thank God for every Barnabas we have in our lives. Thankful for their willingness to be a friend to a new Christian and to fallen Christians. Let’s be a Barnabas.
