“Be a Barnabas - be a Bridge Builder.”
Subject; What role did Barnabas play in the ministry of the early church?
Complement: he reached out and recruited Saul and partnered with him in the mission.
Preaching idea: Be a Barnabas!
Text: Acts 11:19-26
19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Situation/setting/background...
• Barnabas grew up on an island – in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea – we had a nickname for our island... we called it “Club Med.”
• We spent our days on the beach... swimming... fishing... frolicking... such fun.
• And I have Jewish heritage ... so that means no beach on sabbath! “no beach for you!”
• Our tribe was Levite... our ancestors worked in the temple performing priestly duties....
• Eventually, I left our little island paradise and moved to Jerusalem.
• In Jerusalem I heard about Jesus of Nazareth... how he preached and healed... and then was crucified on false charges – but then rose from the dead – impossible you say – unless your God in human form!
• So I too became a follower of Jesus and came to see him as our long-awaited Messiah – but not only ours... the world’s messiah!
• Have you met him?
• He will change your life – for the better!
• Bigger than religion.
• Bigger than institutions
• Bigger than anything – even bigger than Rome and all of its muscle.
... the crucifixion of Jesus – it was very traumatic... but then to our surprise – everyone’s in fact...3 days later – Jesus walked out of that tomb...resurrection... then for 40 days - Jesus kept showing up -- appearing and teaching... then, he ascended to heaven... he left us with instructions to wait in Jerusalem for a gift – the gift – the HS ...and then 10 days later it happened! Pentecost... wind...fire...languages! instant global witness -- 3000 converts in one day – and that was just the beginning!
• the Holy Spirit was poured out and we are empowered... and then we can’t keep it to ourselves... and the good news spread like wildfire!
• Right from the start our community determined to meet the needs of our people... widows...orphans... the poor... no need went unnoticed or unmet.
• I was a bit of an investor... land was my thing...property... “they’re not making any more of it.”
• I sold this beautiful piece of land and gave the money to the apostles – and they used it to meet some basic needs... food... clothing.
Jerusalem was the place to be in those days.
• Persecution followed us though and the religious upheaval felt threatening to traditional Jews... even though Jesus himself was a Jew and respected the Torah... he taught with authority... despite all that they wanted him and his teaching silenced – and that included us.
• But our numbers soon reached 5000... then came the pushback
• Persecution...
• Many scattered - into the countryside and to the north...
• Stephen, one of the 7 original deacons - was killed...
• The leader of the persecution was the high priest, Caiaphas – he was responsible for killing Jesus – well now Caiaphas and his most zealous supporter was a man named “Saul of Tarsus” – He went about arresting people... beating people...killing people - because they believed in Jesus of Nazareth.
• Then something remarkable and completely unbelievable happened! Saul of Tarsus – our greatest enemy – became a believer! Shocker!
Everyone I talked to was very suspicious... it’s not possible... he hates us... he hates Jesus... but the story went like this – he was on his way to Damascus to arrest more Jesus followers – when Jesus himself appeared to Saul – and that did it... Jesus couldn’t be dead and talking to Saul... there was lightning... he was blinded... he was knocked off his horse... this was no dream.
• Saul spent a few days in Damascus... then he started preaching that Jesus was our saviour – amazing!
Acts 9:19 Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
And then Saul – who was once the hunter - became the hunted – there was a conspiracy to murder him... with the help of friends - he escaped from Damascus in a basket (!)... lowered over the city wall.
Now Saul was on the run... so he came south to Jerusalem.
Complication #1 – What To Do With Saul? – accept or reject him?... we couldn’t ignore him.
You see, Being a Jesus follower means belonging to his family... but what if that family is scared to death of you – because you did such nasty things!
vv. 9:26... after escaping from Damascus, Saul came south to Jerusalem... about 300 kms(!)... he tried to join the disciples...but they were all afraid of him – who could blame them really--- they just couldn’t believe that he really was a disciple!
Let me say it again ... he tried to join the disciples(!) – but they were all afraid of him!
This is a crucial detail... do we reject him? Can he be trusted?
***Who would reach out? Would you?
**Do you reach out to extend friendship and Christian community?
“Well, I did – Barnabas – I decided to go for it!”
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea (Sea Port) and sent him off to Tarsus.
Yes... I took Saul and brought him to the disciples... I vouched for him...I told them of his encounter with Jesus and I told them that in Damascus he preached about Jesus, fearlessly!
Then, with my endorsement - they also welcomed him!
After much preaching and debate with skeptics Saul stirred up some enemies -- some people wanted him dead -- and so Saul had to escape again...off he went – this time back home to Tarsus.
{Complication #2} ...Meanwhile my work continued in Jerusalem and then, the persecution creates scattering and the scattering creates a new church community in Antioch.
Acts 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Now... Antioch is 734 kms north of Jerusalem! ... much further north than Damascus !
(Damascus is 324 kms north of Jerusalem)
Some folks from my island home of Cyprus – along with a few others from Cyrene (____?) planted a church in Antioch.
Some saw Antioch as a more suitable capital for the eastern part of the empire and to a certain extent they tried to make it an eastern version of Rome
Antioch is located in a fertile valley on the Orontes River, about 20 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean... ** and had about half a million inhabitants.
An example of its Roman architecture is the hippodrome of Antioch, built by King Herod... The “Circus of Antioch” was a Roman hippodrome used for chariot racing... It was a fantastic sports center... it measured 500 meters (1,610 feet) in length and 30 metres (100 feet) wide, - and could hold 80,000 spectators!
So, a Christian community began in Antioch!!!
Yes, all the while, persecution was hounding us and people were hunting us...
But Antioch became a powerful church – planted because of persecution – and, that’s where we acquired the name “Christian.”
Luke the historian (and author of Acts) says it this way - “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
... God’s presence – and the good news of the gospel was changing lives everywhere you turned.
Once more I quote from Luke; “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” (11:21)
There’s nothing like new blood to excite a church!
So, all of this caught the attention of the mother church in Jerusalem – and they sent me to Antioch to oversee this new community of believers... they needed teaching and leadership and that was how God was using me in those early days.
Barnabas became their first pastor.
“When I arrived I was so glad... I could see what “the grace of God had done.” (11:23)...
So... on behalf of the apostles in Jerusalem... I encouraged them “to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.”
And, while I was there a “great number of people were brought to the Lord.”
People kept getting saved... repenting of their sins and turning to Jesus!
There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing someone getting saved... born again – that’s how Jesus described it to Nicodemus...
(have you met him? Do you know him? Has your life been transformed by Christ?)
So, while there in Antioch... I was feeling the demands of ministry and needed help.
So I made a bold move... I travelled to Tarsus to recruit Paul – some people were skeptical – who could blame them?
I could have sent for help in Jerusalem – that’s where the apostles were.
But God led me to recruit Saul... it took me a while but eventually I did find him...I persuaded him to join me in Antioch.
Surprising you might say... I saw it as a great opportunity to encourage and empower Saul.
**Everyone needs someone to believe in them – and I believed in Saul- his conversion was real... his calling was real... his love for lost people was real.
Acts 11:25 - Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul - and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So, for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.
And so it began ... “Paul and Barnabas” – we made quite a team... God made us quite a team... what a powerful preacher & teacher Saul was!
That year in Antioch was unforgettable. I was more than content to play the role of no. 2 – Paul (as we now called him – was exceptional... his mind... his spirit... his faith... his boldness. God’s hand was strong upon him. We stayed in Antioch for a full year... and what a year it was. Teaching... teaching ... teaching.... making disciples!
Afterall that was the mission Jesus gave us before his ascension – “go into all the world...make disciples...
Resolution – Saul Became My Best Friend and Ministry Partner! (Acts 13:1) ...Barnabas Partners with Saul In Antioch Church (Acts 13)
There’s more... Saul and I became a team – it wasn't really our idea – but the HS himself called us and sent us on a Mediterranean mission
You can read the account in Acts 13...Luke the historian re-tells the story...
“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen ... and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
Antioch – the disciple making church...now became the sending church!
Yes, we launched – it was God’s idea - from Antioch (in modern day Syria) ... not Jerusalem. ( another surprise)
God seems to enjoy using unlikely people in unlikely places.
Trip Number 1 – tour the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus...Turkey...Lystra...Iconium... We travelled all over the eastern Mediterranean together... preaching...healing... thrown in prison... shipwrecked... attached by wild animals... bandits... you name it...
There were many miracles happening... Here’s one story – from our very first stop in Cyprus...
acts 13:4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. 6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they (we) met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul (governor) , Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.8 But Elymas the sorcerer opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
This was a clear and obvious Power confrontation – power of God viz. power of evil.
And we know who is stronger!
Next stop – v. 13 P. Antioch (not to be confused with Antioch of Syria}. ... sabbath at the synagogue...
Paul preaches;
v. 38 “38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. (or any religion)
and the word got around... people started telling their friends - they couldn’t keep it to themselves! v. 44 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord!
Next stop Iconium...
Ch 14: 14 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed10 and called out,
“Stand up on your feet!”
At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
... 19 Then some Jews came from (Pisidian) Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
Acts 14:23 ... (we?) Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
And on and on it went...
Conclusion: Meeting Saul changed my life...meeting Jesus changed Saul’s life – and mine!
Saul became my dear, dear friend and ministry partner...
Together we served Christ our Lord... we told people the good news of salvation through faith in Christ!
Have you heard the good news?
Have you invited Jesus into your life?
Have you experienced the forgiveness of sins and the new life that Christ gives?
Application – Reach out ...build a bridge... (Hospitality ... bridhe building)
Modern Gospel witness looks like this – (1) belong (2) believe (3) become.
• Friendship!
• Hospitality!!! (Culture of hospitality)
• “Create/practice a culture of invitation!!!”
3 (5) Rules For Attending Church:
1. An alone person is an emergency
2. Friends can wait
3. Introduce a newcomer to someone else
4. Invite for lunch or coffee
Here’s the process of Modern day Gospel witness ? Belong...believe...become..
There’s a “mood” of anti-institution in the post-modern culture... much of it deserved.
Jesus said, “they will know you are Christians by your love.”
**... we can be part of healing and bridge building.
Our mission remains – love God and love neighbor! ... tell the good news ... Jesus saves!
“Christ died for our sins... and rose from the dead and he’s alive – and because he lives, we will live also.”
This is our mission!
And... in the face of so much tragedy and bad news... pure evil... we announce that Jesus is coming back to establish his kingdom – a kingdom of righteousness and peace and justice.
Let’s be a church of hospitality... especially to new people!
