Sons of encouragement are less likely to be stoned than sons of thunder. His encouragement gives us an example to follow in encouraging one another in our own relationships. They sent “The Encourager” instead! All Rights Reserved. May be reproduced for personal, nonprofit, and non-commercial uses only. The neighbor “hired” Walter to draw pictures of his horse when Walter was only 7 years old. John went along to help them. (Psalm 33:11) Does anyone remember what Jesus told the disciples about this right before He returned to heaven? Many people were talking about Paul’s teaching. Saul did terrible things to the people who believed in Jesus. As we watch this unusual season unfold, we couldn’t help but be grateful for the reminder to show kindness and lift each other up. Main Point: Encourage one another to follow Jesus. Special thanks to John R. Cross, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, GoodSeed International. Mart DeHaan, Elisa Morgan, Bill Crowder and Daniel Ryan Day, Mart DeHaan, Elisa Morgan, Daniel Ryan Day and guest Meghan Good. When you give through the ministry of Eastpoint, you are giving back to God what He has given you and allowing greater impact on the community around us. Encouragers always want others to do well. Light your candle. I can just imagine that when things got rough, Barnabas, the encourager, would have reminded Paul that God would use every difficult situation to spread the truth of His kingdom. Barnabas the encourager was full of the Holy Spirit. Jesus appeared to Saul when Saul was heading to Damascus to arrest more believers. Posted by: Stephanie Smith The Lord allowed them to do many miracles to prove that they were speaking the truth (Acts 14:3). Say: Your parents gave you your name. There was one man who helped the believers to accept the truth that Saul was a follower of Jesus. Now it was time for the good news to spread out - beyond Jerusalem, to the people who were not Jews, not descendants of Abraham. Barnabas, partnering with Saul, was bringing the gospel to life for the people of Antioch. Later, Joseph told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. All the believers helped each other and shared all that they had. How Can an Omnipresent God Be in Hell if that is Eternal Separation from God? We should encourage in good times and especially in difficult times. The Perfect Priestly Encourager. When Faith Passes the Test (Gen. 22:1-19), 2. But instead, “Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul” (Acts 11:25). Again, they preached, and many people believed. Have the first volunteer light the second volunteer’s candle. - Acts 9:27-31. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Is that title a good description of who you really are? Remember, the best thing you can encourage someone to do is to follow Jesus. Say: When you describe a person, you usually begin with the most important things first. If you were describing Leonardo di Vinci, you might start with, “He was a great artist.” If you were describing Galileo, you would say, “He was a brilliant scientist.” Let’s look at the first words that the Bible speaks about Barnabas. As believers, the most important thing we can encourage someone to do is to follow Jesus, just as Barnabas encouraged his friends to do. May we go and do the same. Paul had met Jesus on the way to Damascus. Paul spoke even more boldly, and the church grew in number. They did not want people to follow Jesus. They taught Jews and non-Jews. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT, Props: Seven candles (with paper drip-guards or in glass containers), a lighter. Click here to edit subtitle Welcome to The Connection. But Walter’s aunt encouraged him by buying him drawing pads and pencils. The man’s name is Barnabas. Do you have a nickname? Separate them into three pairs. No one had any needs because those who had money or food gave it to those who did not. Aren’t we glad that Paul listened and obeyed God? Say: God’s plan was that His kingdom would spread throughout the entire world, and God’s plans always succeed! Then, when Paul and Barnabas were threatened, God led them to the next city. Posted by: Stephanie Smith Focus Verse: Acts 11:25 “So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.” Barnabas is the kind of guy you want in your lifegroup. Defined by the Moral Qualities, Ethical Standards, Principles followed or expressed. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. Barnabas, as defined by his name, is an encourager. "Why are we called The Barnabas Connection? Barnabas embodied his Levitical name. Say: One day when the believers were worshipping and praying, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. Unless otherwise noted the Scriptures taken from: Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version, (NIrV®). He moved about freely in Jerusalem. Barnabas The Encourager Presented by Mark Marton What is a Character Study? Barnabas, The Encourager. When the two men were threatened, they left that city and went to the next city, and kept on spreading the truth of Jesus! And those people, filled with the Holy Spirit, could tell others. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. When he was a child, Walter loved to draw, though his parents did not really praise him for this. But God used all of these terrible events for good in the end. Paul and Barnabas went to a town and preached boldly, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Interested in broadcasting Discover the Word on your radio station. Jesus gave Saul a new identity and a new name: Paul. We see that his parents named him Joseph, but he was such an encourager that those who knew him started calling him by the nickname of Barnabas - Son of Encouragement. It is our belief, that through connecting in groups and classes, it will be much easier to take your next steps with Jesus. Then you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem. He gave it to the apostles to share with the other believers. Walk to second pair of volunteers. Joseph was lied about, and sent to prison. For example, you might say, “I could nickname Jacob, “Helpful,” because he comes early every week to help me set up the classroom.). Some of the religious leaders tried to stop them talking about him. Ask: Do you remember the story of Joseph? Many Jews and non-Jews believed the message of God’s grace. When Barnabas sold his land, he didn’t keep the money to buy what he wanted. Why on earth go for Saul when things seemed like they were in such good order in Antioch? So they grew in numbers. He saw how the disciples had changed. - Acts 13:9-12 NLT. When the disciples heard about a church in need of help, they didn’t send a teacher, a judge, or a bodyguard. They planned to kill Paul, so Paul had to leave Damascus. The Barnabas Encouragement Connection. (Acts 14:19) Even though they were threatened and attacked, Paul and Barnabas would not stop preaching the truth. The Holy Spirit gave the church [believers] strength and boldness. Focus Verse: Acts 11:25 “So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.” With things looking as good as there were in Antioch, Barnabas might have returned to Jerusalem, or set his sights on another city. Then, Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities where they had taught, to encourage the believers there (Acts 14:21). They explained that Jesus was the Savior. Mark was willing to change and Barnabas, being the encourager he was, took him under his wings and guided him along in his spiritual walk. From there, Paul and Barnabas traveled to another city, and another. Hebrews 3:13 says that by encouraging each other, we help keep one another out of the trap of sin. Application: Does anyone here have a nickname?