Lesson 4 Barnabas Son of Encouragement Part 1

Lesson 4: Barnabas, Son of Encouragement (Part 1)

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Example of a Great Encourager in the Early Church – Joseph was a Jewish convert in the early church. • He was of the tribe of Levi & from the country of Cyprus. – He was a landowner – Acts 4: 37 • He apparently had no wife or family – cf. 1 Cor. 9: 5 -6. – Due to his tremendous heart & his behavior as a Christian, we do not even know him by his given name, Joseph.

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – Even if people don’t know our name, they know who we are! • Names have meaning, especially Bible names. – Ben-Deker = son of Deker (1 Kings 4: 9) – Ben-Abinadab = son of Abinadab (1 Kings 4: 11) – Ben-Geber = son of Geber (1 Kings 4: 13) – Ben-Ammi = son of my people (Gen. 19: 38) – Ben-Oni = son of my sorrow (Gen. 35: 18) – Simon Barjonah = son of Jonah (Matt. 16: 17) – Bartimaeus = son of Timaeus (Mark 10: 46) – Bar-Jesus = son of Jesus (Acts 13: 6) – Barsabas = son of the sabbath (Acts 1: 23) – Barnabas = son of encouragement (Acts 4: 36)

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – Even if people don’t know our name, they know who we are! • Names have meaning, especially Bible names. • What sort of names might we be called today? – Honest or Dishonest? – Devout or Hypocrite? – Joyful or Miserable? – Real-deal or Biggest-joke? – Hard-working or Lazy? – Jesus-freak or Wild-partier? – Peaceful or Vicious? – Bible-banger or Bar-hopper? – Faithful or Fickle? – Trustworthy or Untrustworthy? – Kind-worded or Foul-mouthed? – Every-time-the-doors-are-open or Hardly-ever-see? – Reliable or Unreliable? – Helper or Hinderer? – Encourager or Discourager?

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – Even if people don’t know our name, they know who we are! • Names have meaning, especially Bible names. • What sort of names might we be called today? • If someone changed your name, what would they call you?

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – Selflessness is extremely important & encouraging to God! • While describing the selfless sacrifice of the early church, God selected one prime example—Barnabas! • He was more concerned about others than himself. • He went out of his way to meet the needs of others. • He was sensitive to human problems and concerns. • He wasn’t so self-absorbed that he couldn’t see others. • He was looking for opportunities to help and encourage. • He was more concerned about his brethren than his land. • Selfless Christians are automatically encouraging to others!

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – Even church leaders need & can be encouraged! • The apostles changed his name to reflect who he was! – To the apostles, Joseph was a Son of Encouragement! • The apostles were encouraged by his spirit of sacrifice! – Not just a one-time act, but a lifestyle that characterized him! The size of the gift was not the determining factor! It was the heart—the genuine heart—behind the gifts! The ONE thing that stuck out in the apostles’ collective mind about Joseph – he’s that encourager guy! • Barnabas, in turn, became a “leader in the church. ” • • • – Do you suppose he remained an encourager as a leader? – How important is it for “church leaders” to be like Barnabas?

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – The kingdom of God must be first in our lives! • Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is…” – Matt. 6: 19 -21. • Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things…” – Matt. 6: 33. • Jesus said it! Barnabas did it! • He reflected a proper attitude toward material wealth. – “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him…” – 1 John 3: 17. – “As we have opportunity, let us do…” – Gal. 6: 10.

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – All giving & encouragement must have proper motives! • Barnabas is introduced at this point to introduce chap. 5. • The motives of Barnabas were vastly different than the motives of Ananias & Sapphira. – A&S saw what others were doing. – A&S perhaps wanted the same attention & praise. – A&S chose to “lie to the Holy Spirit” – Acts 5: 3. • The act of giving was to be voluntary, pure & honest. – Barnabas was motivated by pure motives. – A&S were motivated by selfish motives. • Sacrificial gifts to others are impacted by the motivation. • Encouragers are purely, honestly & lovingly motivated!

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement • Five Lessons We Learn from Barnabas in Acts 4 – – – Even if people don’t know our name, they know who we are! Selflessness is extremely important & encouraging to God! Even church leaders need & can be encouraged! The kingdom of God must be first in our lives! All giving & encouragement must have proper motives!