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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

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Barnabas, Son of Encouragement (Part 1)

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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)

  4. 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? • Devout or Hypocrite? • Real-deal or Biggest-joke? • Jesus-freak or Wild-partier? • Bible-banger or Bar-hopper? • 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? • Honest or Dishonest? • Joyful or Miserable? • Hard-working or Lazy? • Peaceful or Vicious? • Faithful or Fickle?

  5. 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?

  6. 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!

  7. 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?

  8. 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.

  9. 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!

  10. 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!

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