“Barnabas: the Son of Encouragement” – a message from Acts

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we concluded our preaching series entitled “Ordinary People in God’s Extraordinary Work.” This series is the second of a three-part exploration of the Book of Acts this Fall, including “Essential Church” and “Jesus, King of the Nations.”

This week in the series I did a sort of character study on Barnabas from various episodes in Acts. This is perhaps the message that gave me the clearest opportunity to explore what it means to let God work in and through our unique spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas 
(which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money 
and put it at the apostles’ feet.” (Acts 4:36-37)

Who Is Barnabas?

Jewish but from the diaspora areas, specifically Cyprus

An early follower of Jesus as Messiah in Jerusalem

Respected servant, leader, pastor and missionary

His name: son of encouragement, son of exhortation

Barnabas the Generous

The movement of generosity in the church (Acts 4:32-35)

Barnabas’ encouraging example (Acts 4:36-37)

Barnabas the Advocate

The conversion of Paul from persecutor to follower of Jesus (Acts 9:1-20)

Barnabas advocates for Paul, bringing Paul to the Jerusalem apostles (Acts 9:26-31)

Barnabas the Encourager

The growth of the church in Antioch and Barnabas sent to pastor (Acts 11:19-24)

Barnabas invites Paul to join him in this work, and they become emissaries back to Jerusalem with a financial gift (Acts 11:24-26)

Barnabas the Exhorter

Paul and Barnabas are sent out from Antioch as preachers in the Mediterranean (Acts 12:25-13:3)

Barnabas and Paul have conflict because of Barnabas’ cousin, John Mark, which leads to a parting of the ways, even as they both continue gospel work (Acts 15:36-41) 

Learning from Barnabas

Living in response to God’s leading

Living with God-birthed integrity and goodness

Living congruent with who God has made us to be

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Dig Deeper

Exploring Faith

• Is there someone you have gravitated towards in your searching that could be a “Barnabas” type helping you in your exploring?

Growing in Faith

• Barnabas seems to be comfortable in his own skin, letting God work in and through him according to his unique spiritual gifts, abilities, and personality. How has God made you uniquely? 
• What might it look like to let God work through your unique shaping for His goodness and glory in others’ lives? 

Centered in Faith

• Even if we are mature in our faith, like Paul and Barnabas, we may experience conflict with others. What do you think it looks like to meet with God in our conflict and let God shape our lives and still use us for the sake of others?
• Barnabas was able to use his gifts to develop Paul into the leader he became, who are you investing in and how can you help release them into the ministries God may be calling them into?