Friends for the Journey #4: Barnabas | 2023-05-07
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There are several men and women at Grace Church who have completed the mentoring program here at Grace and are looking to invest in and share what they've learned with someone else. Have you thought about growing in your faith through the Grace Church mentoring program?
Contact the church office with any questions or to get the process started ([email protected]) or you can talk with any of the staff and elders.
Contact the church office with any questions or to get the process started ([email protected]) or you can talk with any of the staff and elders.
#togethergc3
Here's the deal, we want to encourage you to spend time with your Grace family over the next few months as we talk about having FRIENDS FOR THE JOURNEY.
How to participate:
Get together with people from Grace (outside of church on Sunday morning)
Take a picture of yourselves
Post the picture on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. (whatever social media platform you use)
Use the hashtag #togethergc3 in the post
It will be fun to see the church in action and building relationships with one another outside of the church building! Note: if you type the hashtag into the search bar, all the posts that have been done so far using that hashtag will come up.
Need help? Just ask Lisa or Leslie.
Here's the deal, we want to encourage you to spend time with your Grace family over the next few months as we talk about having FRIENDS FOR THE JOURNEY.
How to participate:
Get together with people from Grace (outside of church on Sunday morning)
Take a picture of yourselves
Post the picture on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. (whatever social media platform you use)
Use the hashtag #togethergc3 in the post
It will be fun to see the church in action and building relationships with one another outside of the church building! Note: if you type the hashtag into the search bar, all the posts that have been done so far using that hashtag will come up.
Need help? Just ask Lisa or Leslie.
Each Saturday during the month of May you have the opportunity to help out at the church. God has blessed us with 78 acres of property and so each Spring and Fall we spend some time sprucing up and doing maintenance on what He has given us!
Every Saturday in May from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm or whatever time you can give. Contact Ryan Hickey ([email protected]) if you plan to come so he can know to plan for you.
Every Saturday in May from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm or whatever time you can give. Contact Ryan Hickey ([email protected]) if you plan to come so he can know to plan for you.
Cards
Our Spring series is dealing with the theme of friendship.
We are looking at the lives of Bible characters who teach and model for us some great qualities that we should possess and seek in those who would be friends on our life journey.
An overriding principle we've learned is the importance of choosing wisely those who would be closest to us.
We are looking at the lives of Bible characters who teach and model for us some great qualities that we should possess and seek in those who would be friends on our life journey.
An overriding principle we've learned is the importance of choosing wisely those who would be closest to us.
Here is a word for 2023 and we'll illustrate it from the life of a person in the Bible. The word is encourage and it is an action from one person to another.
Encourage is a verb that means to support and challenge someone to a given end. It implies that we inspire with courage, motivate them to action, provide hope, instill confidence, make a goal more appealing, and enable a person to see a path to success.
As we can see from the video, there is a real need for people to encourage and be encouraged in today's world!
Encourage is a verb that means to support and challenge someone to a given end. It implies that we inspire with courage, motivate them to action, provide hope, instill confidence, make a goal more appealing, and enable a person to see a path to success.
As we can see from the video, there is a real need for people to encourage and be encouraged in today's world!
The Bible character that we are looking at today is named Joseph and we find him in Acts 4:32-37.
- Joe was from the tribal family of the Levites
- Joe was from Cyprus
- Joe had the nickname of Barnabas meaning "son of encouragement"
- Joe was a landowner
- Joe was a generous, supportive follower of Christ
- Joe was from the tribal family of the Levites
- Joe was from Cyprus
- Joe had the nickname of Barnabas meaning "son of encouragement"
- Joe was a landowner
- Joe was a generous, supportive follower of Christ
Acts 4:32-37
BSB
32 The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.
33 With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
34 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,
35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
33 With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
34 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,
35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
BSB
The character and encouragement of Joseph/Barnabas is seen throughout the book of Acts and several of the Apostle Paul's writings.
Acts 9:26-27
We see Barnabas coming to the aid of Saul after his conversion. He took Saul to the church leadership in Jerusalem to vouch for the reality of his faith.
Acts 9:26-27
We see Barnabas coming to the aid of Saul after his conversion. He took Saul to the church leadership in Jerusalem to vouch for the reality of his faith.
Acts 9:26-27
BSB
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
BSB
Acts 11:23-30
We see Barnabas going out to establish new converts in their faith in verse 23. We see his character in verse 24, and then in verse 25-26 Barnabas travels to find Saul and partners up to help establish all of the people coming to faith. In verses 27-30 we see that Barnabas and Saul accompany a large gift of money to the church in Jerusalem and Judea who were suffering from a famine.
We see Barnabas going out to establish new converts in their faith in verse 23. We see his character in verse 24, and then in verse 25-26 Barnabas travels to find Saul and partners up to help establish all of the people coming to faith. In verses 27-30 we see that Barnabas and Saul accompany a large gift of money to the church in Jerusalem and Judea who were suffering from a famine.
Acts 11:23-30
BSB
23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
24 Barnabas 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 back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)
29 So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
30 This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
24 Barnabas 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 back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)
29 So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
30 This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
BSB
Acts 12:25
We read how Barnabas and Saul left Jerusalem, after dropping off the financial gift, to go on a long mission trip - talking about Jesus to the rest of the world.
As they leave Jerusalem Barnabas takes a young guy, a relative named John Mark, with them so as to grow him in the faith.
We read how Barnabas and Saul left Jerusalem, after dropping off the financial gift, to go on a long mission trip - talking about Jesus to the rest of the world.
As they leave Jerusalem Barnabas takes a young guy, a relative named John Mark, with them so as to grow him in the faith.
Acts 12:25
BSB
25 When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
BSB
There are many more passages revealing how God used Barnabas in the history of the early church.
One person has written, "Humanly speaking, the Early Church wouldn't have grown as fast, and half of the New Testament wouldn't have been written without Barnabas' encouragement. Few Christians have contributed more to the advancement of the church than Barnabas."
One person has written, "Humanly speaking, the Early Church wouldn't have grown as fast, and half of the New Testament wouldn't have been written without Barnabas' encouragement. Few Christians have contributed more to the advancement of the church than Barnabas."
Who has been that sort of person for you? Someone who has done more than pat you on the back or point the direction you should go.
Who have been the people that...
- Invested in you
- Believed in you
- Saw something in you
- Challenged you
- Comforted you
- Corrected you
- Cared about you
- Spent time with you
- Walked with you
- Sacrificed for you
- Looked for you, found you, picked you up from the ground or laid in the mud next to you for a time when you couldn't or didn't want to get up, then looked in your eyes and said, "It's time for us to get moving."
Who has been an encourager in your life?
You are who you are, in part, because of this person's dogged determination to see you become better than who you are.
Would anyone call you their Barnabas?
Who is your Saul? Your John Mark?
Who are the people in or near your life languishing from spiritual, material, or emotional famine?
Who have been the people that...
- Invested in you
- Believed in you
- Saw something in you
- Challenged you
- Comforted you
- Corrected you
- Cared about you
- Spent time with you
- Walked with you
- Sacrificed for you
- Looked for you, found you, picked you up from the ground or laid in the mud next to you for a time when you couldn't or didn't want to get up, then looked in your eyes and said, "It's time for us to get moving."
Who has been an encourager in your life?
You are who you are, in part, because of this person's dogged determination to see you become better than who you are.
Would anyone call you their Barnabas?
Who is your Saul? Your John Mark?
Who are the people in or near your life languishing from spiritual, material, or emotional famine?
Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica as they were going through persecution and thinking they were encountering God's wrath, known as the Tribulation Period.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
We all need encouragement because life is random, life is tough, and life is short.
As we go out this week, let's be kind, smile, help others, say more positive things than negative, and share the hope that is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ!
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
We all need encouragement because life is random, life is tough, and life is short.
As we go out this week, let's be kind, smile, help others, say more positive things than negative, and share the hope that is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ!
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
BSB
9 For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
BSB
Birthdays and Anniversaries We're Celebrating This Week!
Saturday, May 6th - Rick Vessecchia, Skip & Val VanDuser, David & Elesha Smith
Monday, May 8th - Sophia Rose
Tuesday, May 9th - Tonia Webster
Wednesday, May 10th - Journey MacDonald
Thursday, May 11th - Jay & Monique Scott
Friday, May 12th - Sharon Stewart, Vaughn & Diana Reid
Saturday, May 6th - Rick Vessecchia, Skip & Val VanDuser, David & Elesha Smith
Monday, May 8th - Sophia Rose
Tuesday, May 9th - Tonia Webster
Wednesday, May 10th - Journey MacDonald
Thursday, May 11th - Jay & Monique Scott
Friday, May 12th - Sharon Stewart, Vaughn & Diana Reid
