Category: Barnabas

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Barnabas Encouragement On Mission

Encouraging Others

“And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26-27 (ESV) Everybody needs encouragement. Living in a fallen world can be brutal and depressing. You can get down on yourself so quickly. What a blessing to have someone come alongside you to bring out the best in you! How refreshing when God brings someone into your path to encourage you! God empowers you by His Holy Spirit to extend the ministry of encouragement. You can be an encourager by identifying the activity of God in a person’s life. As you walk with others in their journey of faith, encourage them by sharing specific items you see in their life that adds value to the Kingdom of God. Think of the people God has brought into your life along the way to encourage you in your walk with God. Aren’t you thankful that God cared enough about you to splash Living Water in your life through the encouragement of others? Barnabas existed to bring glory to God by encouraging others to reach their full redemptive potential. His most pronounced assignment was that of encouraging the Apostle Paul in his journey of faith. Paul’s reputation of being a persecutor of the church prior to his conversion did not give him much favor with the people of God. Barnabas was willing to risk major ridicule and rejection in order to stand in the gap for Paul. It’s our turn now! Let’s be dispensers of encouragement! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Barnabas Encouragement Ministry

Dispensers of Encouragement

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26-27 (NIV) Everybody needs encouragement. Living in a fallen world can be brutal and depressing. You can get down on yourself so quickly. What a blessing to have someone come alongside you to bring out the best in you! How refreshing when God brings someone into your path to encourage you! God empowers you by His Holy Spirit to extend the ministry of encouragement. You can be an encourager by identifying the activity of God in a person’s life. As you walk with others in their journey of faith, encourage them by sharing specific items you see in their life that adds value to the kingdom of God. Think of the people God has brought into your life along the way to encourage you in your walk with God. Aren’t you thankful that God cared enough about you to splash Living Water in your life through the encouragement of others? Barnabas existed to bring glory to God by encouraging others to reach their full redemptive potential. His most pronounced assignment was that of encouraging the Apostle Paul in his journey of faith. Paul’s reputation of being a persecutor of the church prior to his conversion did not give him much favor with the people of God. Barnabas was willing to risk major ridicule and rejection in order to stand in the gap for Paul. It’s our turn now! Let’s be dispensers of encouragement! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Barnabas Encouragement Ministry

Dispensers of Encouragement

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26-27 (NIV) Everybody needs encouragement. Living in a fallen world can be brutal and depressing. You can get down on yourself so quickly. What a blessing to have someone come alongside you to bring out the best in you! How refreshing when God brings someone into your path to encourage you! God empowers you by His Holy Spirit to extend the ministry of encouragement. You can be an encourager by identifying the activity of God in a person’s life. As you walk with others in their journey of faith, encourage them by sharing specific items you see in their life that adds value to the kingdom of God. Think of the people God has brought into your life along the way to encourage you in your walk with God. Aren’t you thankful that God cared enough about you to splash Living Water in your life through the encouragement of others? Barnabas existed to bring glory to God by encouraging others to reach their full redemptive potential. His most pronounced assignment was that of encouraging the Apostle Paul in his journey of faith. Paul’s reputation of being a persecutor of the church prior to his conversion did not give him much favor with the people of God. Barnabas was willing to risk major ridicule and rejection in order to stand in the gap for Paul. It’s our turn now! Let’s be dispensers of encouragement! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Barnabas Encouragement On Mission

Encouraging Others

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26-27 (NIV) Everybody needs encouragement. Living in a fallen world can be brutal and depressing. You can get down on yourself so quickly. What a blessing to have someone come alongside you to bring out the best in you! How refreshing when God brings someone into your path to encourage you! God empowers you by His Holy Spirit to extend the ministry of encouragement. You can be an encourager by identifying the activity of God in a person’s life. As you walk with others in their journey of faith, encourage them by sharing specific items you see in their life that adds value to the Kingdom of God. Think of the people God has brought into your life along the way to encourage you in your walk with God. Aren’t you thankful that God cared enough about you to splash Living Water in your life through the encouragement of others? Barnabas existed to bring glory to God by encouraging others to reach their full redemptive potential. His most pronounced assignment was that of encouraging the Apostle Paul in his journey of faith. Paul’s reputation of being a persecutor of the church prior to his conversion did not give him much favor with the people of God. Barnabas was willing to risk major ridicule and rejection in order to stand in the gap for Paul. It’s our turn now! Let’s be dispensers of encouragement! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Barnabas God's Activity God's Agenda Grace

Joining God (2)

“News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” Acts 11:22-23 (NIV) What did the evidence of the grace of God look like when Barnabas arrived in Antioch? What did he see about the church in Antioch that made him think of the grace of God? He noticed that the Lord’s hand was with them and that great numbers of people were brought to the Lord (Acts 11:21,24). He witnessed sacrificial and spontaneous giving (Acts 11:27-30). The church in Antioch was serious about prayer, fasting, Christ-exalting worship, and missions (Acts 13:1-3). Had Barnabas not been willing to leave his comfort zone in Jerusalem and travel 300 miles north to Antioch, he would have missed seeing the evidence of the grace of God in the church in Antioch. Barnabas would have missed joining God in His redemptive activity in Antioch. Barnabas would have missed personally seeing the free expression of the loving kindness of God at work in the midst of Jews and Greeks worshiping together. What is keeping you from joining God in His redemptive activity? As Henry Blackaby says, “You cannot stay where you are and go with God.” For you, it may not mean a physical relocation. Joining God always produces a spiritual change in you so that you surrender fully and completely to His agenda. Be willing to leave your comfort zone in order to join God in His redemptive activity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Barnabas Paul Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (4)

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.” Acts 9:26-28 (NIV) Imagine the New Testament without Barnabas. What if Barnabas was unwilling to step up and stand in the gap for Saul (Paul)? What if Paul would not have been accepted by the apostles in the church at Jerusalem? Barnabas chose to serve Paul by befriending him and establishing him within the church at Jerusalem. As a result, Paul went on three missionary journeys and gave birth to many churches. Because Barnabas was willing to serve to benefit others, Paul was able to write what is now half of our New Testament. Remove Barnabas and we lose Paul. If we lose Paul, we lose half of the New Testament. Do you think that Barnabas made an eternal impact by serving to benefit others? What a wonderful example of serving! Barnabas is such a great example of what God can do with a person who is willing to serve to benefit others. Live to be a blessing! Choose to serve to benefit others! It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Barnabas Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (3)

“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 (NIV) We are introduced to Barnabas in the flow of the movement of God known as the Jerusalem church. There were no needy people among the flock because the church family willingly sold some of their houses and land and brought the proceeds to the apostles for distribution. Barnabas embraced the “others-first” lifestyle. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Encouragement. Barnabas lived in such a way as to add value to the lives of others. He was the kind of believer who would draw out the best in others. “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” Prov 20:5 (NIV) Are you serving to benefit others? What if you sought to draw out the best in others? Think about the people God has placed in your sphere of influence. Think about your family, your friends, and your frequent acquaintances. What if you chose to serve to benefit them? Live in such a way as to add value to others. It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Barnabas Encouragement Josiah Mentoring Nathan Paul Teachable Timothy

Potential Essentials (1)

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” 2 Chron 34:1-2 (NIV) Be Teachable. Can you imagine an eight year old child becoming the President of the United States of America? That’s hard to fathom. Yet, in the sovereignty of God, Josiah became the king of Judah when he was the tender age of eight. God enabled Josiah to reign for thirty-one years. How does an eight year old rule his kingdom? He doesn’t by himself. Josiah surrounds himself with people who can help. He willingly brings people around him who can do what he can’t and who can exercise gifts that he may not personally have. Josiah becomes an effective king by being teachable. Josiah allows others to speak into his life. You need four people in your life to help you reach your God-given potential. You need a “Paul” who will mentor you. You need a “Timothy” to invest your life in. You need a “Barnabas” to encourage you and to bring out the best in you. And you need a “Nathan” to speak the truth in love to you. Are you teachable? Do you allow God to stretch you and mold you and grow you? Are you willing to allow others to get close enough to you in order to learn from them? Ask God to bring a Paul, a Timothy, a Barnabas, and a Nathan into your life. Be willing to be a Paul, to be a Timothy, to be a Barnabas, and to be a Nathan in someone’s life. Seek to add value to others as you allow the life of Christ to be expressed through you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Barnabas People God Uses Sensitive

The People God Uses (6)

God uses people who are sensitive. “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26-27 (NIV) Where would you be without someone believing in you? Everybody needs a Barnabas! Saul would have never become the Apostle Paul without a Barnabas in his life. Barnabas was sensitive to the activity of God. He recognized God at work in Saul’s life and willingly stood in the gap for him when others wanted to reject him. Barnabas was sensitive enough to detect the person behind the murderous past. He identified what Saul could become as the Apostle Paul and thoughtfully worked behind the scenes to help Paul reach his God-given potential. Spend some time reflecting on your spiritual journey. Identify the people God brought into your life who became like a Barnabas to you and helped you develop in your faith. Write their names down and pray over each name. Thank God for their influence in your life. Are you willing to be a Barnabas to someone this week? Would you be willing to be sensitive to the activity of God in someone’s life and allow God to use you to be a blessing? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care