The Challenge to Encourage Others

2002036

Subject: Daily Challenges from God

Introduction:

A. Daily challenges from God Series…

B. Talk about challenge to encourage others.

1. All need to be looking for ways to stimulate others to increased Christian service.

2. Congregations need to be full of those who are warm, happy, and looking for ways to make others happy both inside/outside the church building.

a) compliment this congregation.

3. Contrasted by cold, lifeless groups who go on week after week in monotony – absorbed in self, absorbed in problems etc.

a) Not way of Christ as presented in NT.

b) Rom. 14:19; Heb. 10:23-24; Phil. 2:3-4

C. Perhaps best way to learn how to encourage others is to look at a person in NT given the nickname: Son of Encouragement.

1. Acts 4:36-37 – Joses or Barnabas

2. this man probably obeyed the gospel on day of Pentecost or soon after.

3. Acts 14:14 tells us he became an apostle. No doubt he was a prominent leader in FC church. Helped get gospel to as many as possible.

D. Acts 14:12 – Paul was the chief speaker. But, Barnabas there – taking on the role of encouraging and strengthening people.

E. Today we will look at various ways that Barnabas encouraged others. May we all strive to be sons/daughters of encouragement!

I. He encouraged by action.

A. 4:36 – what’s going on here?

1. True demonstration of his love/concern for others & his faith in God!

2. Put his faith into action – so should we. We would do well to remember 1 Jhn. 3:14-18; Js. 2:14-16.

B. Usually, we’re pretty good at discussing what needs to be done. But it can become a challenge to actually DO what needs to be done!

1. Barnabas was a doer!

2. Needed no one to tell him what to do! He did it!

C. Isn’t it great to be encouraged by someone else? Isn’t it great to be able to ask for help & get it?

1. Financial; spiritual; physical?

2. But…what about when a bro/sis gives you a hug, word of encouragement when not expected? Wow!

3. Example: volunteer for classes – none left – people already volunteered!

D. Acts 4 does not say whether needy saints begging for assistance.

1. but it does show Barnabas and others seeing a need and doing whatever necessary to fulfill that need!

2. That needs to be a quality of our lives today!

II. He encouraged by word.

A. Acts 9:1-2 – Where’s Paul headed? For what purpose?

1. Baptized in Damascus – Acts 22:16 – spent time w/disciples in Damascus.

2. 9:22-25 – driven out of Damascus for preaching Christ.

a) 9:26 – goes to Jerusalem.

b) Upon arriving – Christians in Jerusalem afraid of him for his reputation.

c) Just a little discouraging?

B. Barnabas enters the picture again. 9:27

1. Puts his own reputation on the line.

2. Think if you were Saul, how would you feel toward Barnabas? Dear friend…

C. We must do the same today!

1. looking out for new Christians w/questionable reputations. AND

2. sometimes in churches there are good brethren who are lied about and judged unfairly.

a) And too many bro/sis who know better stand by silently.

b) How much good we could do – if we stand up for one another when God’s enemies attack.

D. Back to Acts 9…

1. 9:28

2. Much joy/knowledge would have been missed out had Barnabas not vouched for Paul.

3. Words are important. Publicly; privately. Let us use our words to do good! Must use our tongue for something good!

III. He encouraged by example.

A. Acts 11:23-24 – at Antioch.

1. It’s how you look at things! Some: look at what didn’t get done. Why didn’t you baptize more? This congregation’s going downhill – FAST!

2. Barnabas comes in – sees believers where their had been none before – he was glad! Told them to keep it up!

B. Encourage by example!

1. Be excited and glad with what God is doing here!

2. Recognize it! Rejoice in it! Encourage it!

C. Note the effect:

1. 11:24 – AFTER he arrived – great numbers added to Lord’s body!

2. People are attracted to winners!

a) if you’re succeeding, but acting like a failure, you’re a failure!

b) If you’re thinking success; looking for success; and rejoicing in success; pretty soon doors start opening; you can’t shut them!

D. It’s hard to stay discouraged around an encouraged person.

1. Are we a Barnabas? Are we a son/daughter of encouragement?

Conclusion:

A. There are other things Barnabas did to encourage growth in the NT church.

1. But everywhere you look – you see that he did not wait on others to encourage him.

2. Circumstances did not determine his attitude!

3. Was a man full of faith; faith in God, this told him life is good!

B. Brethren,…you don’t have to wait for an encouraging attitude to happen to you…

1. start looking for needs and meeting them!

2. start showing confidence in each other!

3. start looking for good and talking about it!

4. See what happens with your attitude!

C. Becoming a Christian not a burden – but a privilege!

D. Have you become a Christian?

1. if not why not? Can we help you obey the gospel today?

2. I N V I T A T I O N



The Challenge to Encourage Others 2002036 Subject: Daily Challenges from God Introduction: A. Daily challenges from God Series… B. Talk about challenge to encourage others. 1. All need to be looking for ways to stimulate others to increased Christian service. 2. Congregations need to be full of those who are warm, happy, and looking for ways to make others happy both inside/outside the church building. a) compliment this congregation. 3. Contrasted by cold, lifeless groups who go on week after week in monotony – absorbed in self, absorbed in problems etc. a) Not way of Christ as presented in NT. b) Rom. 14:19; Heb. 10:23-24; Phil. 2:3-4 C. Perhaps best way to learn how to encourage others is to look at a person in NT given the nickname: Son of Encouragement. 1. Acts 4:36-37 – Joses or Barnabas 2. this man probably obeyed the gospel on day of Pentecost or soon after. 3. Acts 14:14 tells us he became an apostle. No doubt he was a prominent leader in FC church. Helped get gospel to as many as possible. D. Acts 14:12 – Paul was the chief speaker. But, Barnabas there – taking on the role of encouraging and strengthening people. E. Today we will look at various ways that Barnabas encouraged others. May we all strive to be sons/daughters of encouragement! I. He encouraged by action. A. 4:36 – what’s going on here? 1. True demonstration of his love/concern for others & his faith in God! 2. Put his faith into action – so should we. We would do well to remember 1 Jhn. 3:14-18; Js. 2:14-16. B. Usually, we’re pretty good at discussing what needs to be done. But it can become a challenge to actually DO what needs to be done! 1. Barnabas was a doer! 2. Needed no one to tell him what to do! He did it! C. Isn’t it great to be encouraged by someone else? Isn’t it great to be able to ask for help & get it? 1. Financial; spiritual; physical? 2. But…what about when a bro/sis gives you a hug, word of encouragement when not expected? Wow! 3. Example: volunteer for classes – none left – people already volunteered! D. Acts 4 does not say whether needy saints begging for assistance. 1. but it does show Barnabas and others seeing a need and doing whatever necessary to fulfill that need! 2. That needs to be a quality of our lives today! II. He encouraged by word. A. Acts 9:1-2 – Where’s Paul headed? For what purpose? 1. Baptized in Damascus – Acts 22:16 – spent time w/disciples in Damascus. 2. 9:22-25 – driven out of Damascus for preaching Christ. a) 9:26 – goes to Jerusalem. b) Upon arriving – Christians in Jerusalem afraid of him for his reputation. c) Just a little discouraging? B. Barnabas enters the picture again. 9:27 1. Puts his own reputation on the line. 2. Think if you were Saul, how would you feel toward Barnabas? Dear friend… C. We must do the same today! 1. looking out for new Christians w/questionable reputations. AND 2. sometimes in churches there are good brethren who are lied about and judged unfairly. a) And too many bro/sis who know better stand by silently. b) How much good we could do – if we stand up for one another when God’s enemies attack. D. Back to Acts 9… 1. 9:28 2. Much joy/knowledge would have been missed out had Barnabas not vouched for Paul. 3. Words are important. Publicly; privately. Let us use our words to do good! Must use our tongue for something good! III. He encouraged by example. A. Acts 11:23-24 – at Antioch. 1. It’s how you look at things! Some: look at what didn’t get done. Why didn’t you baptize more? This congregation’s going downhill – FAST! 2. Barnabas comes in – sees believers where their had been none before – he was glad! Told them to keep it up! B. Encourage by example! 1. Be excited and glad with what God is doing here! 2. Recognize it! Rejoice in it! Encourage it! C. Note the effect: 1. 11:24 – AFTER he arrived – great numbers added to Lord’s body! 2. People are attracted to winners! a) if you’re succeeding, but acting like a failure, you’re a failure! b) If you’re thinking success; looking for success; and rejoicing in success; pretty soon doors start opening; you can’t shut them! D. It’s hard to stay discouraged around an encouraged person. 1. Are we a Barnabas? Are we a son/daughter of encouragement? Conclusion: A. There are other things Barnabas did to encourage growth in the NT church. 1. But everywhere you look – you see that he did not wait on others to encourage him. 2. Circumstances did not determine his attitude! 3. Was a man full of faith; faith in God, this told him life is good! B. Brethren,…you don’t have to wait for an encouraging attitude to happen to you… 1. start looking for needs and meeting them! 2. start showing confidence in each other! 3. start looking for good and talking about it! 4. See what happens with your attitude! C. Becoming a Christian not a burden – but a privilege! D. Have you become a Christian? 1. if not why not? Can we help you obey the gospel today? 2. I N V I T A T I O N