Sermon Notes, August 14, 2016 A.M.
YOU
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Steve W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A. In
the past week many of us have watched the Olympics. It is always amazing to
witness the strength and skill the athletes
bring to their sport. I would like to take you
back to an incident that occurred in the
1992 Olympic games in Barcelona.
1. Derek Redmond of Great Britain qualified
for the semifinal of the 400 meter race
with the fastest time. He was looking
great when suddenly his hamstring tore. He
fell to the ground in excruciating pain,
struggled to get up and then hopped toward
the finish line. Everyone admired his
courage and determination.
2. Suddenly, Redmond’s father, Jim, ran out
from the stands, pushed away the
security guards and ran to his son. With
both of them brushing away tears they
finished the race together. What a
difference Jim Redmond made by running
alongside his son on that day. We may
never remember who won the race but we’ll
never forget who finished the race.
B. The
Bible compares life to a race.
1. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – “Do you not know
that those who run in a race all run, but
one receives the prize? Run in such a way
that you may obtain it. 25 And
everyone
who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I
run thus: not
with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But
I discipline my
body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself
should become disqualified.”
2. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 – “For I am already
being poured out as a drink offering, and the
time of my departure is at hand. 7 I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally,
there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who
have loved His appearing.”
3. Hebrews 12:1-2 - “Therefore we also,
since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us, 2 looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was
set before
Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God.”
C.
Like Derek Redmond we may suffer a staggering injury. We may struggle to finish
the course. We may experience pain,
heartbreak and exhaustion.
1. There are times when we need someone to
run with us, encourage us, help us and
strengthen us.
2. There may be someone who needs you to
run with them.
3. I’d like for us to consider a man in the
book of Acts who ran alongside others. He
was never the main attraction but always
played a supporting role. He made a huge
difference in the lives of many people.
His name was Barnabas. What was it about
this man that made him such an
encourager?
I. AN ATTITUDE OF SACRIFICE
A. We are introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4.
1. The church had just begun and had not
spread beyond Jerusalem.
2. There was a tremendous spirit of
unity among the believers. Verse 32 says, “And
the congregation of those who
believed were of one heart and soul; and not one
of them claimed that anything
belonging to him was his own, but all things were
common property to them.”
3. This was not a redistribution of
wealth imposed by a government. It was a
voluntary sharing of possessions
based on their love for one another.
B. This text paves the way for the
introduction of Barnabas in verses 36-37, “Now
Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who
was also called Barnabas by the apostles
(which translated means Son of
Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land,
sold it and brought the money and laid
it at the apostles’ feet.”
1.
He was an encourager – vs. 36
2. He was a good man – Acts 11:24.
3. He was a preacher and teacher – Acts
13:1.
4. He risked his life by preaching the
Gospel – Acts 15:26.
C. The name, “Barnabas” meant – son of
Encouragement. It is especially fitting for
this man because every time you read
about him in Acts or 1 Corinthians and
Galatians (the only other books of the
Bible in which he is mentioned) he is doing
something for others. He had a
remarkable, generous, uplifting spirit.
II. AN ATTITUDE OF HELPFULNESS
A. The next time we read about Barnabas is
in Acts 9:26-28. This was in conjunction
with a well-known personality in Acts,
the apostle Paul.
1. After Saul (later known as Paul) was
converted he returned to Jerusalem. He
wanted to associate with the
Christians but they were afraid of him. After all, he
had been persecuting them and had
been on hand when Stephen had been
stoned to death (Acts 8:1).
2. Who do you suppose came to Saul and
helped him? Acts 9:27 says, “But
Barnabas took hold of him and
brought him to the apostles and described to
them how he had seen the Lord on the
road, and that He had talked to him, and
how at Damascus he had spoken out
boldly in the name of Jesus.”
a. It has been suggested by some
scholars that Barnabas had been a student of
the Jewish teacher Gamaliel
mentioned in Acts 5:34 who was also a teacher
of Saul according to Acts 22:3.
Perhaps they had known one another earlier.
b. Barnabas had no way of knowing if
Saul was legitimate or not. He took a risk
to help Saul in this situation.
B. This wasn’t the only time Barnabas
helped someone. In Acts 11 the Gospel was
beginning to spread among the Gentiles
and a large number of people in Antioch
were converted. They needed someone to
come and strengthen them. Who do
you suppose was selected for the job? Verses
22- 23 say, “The news about them
reached the ears of the church at
Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to
Antioch. 23 Then when he
arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and
began
to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord.”
1. One of the greatest blessings a new
Christian can have is someone who will
come alongside them and encourage
them. For Saul and the new Christians at
Antioch it was Barnabas.
2. For me it was a young man in his late
twenties who took me under his wing and
encouraged me. It was peers in the
youth group who befriended me and helped
me. I suspect you can remember
people who helped you as you began your walk
with God.
3. You may be that person to a young
Christian, to a new college student or a
struggling soul. You can be a
Barnabas.
C. As you continue to read through Acts you
find other passages that describe the
helpfulness and encouragement offered by
Barnabas.
1. Acts 11:29-30 – When Christians in
Judea were destitute those in other areas
decided to send a contribution to assist them. It was
Barnabas and Paul who
took it to the elders.
2. Acts 13:2 - the Holy Spirit
instructed that Paul and Barnabas be set apart for the
work which He had for them. This led
to them setting out on the frist mission trip
to preach the Gospel.
3. It seems that whenever a call fof
help went out in the early years of the church
Barnabas was always ready to help.
III. AN ATTITUDE OF PERSEVERANCE
A. Perhaps the most vivid illustration of
the encouragement Barnabas gave is found
in Acts 15:36-41.
1. He and Paul had returned to Antioch from
their first missionary journey.
2. From Antioch they went to Jerusalem
to meet with the apostles and then
returned to Antioch with a letter
from the apostles in Jerusalem. After they read
the letter Acts 15:31 says the
church, “rejoiced because of its encouragement.”
Everywhere Barnabas went it seems as
if people are encouraged.
B. Here is what happened next.
1. Paul and Barnabas decided to set out
on another journey to preach and
strengthen the congregations that
had been established.
2. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark
(vs. 35). John Mark had set out with them
on the first journey. Colossians
4:10 says he was a cousin of Barnabas. Paul
does not want John Mark to go with
them.
a. From Acts 13:13 we know that when
Paul and Barnabas arrived in Pamphylia,
a gentile territory, Mark turned
back.
b. If there was one thing Paul could
not stand it was prejudice (see Galatians 2).
c. Paul did not want to take Mark
but Barnabas insisted. A sharp contention
arose and they went separate
ways. Barnabas took John Mark and Paul took
Silas.
C. in 2 Timothy 4 as Paul wrote his final
words notice verse 11 – “Only Luke is with
me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you,
for he is useful to me for service.”
1. What had happened to change Paul’s
attitude towards John Mark?
2. Barnabas had gone the second mile
with Mark. He did not give up on him. He
persevered.
D. Aren’t you thankful to have had people
in your life who did not give up on you
when you made mistakes. Aren’t you
thankful to have a God who did not give up on
you but made it possible for you to be
forgiven and live with Him. Aren’t you glad to
have people who will walk with you when
you are injured and when you have fallen
and help you cross the finish line like
Jimmy Redmond did with his son, Derek?
CONCLUSION
A. As
we conclude I urge you to consider these passages.
1. Eph. 4:29 – “Let no corrupt word proceed
out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may
impart grace to the hearers.”
2. 1 Thess. 5:11 – “Therefore comfort each
other and edify one another, just as you
also are doing.”
3. Heb. 10:24-25 – “And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and
good
works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner
of some, but exhorting one another, and
so much the more as you see the Day
approaching.”
B. We
want to encourage you and help you in your response to God’s grace today.
