BARNABAS, A GOOD MAN

TEXT:  Acts 11:19-26

INTRODUCTION:

A.  OTHER THAN JESUS, WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE BIBLE CHARACTER?

          1.  Often overlooked is Barnabas.

                   a.  A prophet and teacher (Acts 13:1).

                   b.  Called an apostle, in the sense he was sent by the church in Antioch (Acts 14:14).

          2.  Acts 11:24.  “For he was a good man.”

B.  ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON,  LIKE BARNABAS?

C.  WHAT MADE BARNABAS A GOOD MAN?

I.  HE WAS LIBERAL IN HIS GIVING (Acts 4:36-37).

A.  WHAT PROMPTED THIS ACTION (vs. 32-35).

B.  BARNABAS WAS

          1.  Not in it for his own glory (Matt. 6:2-4;  5:16).

          2.  Not a lover of material things (1 Tim. 6:9-10, 17;  Matt. 6:19-21).

          3.  Influenced by his compassion (1 Pet. 3:8;  1 John 3:16-18).

          4.  He first gave himself (2 Cor. 8:5).

C.  WE HAVE OUR CALLING (Gal. 6:10).

II.  HE WAS AN EXHORTER (Acts 4:26;  11:23).

A.  BOTH SAINT AND SINNER NEED EXHORTATION (Acts 2:40;  2 Tim. 4:2).

B.  WE ARE ALL TO EXHORT ONE ANOTHER (Heb. 3:12-13;  10:24-25).

III.  HE WAS FREE FROM ENVY.

A.  NOT THREATENED BY PAUL (Acts 11:20-23, 25-26).

B.  DIDN’T HAVE TO BE THE CENTER (Rom. 12:3).

C.  PAUL SHARED CREDIT, AS DID BARNABAS (1 Cor. 3:5-9).

IV.  HE WAS GENEROUS IN HIS JUDGMENTS OF OTHERS.

A.  HE SPOKE UP FOR PAUL IN JERUSALEM (Acts 9:26-27).

B.  THE JOHN MARK DISPUTE.

          1.  John Mark could not continue the 1^st Missionary Journey (Acts 13:5, 13).

          2.  Paul did not want him on the 2^nd. (Acts 15:36-38).

          3.  This caused them to go their separate ways (Acts 15:39-40).

          4.  Mark changed his ways, Paul changed his mind (2 Tim. 4:9-11).  Was it Barnabas?

C.  PATIENCE WITH OTHERS CAN BE A VIRTUE (1 Thess. 5:14;  Eph. 4:1-3).

V.  BARNABAS WAS NOT PERFECT.

A.  CARRIED AWAY IN PETER’S SIN (Gal. 2:11-15).

B.  REPENTED AND MENTIONED BY PAUL – IMPLIES FAITHFULNESS (1 Cor. 9:6).

C.  2 Cor. 13:5.  BE HONEST AND REPENT (1 John 1:6-9).

VI.  HE WAS A MAN FULL OF FAITH (Acts 11:24).

A.  FAITH INCLUDES TRUST (Heb. 11:6).

B.  FAITH IS OUR SHIELD (Eph. 6:16).

C.  FAITH IS OUR VICTORY (1 Cor. 15:54-57;  1 John 5:4).

D.  BUT FAITH MUST WORK (Gal. 5:6;  James 2:24).

E.  FAITH CAN GROW WEAK OR BE LOST (Heb. 3:12).

VII.  HE WAS INTERESTED IN THE SOULS OF OTHERS.

A.  ANXIOUS TO BRING PAUL TO ANTIOCH (Acts 11:25-26).

B.  HE WAS IN ANTIOCH TO PREACH (Acts 11:22-23).

C.  THE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS TOOK HIM FAR (Acts 13:1-3)

D.  EVEN WHEN HE HAD TO GO WITHOUT PAUL (Acts 15:36-39).

E.  HIS WORK MET SUCCESS (Acts 11:24)

F.  LIKE PAUL HE KNEW HIS JOB AND LET GOD DO HIS (1 Cor. 1:17;  3:5-7).

CONCLUSION:

A.  BARNABAS WAS A GOOD MAN.

B.  CAN WE SAY THAT WE ARE GOOD PERSONS?

C.  ARE WE LIKE BARNABAS?