Sermon Notes
1. His consecration to the LORD
His attitude towards new converts
2. His call as a missionary
His unselfishness and humility
His limitations
3. Our commitment to the LORD
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Introduction question for groups:
Who would you say is the person that has encouraged you the most in your life?
Digging Deeper:
1. How would you define the word “encouragement” and what would you say are the primary qualities of an encouraging person?
2. In Acts 4:36-37, a very special person is introduced who’s given the nickname “son of encouragement”. His life, ministry, character, and influence are revealed over for the next 11 chapters. Why do you think this is?
3. When you read Acts 9:19-28, Saul/Paul begins living for Jesus with his radical conversion, but when he returns to Jerusalem the Apostles refused to meet with him out of fear. If Barnabas wasn’t there to intercede for Paul and bring him into fellowship with the leaders of the church, how different do you think our faith would be today? What does this tell you about the person and character of Barnabas?
4. What more do you learn about Barnabas in Acts 11: 19-26?
5. Barnabas is the one who took the chance of bringing Paul into fellowship and ministry in the Church. Many say Paul was the greatest influence in the Church next to Jesus. If this is true, what does this say about the influence of Barnabas and how crucial the ministry of encouragement is?
6. Who would you say has been a “Barnabas” to you and where do you think you would be today if they hadn’t come into your life?
7. Who do you think are the people that would say about you that you have been a “Barnabas” to them?
Taking it home:
Meditate on the passages in Acts that speak about who the person and character of Barnabas is.
Pray for God to have Him influence you and give you opportunities this week to encourage people in their walk with Jesus.
Prayer:
Pray for each other in your group that God would give all of you opportunities to encourage God’s people this week.