By Steve A.  Hamilton

Heb. 3:12-13

Introduction: Have you ever known a person who had the ability to inspire others?  Joses was one such individual who had such a reputation in the Bible.  We don’t refer to him as Joses because his nickname was Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). 

          We are going to look at how Barnabas earned his nickname as well as other scriptures that relate to our need to encourage one another.

I. Everyone needs encouragement.

          A. Heb. 10:24-25; 3:12-13.

                   1. Exhort often includes the actions lending to encouragement.

                   2. Therefore, we are commanded to encourage one another to love, do good works and assemble for every service.

          B. Like Barnabas, some are better at it than others (Rom. 12:6-8).

          C. The ability to encourage is a selfless act (Phil. 2:3-4).

          D. Paul encouraged and sought after encouragement (Acts 16:40; 20:2; 27:36; Rom. 1:12; 1 Cor. 14:31; Phil. 2:19; Col. 2:1-2).

II. How did Barnabas encourage others?

          A. Praise and a devoted example (Acts 11:22-24).

                   1. Praise is a form of encouragement (Prov. 12:25).

                   2. Barnabas also encouraged others by his selfless example to travel wherever the Lord needed him.  Serving the Lord is not always convenient (2 Tim. 4:2).

                   3. He encouraged them with purpose of heart to follow the Lord with a purpose of heart.  As a result many souls were saved.

          B. Generosity (Acts 4:32-37).

                   1. If you were ever on the receiving end of another person’s generosity, did you feel encouraged?

                   2. Shouldn’t our hearts be generous toward one another (Gal. 6:10)?

          C. Trust (Acts 15:36-40).

                   1. Obviously, Barnabas saw something in John Mark that Paul didn’t see.  I believe Barnabas knew John Mark needed some of his name sake (encouragement).

                   2. Booker T. Washington said, “Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know you trust him.”

                   3. Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart said, “Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel.  If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.”

                   4. Barnabas wasn’t privy to the wisdom expressed by those two men but whatever Barnabas did by way of encouragement for John Mark, a few years later, Paul asked Timothy to bring Mark to him (2 Tim. 4:11). Obviously, Barnabas earned his nickname by John Mark (Col. 4:10).        

Conclusion: Barnabas was indeed the “Son of Encouragement.”  We should follow his example by likewise taking opportunities to praise one another, trusting others even if they need a second chance, living a devoted life to the Lord, and being generous toward one another.  We all need encouragement and we all need to encourage one another.  

Last modified: 05/02/08