Podcasts about Barnabas

“Everlasting consolation.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Consolation.” There is music in the word: like David's harp, it charms away the evil spirit of melancholy. It was a distinguished I honour to Barnabas to be called “the son of consolation”; nay, it is one of the illustrious names of a greater than Barnabas, for the Lord […]

In this message, we discussed Acts 14, where Paul and Barnabas face fierce opposition, miraculous healings, and even mistaken identity as gods, yet through it all, they persevere — strengthening the faith of new believers and reminding them, “We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”Main scripture: Acts 14; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Philippians 3:18-19; 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Barnabas

Introduction: 3 Self-Serving Reasons to Give to God (Matthew 6:19–24): So I Have TREASURE FOREVER . (Matt 6:19–21) So I Am ABLE to SEE . (Matt 6:22–23) So I Serve the RIGHT MASTER . (Matt 6:24) 1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 6:19-24What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Re-read Matt 6:22-23. Explain this in your own words. What does this have to do with money, and how does generosity affect spiritual perception?Is it wrong to be motivated by self-serving reasons to give to God? Why or why not?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open up your Bibles with me please to Matthew chapter 6.Some time ago, I was at the funeral home for a visitation.And as I was leaving, there was a woman standing kind of in the lobby by the exit door.And she asked what my connection was to the deceased.And I said, "Well, I'm a pastor and I've known the family for quite a while."And she says, "Oh, you're a pastor."She said, "What do you think about what Joel Osteen makes?"You know, that's not really the time or the place to engage in a heated debate.I said, "What Joel Osteen makes is really none of my business."She goes, "Well, of course it is."I said, "Why?"I said, "What he makes and what he does with his money, it's not my business."And she goes, "Well, it absolutely is."And I said, "Well, man, with all due respect, if you don't appreciate his ministry, then don't give him money."But I walked out of there just sort of confused again as to why we are so concerned with what other people do with their money.When biblically, who should I be concerned about?Point to the person that you should be concerned about, right here.Right?And we're going through the Sermon on the Mount.In the last section we looked at Jesus, talked about giving and praying and fasting.And those are all the elements of our private spiritual life.But you know, you've got to deal with the world sometime, right?You've got to get out there.And this next section of the Sermon on the Mount is about that.How do we deal with the world?What is the heart towards the world?And today we're going to talk about money.And oh, I think we knew it had to come up in the Sermon on the Mount eventually.Like, well, if it's such a big deal, why didn't it come up sooner?Because Jesus has been going after our hearts, and when your heart is right, and only whenyour heart is right, will your view and use of money also be right.Look at, I just want to start, look at verse 20, just the first part here.This is absolutely astounding.Jesus says, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."Just stop there for a second.That is absolutely astounding what He said.Right there, two things.Two things just blow me away about even that little part of the verse.It just blows me away.The first thing that blows me away is the fact that I can even put treasure in heaven.It's astounding that I have the ability to put stuff in heaven.But I got to tell you this past week, there's another little phrase in there that reallyjumped out at me.And it was the phrase, "For yourselves."So this treasure in heaven, who's it for?It's for me.This is going to benefit me.And you might be shocked to find out this morning that when you look in this sectionabout what Jesus says about money, there is a self-serving motive.Actually there are three self-serving motives at play.You know, we talked about money last fall.We had a whole series.What was that, Pastor in October?It was called "Right on the Money."Within that series, we talked about how to lay up treasure in heaven.Quick review, we said you got to give to God intentionally, willingly, and cheerfully.That's what the Bible says.That's how you lay up treasure in heaven.But here in this passage we're looking at today, Jesus doesn't talk about how.Okay, clearly here you're going to see that Jesus talks about why we should lay up treasurein heaven.And the why is for us.You know, after that sermon series last fall, oh, I preached my little heart out.What does God say about giving?Do you know what happened after that series?Giving went down in the church.I don't get it.I don't understand how we can see clear teaching from God's Word about money and we just thumbour nose at God and say, "Pshh, I'll show you, I'll give less."I don't understand that.You know, my wife, Erin, has a friend out of state that works in finance in her church.And she was sharing with Erin that every time my pastor preaches about tithing, giving goesdown.I don't get it.I just don't understand it.I just don't understand.You know, God says, "Everything is mine.I'm going to give some to you because I love you and as an act of love and worship, I wantyou to give back to me.And if you do, I will give you even more."And we listen to that and we go, "Nah."That's not for me.Well, I want to encourage you and the Lord to really change your mind about that becausehere in this passage, Jesus gives us why.And if you believe, you will be the beneficiary of giving.All right?So on your outline, I want you to write some things down.Here's three self-serving reasons to give to God.Very clear in the passage, self-serving reasons to give to God.Number one, write this down, "So I have treasure forever."So I have treasure forever.Look at the first part of 19, again, first part of 20.And Jesus says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth."But, verse 20, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."Do you see there's a two-fold command there, right?Not hard.It's negative and it's positive.And then Jesus goes on to give the reason behind each of these commands.So let's take a look at them first.We have a negative.All right?Look at verse 19, the negative."Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and wherethieves break in and steal."Like what's treasure on earth?You know what treasure on earth is, right?Money, houses, cars, stuff, all of the above.Jesus is just simply saying, "Do not live your life accumulating for here."Like, why not?Jesus says, "How about common sense?"Because you know it all goes away eventually.It all goes away.Notice Jesus talks about moth and rust and thieves.Those weren't three arbitrary things our Lord just pulled out of the air.The reason He said those three things is because in those days you measured wealth by threethings.You measured wealth, first of all, by how many clothes you had.I know that sounds strange to us, but go to some other parts of the world.They measured wealth by how many clothes they had.They also measured wealth by how much food they had stored.Again, that's kind of lost on us in our culture, but in that culture, especially in that day,you were extremely wealthy if you had food in storage.And obviously, wealth was measured by gold, right?So now we understand maybe a little more why Jesus selects those three images, right?Moths.Moths speaks to clothes.You know something interesting about moths?Them dusty little butterflies.They only eat what's stored.Did you notice that?Moths typically don't eat what you're wearing.They eat what's stored.Oh, and it's kind of the same thing with food, right?When Jesus says rust, that's not a great translation of the word.The word literally in the Greek means eating.What happens to stored food over time?The varmints find it, don't they?The mice, the bugs, they find their way to it when you store it.And then obviously thieves, gold breaking into houses.In those days, people often bury their treasure in the ground.It was nothing for a thief to watch to see where somebody buried something and then goback later and dig it up, right?So despite mothballs, mousetraps, motion lights, Jesus here is saying very simply the stuffthat you stockpile can and will be gone in a second, right?It's like a flower.If I pick you a beautiful flower, it's beautiful when I pick it.But you realize over time, a very short amount of time, that flower is going to wither awayand turn to dust.And here Jesus is saying, oh, that's everything on earth that you try to hold onto.Now look, it's not sinful to have stuff.If we've learned anything from the Sermon on the Mount, what we've learned is it'sall about the motive of your heart.And if your motive is to accumulate for yourself, you're greedy and you're foolish.That is what your story will lose eventually.Unless you store it in heaven, because look at verse 20, Jesus says, "But lay up for yourselvestreasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not breakin and steal."Like well what is treasure in heaven?We talked about this in our series last fall.I'm going to give you a quick review.Here's what we said, still true.What is treasure in heaven?I don't think God's Word is very specific on what that is, because I think it's somethingthat we wouldn't understand fully.But there's a lot that we know about it.We do know that it's eternal, and it's better than stuff on earth.We know that.We do know that believers will have treasure based on what we've done with our resourceshere on the earth.Now to be clear, Pastor Taylor talked about this.Salvation is entirely based on the work of Jesus Christ.Let's be clear about that.Jesus Christ through His death and His resurrection provided salvation to those who will turnfrom their sin and receive Him.It's all based on His work.But treasure or rewards are based on our works, and in heaven there will be different levelsof rewards.Another thing we do know is there's no second chance for believers to earn rewards afterwe die.Basically this life on the earth right now is your chance to earn rewards.I'm talking so much about the heart through this series on the Sermon and the Mount.So when we get to this section, the question is, where is your heart?While Jesus tells us objectively, in case you're still wondering where your heart reallyis, do you want to know where your heart really is?You might think you know where it is.Jesus tells us exactly where it actually is.Look at verse 21, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."Your heart is wherever you put your treasure.In other words, look at how you spend your money, and that will tell you where your heartis.So if you come to me and you say, "Oh, you know what, Pastor Jeff, my heart's with thechurch.Oh, I just have a heart for this church.I just love this church so much.My heart is with the church."How much money do you give to the church?And you're like, "Well, I don't really give that much to the church."Well, then your heart's not with the church, according to Jesus.According to Jesus, you've deceived yourself into thinking your heart's with the church,but if your money isn't invested in the church, then your heart's not in the church.All right?Or if you're like, "Oh, Pastor Jeff, you know where my heart is, my heart of hearts.You know where my heart is?My heart's for missions.Oh, I see these pictures of Barnabas and I hear about these people going on these missiontrips.I just have, Pastor Jeff, I have such a heart for missions."Do you give to missions?Well, no, I don't really give to missions.Well, then your heart's not in missions, according to Jesus, that is.Like, well, maybe I'm not sure where my heart is.If you're struggling with that, I'll be glad to help you.What I need you to do is print out your bank statement, make an appointment, and we'llsit down and go through it.And I will show you very clearly where your heart is, because according to Jesus, whereyou put your treasure is where your heart ends up.Your heart follows your investments.You're either investing in the kingdom of God, or you're investing in stuff that you'reeventually going to lose.And if you're sitting here like, "Man, you know what?I really want my heart to be on the things of God."Or then invest in the things of God.Give to the things of God, and you will find that your heart will follow your investments.Your heart will be in heaven.And according to Jesus, you're going to have treasure that you'll enjoy for eternity.It's a pretty good self-serving motive for giving to God.Second one, right?This self-serving reason to give to God.So I'm able to see.So I'm able to see.Like, wait, wait, wait.That's what He says.Look at verses 22 and 23.Jesus says, "The eye is the lamp of the body."So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?You're like, "Well, that's an unrelated tangent.We're talking about money."And all of a sudden, we're talking about eyesight.It's not an unrelated tangent at all.Jesus here is giving us another self-centered reason to give to God.And this is what I'm going to tell you what it is, and I'm going to explain it.Listen, only people who truly understand and obey what God says about money are able tosee things as they really are.Like, well, what do you mean?Jesus here is giving an illustration.The eye here illustrates the heart.And Jesus says the eye is like a lamp.And everything that we see, what we perceive and fill ourselves with is light.Okay?So look at verse 22 again.Jesus says the eye is the lamp of the body.So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.Now that word healthy in the Greek literally is the word generous.Literally that's what the word means.If your eye is generous.So Jesus is saying that if your heart is generous, your whole life is going to be filled withlight.In other words, your whole life is going to be filled with spiritual understanding.In other words, Jesus is saying that only generous people see things as they really are.It's only generous people who say everything is God's.I'm just a steward of God's stuff.In my office on the conference table, there's a big glass bowl and it's full of lollipops.This happens all the time.It literally just happened this morning where a little kid will come in and Pastor Jeff,can I have a lollipop?Absolutely you can.And they'll take a lollipop and they'll leave.This happens all the time.And about 10 or 15 seconds later, they come back in and they say, I need to get one forJoey.I need to get one for Mikey.I need to get one for Stacy.And they start and then they walk out with these handfuls of lollipops.Doesn't bother me at all because they're illustrating a very important biblical point.And that's this.I say it all the time.I'm like, you're awfully generous with something that's not yours.That's biblical.You want to learn how to be generous?It's not yours.Everything on this earth is a bowl of lollipops.It's all God's.So it's a lot easier to be generous with it when I realize it's not mine.I don't need to hold on to it.So I'm getting one for Mikey.Generous people see things as they really are.Generous people say things like, giving is worship.So I'm joyfully giving God first and best.Right?I'm not going to see how much money I have left after I buy all my toys and I'll giveGod a tenth of that and pat myself on the back for tithing.That isn't tithing and that's certainly not worship.Tithing worshipfully is when you receive, you say, okay, God gets first and God getsbest.That's worship.Some of you are like, yeah, I'm on board with that.Why doesn't everyone get that?Because of verse 23."But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.And if then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness?"Some people don't get it because they're in the dark.Some people are just clueless because they can't see it because they can't see anything.Listen, when your heart is focused on the treasures of the earth accumulating for yourself,the blinds come down on spiritual perception.You are unable to see things spiritually.You know, some people go to church for years.Some people have been coming to this church for years and they do not change.They're still struggling with the same sin that they were struggling with two years ago,five years ago.Why?Because they can't see how great is the darkness.Some people have been coming to church for years and they don't grow.They're spiritually dull.At this point, they should be back teaching the kids.They should be leading a small group at this point.They should be in the preaching class, but they can't.They're spiritually dull.Why?They can't see.How great is the darkness?Some people never witness, never share Christ with anybody.Even talk about witnessing like, "Well, that's not for me."Why?They can't see.How great is the darkness?They come to church and they're like, "Well, worship is boring.The sermon wasn't for me.The prayer was too long."How great is the darkness?When your heart is purely focused on earth's treasures, when you live your life only thinkingand focused and spending on here and now, you will have no spiritual perception.Until you get your view of money right, you're never going to be able to deal with otherspiritual matters.So here's a self-serving reason to give.Maybe this church stuff will start to make some sense because the lights will come on.All right?Three self-serving reasons to give, number one, so I have treasure forever.Number two, so I'm able to see.Number three, so I serve the right master.So I serve the right master.Look at verse 24, Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hatethe one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."You cannot serve God and money.Jesus here very clearly tells us that God and money are both masters.You are a servant to one of them.There's no third option.And in this context, you see, you look at stuff, and you say, "Okay, all this stuffthat I have, it's either God's for God's purposes, or it's mine for what I want."Those are your choices.Jesus said, you know, you shouldn't try to...You shouldn't try to...No.He didn't say you shouldn't try to serve two masters.What did He say?The last sentence, He says, "You cannot."You cannot.It's impossible to serve two masters.Why is that?The same reason a man can't have two wives.Because we have two masters here, and both of them demand total allegiance.Both of these masters, there's no compromise.There's no 50/50 here.You're going to be totally sold out to one of them.And right now, I'm sure somebody is saying, "Well, I'm not a slave to worldly things.I'm not a slave to accumulating."Some of you are way more than you realize.Because when you prioritize stuff over God, then money becomes your master.And Martin Lloyd-Jones told this story.I can't stop thinking about it.He told this story about this farmer that had two cows gave birth at the same time.So now we have two baby cows.What is it called?Just seeing who's still listening.And okay, so he had two baby cows.So the farmer excitedly goes to his wife and he says, "Okay, here's what we're going todo.I'm going to raise both of these cows.And I'm going to sell one and all the money is going to God.And then I'm going to sell the other and all the money we're going to use for our family."And his wife says, "Well, which cow is which?The white one or the brown one?Which one's God's and which one's ours?"And the man says, "Ah, you know what?We'll worry about that later.We'll take care of that down the road somewhere."Well, a couple days later the wife walks into the house and the farmer was weeping.And the wife says, "Honey, what's the matter?"And the farmer goes, "God's cow died."That's funny, isn't it?It's really not because it's always God's cow that dies.It's always God's cow that dies.You know, you've got a sports tournament and church at the same time.You've got to go with the sports.It's always God's cow that dies.I'm not saying you're anathema if you miss church.I'm saying it's a huge red flag as to the way you're discipling your children when youteach them that anything else takes priority over church.When does worship ever have the priority?Are you discipling your kids to that?It's always God's cow that dies.It's like, well, we have youth group tonight, but we also have a dance recital.We can skip youth group because it's always God's cow that dies.You know, I really wanted to join a small group, Pastor Taylor, but you know what?I got this hobby that takes up most of my nights.So it's always God's cow that dies.And oh, yeah, we're talking about money.When money becomes tight, giving to God is the first thing to go because it's alwaysGod's cow that dies.Who's your master?I'll give you a real easy test.I'll give you a real easy test that will tell you where your heart is.Has this sermon really bothered you?If this sermon is really grating on you, so long as I have accurately represented whatour Lord has said, if this sermon is really grating on you, according to Him, it's goingto be grating on you.That means you love money and you hate God.If you're sitting here, and if you're going to be totally honest, and you resent the truththat God has a total claim on your life, then that means, in the words of our Lord, you'redevoted to money and you despise God.But you know, if you're generous, it sort of works the other way.If you're generous towards God, you hate that the world is constantly trying to take moreof your money.You hate when gas prices go up, you hate when grocery prices go up, you hate when your taxesgo up, because you sincerely respond to that by saying, "Oh, I wanted to give more, andthat's keeping me from that."And you hate that because you love God so much.You've got a master.The stuff I have, the money I make, is it to serve God or is it to serve me?Because if it's to serve you, ultimately, you're serving it.Look, at the end of the day, money is just a tool.Money's not evil.Money's not inherently good.Money is just a tool.But money is the most dangerous tool that you possess, because Jesus said that is the toolthat you will use to replace God.You know, there's so many self-serving, personal benefits to giving to God.Oh yes, the opposite is true too.Nothing to God blesses you, but when money is your master, you hurt yourself.Literally hurt yourself.Look at 1 Timothy 6:10.God says through the apostle Paul, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith."Look at this, "And pierced themselves with many pangs.The person who worships money by the way they live end up repeatedly stabbing themselves."So if you're sitting here at this point in the sermon and under your breath, in yourhead, in your heart, you're sitting here digging your heels in saying, "No one tellsme how to spend my money."Look, I earned this.It belongs to me.Okay.But I have an obligation to tell you that you're just stabbing yourself.So if God isn't your master, who are you hurting?On the other hand, giving it to God so I can keep it forever, letting the light shine inthat only comes to a generous heart, and serving a master who loves me and only wants goodfor me.I got plenty of self-serving reasons to give to God.Let's pray.Our Father in heaven, I'm sure this was a very uncomfortable several minutes for somepeople.That's okay.God, we didn't come here today for comfort.We came here to hear from You.And yes, sometimes God, You do comfort us with the truth.And Father, there are generous people sitting in this room that are comforted by all ofthe benefits that You have promised those who are generous.Father, I pray for those who are still holding on so tightly to stuff.I pray, Father, that this would be a time of some serious self-examination, and thatthey would not take the words of Jesus Christ lightly.But Father, I pray You would give them no rest until they seek to get this money issueright before You.It's worship, Father.It's worship.Let us worship You with the stuff that You've given us.We pray in Jesus' name.Amen.

Today's passage sends the church further north to Antioch where the church grows and expands and followers of Jesus are first called Christians. This church will keep popping up in Acts as a major launch pad for the missionary movements of Paul. But the church begins because of the persecution that originated from Stephen's stoning back in Acts 8. People from the island of Cyprus and all the way from Cyrene on the northern coast of Africa come to Antioch and begin proclaiming Jesus to either Greek Jews, or straight up Gentiles and the church takes off. The church in Antioch is both diverse, and incredibly focused on mission and spreading the good news of Jesus in their community and across the known world. It raises questions like, ‘What are some ways the church today can take on characteristics of the church in Antioch? Who are the Barnabas like people in the church? How might we take on a Barnabas role of encouragement and support within the church and on mission?' Preacher: Jim de Witte Passage: Acts 11:19-30 Support the show

Rwh09aug Ep.376 – Run With Horses Podcast –  Staying on target Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Author pages with links to all books on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCSDDVLB – James Norman Smith https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMGW51FW – Susan Jane Smith   .5 Do Spiritual Mapping (Know the Needs)   Where is God calling us to focus? •Acts 16:6-10 – Paul's vision to go to Macedonia. •Matthew 9:36-38 – Jesus saw the crowds, had compassion, and called for workers. •Goals: •Study community needs (demographics, unreached groups, underserved population). •Pray for discernment: Where is the Spirit leading? •Identify new areas or groups (subcultures) needing gospel engagement.   ⸻   .6 Remember Your Kingdom Job – Disciple Making   What is the primary calling of every church member? •Matthew 4:19 – “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” •2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – Ministry of reconciliation; ambassadors for Christ. •Goals: •Remind constantly: Disciple-making is not optional. •Fight mission drift (avoid letting programs replace mission). •Help every believer see themselves as sent where they live, work, play. Our capacity may be different but our purpose is the same. To see Jesus glorified everywhere by everyone.   ⸻   .7 Develop and Maintain a Feedback System   How do we track and celebrate disciple-making progress? •Acts 14:27 – Paul and Barnabas reported what God had done. •Philippians 1:3-5 – Partnership in the gospel brings joy. Paul remembered, prayed and was full of joy because of others who partnered with him on the mission. •Goals: •Share regular reports/testimonies in services or meetings. •Encourage peer accountability (who are you discipling, who disciples you?). •Offer resources and coaching for active disciple-makers. Invite people to join the mission regularly.   ⸻   .8 Keep the Systems Simple (Reproducible)   How do we ensure multiplication is possible? •2 Timothy 2:2 – Train faithful people who will train others. •Matthew 10:5-10 – Jesus sent disciples simply, focusing on relationships. •Goals: •Keep training clear and reproducible (simple Bible studies, gospel tools). •Start with baby steps (one habit at a time, one disciple at a time). •Design everything for multiplication, not just addition.   ⸻    A Call to Action •Revisit Matthew 28:18-20 – Christ's authority, command, and promise. •Challenge: What is your next step in personal disciple-making? •Corporate call: What is our next step as a church?

Paul's letter to the church at Colossae concludes with admonition to speak with God regularly in prayer, and to speak graciously with others, acting wisely toward outsiders who do not yet know the mystery of Christ revealed through his gospel. After this, he includes a summary about the ministry of the gospel being performed through other faithful men. These include Tychicus and Onesimus who are delivering the letter, Aristarchus, who is also in prison with Paul, as well as Mark, Barnabas, Justus, Epaphras, Luke the physician who wrote the gospel of Luke and Acts. On a technical note, we'll actually be picking up at verse 2 since chapter 4:1 was covered in our last episode. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

from Acts 4:36-37 Paul Tripp says, “the Bible isn't a book of heroes. No, it's the story of One Hero. Everyone else was flawed and needy, only made usable and strong by the grace and power of God.” For these nine weeks we will be invited into the lives of those, who by grace and … Continue reading "(August 3, 2025) “Ordinary Heroes: Barnabas”"

from Acts 4:36-37 w/ Ed Glaize

join us for this soul-stirring episode as we explore Acts 14:21-28, where Saint Paul and Barnabas return across 105 miles to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. With a heart filled with faith, we reflect on their mission to strengthen new disciples amidst persecution, teaching that only through much tribulation can we enter God's Kingdom (Psalm 34:19). Through prayer and fasting, they ordain elders, entrusting them to the Lord, and share how God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Be encouraged to persevere, embracing the pure joy of suffering for Christ's sake (2 Timothy 3:12), and trust the Holy Spirit's guidance. Rejoice in the growth of the one holy, apostolic, and Catholic Church, and let this message inspire your walk with Jesus. Tune in, subscribe, and share the good news!

Big Idea: God's grace grants life, gives time, and gathers generosity.  God's grace grants life (1-18) God's grace gifts time (19-26) God's grace gathers generosity (27-30) Discussion questions  1. How has God personally shown His generosity to you—whether in creation, the Word, salvation, or the church—and how does that shape your worship and life.  2. Peter said, “Who was I that I could stand in God's way?” (Acts 11:17). Have there been times when your assumptions or traditions got in the way of sharing God's grace with others? 3. In what ways can you, like Barnabas and Saul, give the gift of time to help others grow in faith? Who has done that for you? 4. What needs—spiritual, physical, or emotional—do you see around you, and how can you take part in “seeing needs and meeting them” as the Antioch church did?

Galatians 2:13 NLTAs a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter's hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

In this powerful message from our Summer in the Scriptures series, Pastor Dave Hentschel unpacks Philippians 2:1–11 to explore what it means to build a gospel-shaped community. Using vivid imagery like football blindside hits to the humility of Christ, Pastor Dave challenges us to confront our spiritual blind spots and consider who's protecting our “blind side.” True Christian community isn't built through self-promotion or shallow connection, but through humility, mutual care, and sacrificial love. Drawing from Paul's profound Christ-hymn, we're reminded that "community thrives where self-centeredness dies, and self-centeredness dies when we look to the cross." Discover how relationships with a Paul, a Timothy, and a Barnabas can help anchor you in a life of spiritual accountability and growth. Don't miss this invitation to go deeper, not just in knowledge, but in Christlike love.August 3rd, 2025

In this message, we unpack Acts Chapter 13, a pivotal moment in the early church where the Holy Spirit sends out Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. This chapter is full of spiritual insight, divine appointments, and bold preaching as the gospel begins to reach the Gentile world more fully.Main scripture: Acts 13; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Galatians 5:19-21; Acts 19:19; James 4:7

August 3, 2025Three things we learn from the life of Barnabas.  Acts 11:22-24

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus. Acts 9:1-2 CSB I admit that I didn't always hold to this position, for a while I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might. Backed with the full authority of the high priests, I threw these believers, I had no idea they were God's people!, into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution. I stormed through their meeting places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating these people. And then I started on the towns outside Jerusalem. Acts 26:9-11 MSGBeing passionately determined doesn't make you wrong, but doesn't make you right either! As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. Acts 9:3-5 CSBReal repentance leads to incredible redemption and starts with the recognition that Jesus is Lord. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you'll be told what to do next. His companions stood there dumbstruck, they could hear the sound, but couldn't see anyone, while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing. Acts 9:6-9 MSGYou may manage to minimize or even dismiss the evidentiary truth of God's word, but you will find difficult to quantify and impossible to dismiss the impact of a Divine encounter. “What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn't just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. Acts 26:19 MSG Obedient surrender is the second step on our repentant journey to restoration and one that can't be overlooked! There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Master spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias.” “Yes, Master?” he answered. “Get up and go over to Straight Street. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He's there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again.” Acts 9:10-12 MSGYou do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:16-17 NLTYou can't earn, but you must turn, if you want to follow your way back to God's great plan for your life!So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”Acts 9:17-20 NLTGod has the miraculous ability to restore our sight and redeem and redirect our destiny and determination. Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus' name. After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master's name. Acts 9:27-30 MSGFor I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 CSBThe redemptive impact God's love has on a truly repentant heart is the greatest of all life's miraculous wonders! -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus. Acts 9:1-2 CSB I admit that I didn't always hold to this position, for a while I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might. Backed with the full authority of the high priests, I threw these believers, I had no idea they were God's people!, into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution. I stormed through their meeting places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating these people. And then I started on the towns outside Jerusalem. Acts 26:9-11 MSGBeing passionately determined doesn't make you wrong, but doesn't make you right either! As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. Acts 9:3-5 CSBReal repentance leads to incredible redemption and starts with the recognition that Jesus is Lord. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you'll be told what to do next. His companions stood there dumbstruck, they could hear the sound, but couldn't see anyone, while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing. Acts 9:6-9 MSGYou may manage to minimize or even dismiss the evidentiary truth of God's word, but you will find difficult to quantify and impossible to dismiss the impact of a Divine encounter. “What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn't just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. Acts 26:19 MSG Obedient surrender is the second step on our repentant journey to restoration and one that can't be overlooked! There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Master spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias.” “Yes, Master?” he answered. “Get up and go over to Straight Street. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He's there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again.” Acts 9:10-12 MSGYou do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:16-17 NLTYou can't earn, but you must turn, if you want to follow your way back to God's great plan for your life!So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”Acts 9:17-20 NLTGod has the miraculous ability to restore our sight and redeem and redirect our destiny and determination. Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus' name. After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master's name. Acts 9:27-30 MSGFor I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 CSBThe redemptive impact God's love has on a truly repentant heart is the greatest of all life's miraculous wonders! -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Did the earliest Christians believe that salvation was permanent and irreversible? In this episode of FACTS, Stephen Boyce, with special guest Jack Bull, examines what the Apostolic Fathers actually taught about eternal security, falling away, and the necessity of perseverance in the faith.We explore key texts from the Didache, 1 Clement, 2 Clement, the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, and the Shepherd of Hermas—highlighting how the early Church warned believers about the real danger of apostasy and the importance of obedience, repentance, and endurance.If you've been told that the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” has historical roots, this episode may surprise you. The message from the early Church is consistent and clear: Salvation is not a free pass. It's a call to a lifelong, faithful walk with Christ.#OnceSavedAlwaysSaved #EternalSecurity #ApostolicFathers #Didache #IgnatiusOfAntioch #ShepherdOfHermas #Polycarp #ChurchFathers #EarlyChurch #ChristianTheology #ConditionalSecurity #SalvationDoctrine #FallFromGrace #StephenBoyce #FACTSPodcast #ChristianHistory #BiblicalTruth #PerseveranceOfTheSaints #FaithAndWorks #Patristics #JackBullStephen's writings: https://independent.academia.edu/StephenBoyce4Here is a link to Dr Bull's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Patristica

From the "Forward Folks" Series, a sermon series about bible characters who went forward for the Lord.

Speaker: Hannah Jones // Date: Sunday 3 August 2025 // Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13

Are you wondering how God might be calling you to share your faith in everyday life? Join us for an inspiring message from Ashleigh Jurosic as she unpacks Acts 13 and reveals how being "sent" isn't just for overseas missionaries, it's for YOU, right where you are!In this powerful teaching, Ashleigh shares personal stories of missed opportunities and divine appointments, showing us that we don't need perfect scripture knowledge or eloquent words to share Jesus. All we need is our encounter with Him and a willingness to let the Spirit speak through us.Discover how Paul and Barnabas's missionary journey provides a blueprint for our own spiritual adventures. whether that's at work, in our neighborhoods, or with our friends. Learn how the Holy Spirit qualifies and equips us, regardless of our background or past mistakes.Key takeaways include:How community and worship create space for the Spirit to speakWhy your personal encounter with Jesus is enough to sharePractical ways to recognize divine appointments in daily lifeHow to overcome fear and share faith authenticallyPlus, hear about exciting opportunities to connect through our summer and fall community groups, college ministries, and young adult retreat!Whether you're new to faith or looking to step out in boldness, this message will encourage you to embrace your calling as someone sent with the Spirit to bring hope to your world.Bible Verse References:Acts 13:1-12 (Primary passage)Acts 1:7-8Matthew 27:48Ephesians 6:12Acts 13:13-15Acts 13:38Acts 13:44-47Acts 13:49-52Mark 6:11Acts 9-10 (Referenced for context about Paul's conversion)

Colossians 4:7-18 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Holy Spirit and Barnabas

God has woven the language of story into the fabric of Scripture, inviting us into His grand narrative of redemption. And here we are, in the middle. The middle of our own stories, with all their beauty, brokenness, questions, and quiet miracles.We want to share more of your stories this upcoming season on the Legacy podcast! Do you have a story of a way you have seen God work? A way he has brought comfort or joy in a hard season? A cool answer to prayer? Email us at info@velvetashes.com if you are interested in sharing your story on a future podcast! Check out the Re-entry RetreatFind out more about this year's Equip Conference Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Featured music is "Daughters and Sons" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com  2004 a movie came out called Miracle on ice. The story of the 1980 US Hockey team that beat the Soviets to win Gold. Herb Brooks was the COACH… NORWAY TIE Again… Again… Again… BLUE LINE, RED LINE, BLUE LINE, TO THE WALL AND BACK They were nicknamed “Herbies”  It was to demand the most out of his players and find out which ones had it emotionally and mentally not just physically.  He wanted to find the right players and not the best players….  What many of the players did not realize was Herb had a degree in Psychology… he understood what it took to get the most out of his players… HE PERFECTED HIS COACHING STYLE FROM HIS OWN PAIN - he was the last one cut from the roster to make the 1960 Olympic team which won a gold. He was thought to be not as gifted, fast, conditioned  or experienced as the others on the team.    During the season of prep for the Olympics the team hated Herb. He was their enemy…  NOT REALIZING THAT THIS WAS ON PURPOSE TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN HIS PLAYERS.  He had players from Boston who hated the skaters from ND and the like…    TODAY WE SEE THE LIFE OF MARK OR JOHN MARK  He was surrounded by some Herb Brooks By the names of the Apostle Paul and Peter… not easy guys to be around… especially for Mark or John Mark as he was actually called. John Mark was educated, came from a wealthy family, had privilege and was probably a little bit of a whiner. Paul had a falling out with Barnabas because he did not want to travel with Mark… BTW Mark and Barnabas were cousins…   

I. THE GRATITUDE OF PAUL'S PRAYER LIFE (vv. 3-8)     1) Paul thanks God and prays ... for a church, most of whose members he has never met Colossians 1:3, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you," Colossians 2:1-2, "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face..." Carson, "We must ask ourselves how extensive our own praying is. Do all our petitions revolve around our own families and churches, our own cherished but rather small circle of friends? Of course, we are primarily responsible for praying for our own circle... But if that is the furthest reach of our prayers, we become parochial [narrow in outlook or scope]... Our prayers may be an index of how small and self-centered our world is."     2) Paul's gratitude results from paying attention. Paul says to Philemon: "[4] I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, [5] because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus" (Philemon 4-5) Paul says to the Colossian church (that Philemon hosted in his house): "[3] We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, [4] since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints," (Colossians 1:3-4) Paul is listening! He is paying attention to others. Acts 15:36, "Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.'" Paul cares greatly about their spiritual state! Carson, "[I]t will do us good to fasten on reports of Christians in several parts of the world we have never visited, find out what we can about them, and learn to intercede with God on their behalf. Not only is this an important expression of the fellowship of the church, but it is also a critical discipline that will enlarge our horizons, increase our ministry, and help us to become world Christians." When a fellow believer comes to your mind, what is your first thought? Irritation? Annoyance? Jealousy? Bitterness? What is Paul's first thought? Gratitude! Philemon 4 "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers," Colossians 1:3-4, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, [4] since we heard of your faith..." Gratitude for what? Their faith, love, and heavenly hope. Paul credits God with their own faith and love. Philippians 1:29, "For it has been granted [Dictionary: to give graciously] to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake…” Colossians 3:12, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"     3) Paul thanks God for the gospel's fruit as it comes through human means (vv. 5b-8) Epaphras, after being converted under Paul, brings the good news to Colossea! (Last week's sermon)   II. THE FOCUS OF PAUL'S PRAYER LIFE (vv. 9-12) Spiritual growth is always the dominant concern, over the physical! Carson, "Suppose, for example, that 80 or 90 percent of our petitions ask God for good health, recovery from illness, safety on the road, a good job, success in exams, the emotional needs of our children, success in our mortgage application, and much more of the same. How much of Paul's praying revolves around equivalent items? If the center of our praying is far removed from the center of Paul's praying, then even our very praying may serve as a wretched testimony to the remarkable success of the processes of paganization in our life and thought. That is why we need to study the prayers of Paul." See Matthew 6:31-33, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?' or ‘What shall we drink?' or ‘What shall we wear?' [32] For the Gentiles [the pagans] seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." So what does Paul focus on in his prayer?     1) Paul asks God to fill believers with the knowledge of his will (v. 9) "[9] And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding," This may seem simple, yet it takes "all spiritual wisdom and understanding" in the complicated nature of life to know what is best. Doug Moo, "[This] suggests the ability to discern the truth and to make good decisions based on that truth." "spiritual wisdom" means wisdom from the Holy Spirit. (Not how many use the word "spiritual" today) EXAMPLE: Colossians 4:5-6, "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of [= redeeming] the time. [6] Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." How do I best love a fellow Christian who is in sin? How do I best evangelize a co-worker or family member? I only have limited money, how much do I spend, save, and give away? to whom? how often? How do I honor my parents if they are unbelievers and disagree with my faith? What does it look like to "speak the truth in love" when dealing with a rebellious student? or hostile unebeliver? or a timid Christian friend? When does hard work become sinful preoccupation with your career? When does rest become laziness?  You are posting something *true* on social media, but unsure if it will be edifying or needlessly distracting or contentious     2) Paul's purpose in prayer is that believers might be truly pleasing to the Lord (v. 10a)   v. 10 "so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him:" Knowledge must lead to action! "Knowing" God's will (with all spiritual wisdom and understanding) must lead to "walking/living out" God's will. We must walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. (Not earning, not perfection; but rather living "in accord with" the Lord, fully pleasing to Him)     3) Paul prays for four characteristics of a life that is pleasing to the Lord (v. 10b-12)   This will produce, among others, these four characteristics... "BEARING FRUIT in every good work" (v. 10b): Fruit is about character transformation and faithfulness, not mere "results." "INCREASING in the knowledge of God;" (v. 10c): it will lead to a fully experiential knowledge of God, as we walk with Him "BEING STRENGTHENED with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;" (v. 11) "[Endurance] is what faith, hope, and love bring to an apparently impossible situation, [patience] what they show to an apparently impossible person." To endure ... takes power; to endure patiently with joy takes tremendous power "according to his glorious might." "GIVING THANKS to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." (v. 12) Paul further reminds them why they should be thankful: (vv. 13-14) vv. 13-14 "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." All of this should be seasoned by thankfulness to the Father for our share in the "inheritance of the saints of light."   III. THE DEVOTION OF PAUL'S PRAYER LIFE     1) WHY does Paul pray so often for so many? Colossians 1:3, 9, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, .... [9] And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you," Carson, "In short, Paul is telling the Colossians that since hearing about them he has made it a point to intercede with God on their behalf in his disciplined, regular prayer times; he has 'not stopped praying' for them."  Carson, "Paul again and again prays for ... the Colossian believers, as if the supply must be constantly renewed." Think of it like watering the grass or flowers. It must be done continually! Colossians 4:12-13, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."     2) HOW does Paul pray so often for so many? Philemon 4-5, "I thank my God always when I remember you [singular] in my prayers," G.K. Beale, "Paul is praying specifically for Philemon [the 'you' is singular], which implies that his daily prayer list must have been extensive." Richard Phillips, "When we consider the large number of people for whom Paul says that he is praying, he must have had not only a devoted prayer life, but also a highly organized one." APPLICATION: Don't turn these points from Carson into legalisms, but take them as practical suggestions to help you pray in a more regular, organized, and focused way. I. PLAN TO PRAY Don Carson, "Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray. We do not drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer. We will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray. That means we must self-consciously set aside time to do nothing but pray. What we actually do reflects out highest priorities. That means we can proclaim our commitment to prayer until the cows come home, but unless we actually pray, our actions disown our words. This is the fundamental reason why set times for prayer are important: they ensure that vague desires for prayer are concretized in regular practice. Paul's many references to his 'prayers' suggest that he set aside specific times for prayer -- as apparently Jesus himself did (Luke 5:16)... Unless we plan to pray we will not pray." ('Praying with Paul,' p. 1-2). II. ADOPT PRACTICAL WAYS TO FIGHT MENTAL DRIFT Don Carson, "Adopt practical ways to impede mental drift.... [Perhaps] articulate your prayers, moving your lips...to...help deter meandering.... A great way to begin to overcome this problem is to pray through various biblical passages. In other words, it is entirely appropriate to tie your praying to your Bible reading... [The] truths and entailments [in your daily Scripture reading] can be the basis of a great deal of reflective praying. [Another option is] journaling [your prayers.] III. DEVELOP A SYSTEM FOR YOUR PRAYER LISTS Carson, "Develop a system for your prayer lists. It is difficult to pray faithfully for a large spread of people and concerns without developing prayer lists that help you remember them." Carson's personal "system": "I kept a manila folder in my study, where I pray... The first sheet ... was a list of people for whom I ought to pray regularly: ... My wife..., my children and a number of relatives, followed by a number of close friends... [Then] institutional names on that sheed [which] included [my] local church ... and the seminary where I now teach. The second sheet ... listed short-range ... concerns that would not remain indefinitely... In other words, the first sheet focused on people for whom I prayed constantly; the second included people and situations for whom I might pray for a short[er] ... time, but probably not indefinitely. The next item ... was the list of the students ... for whom I was particularly responsible....and of course this list changed from year to year." IV. KEEP YOUR PRAYERS TIED TO SCRIPTURE V. PRAY UNTIL YOU PRAY VI. FIND MODELS WORTHY OF IMITATION Don Casron's book, which Mark used to help with the message and numerous subpoints, can be purchased here. You can watch this message here.

Sermon Title: Gathered and SentScripture: Acts 13:1–31. Everything flows from the heart.Howard Thurman said, “Everything we do flows from our center.” If our heart is centered in God, our actions will reflect God's love.2. Worship, prayer, and fasting come before mission.The early church didn't start with strategy or structure—they started with spiritual practices, then sent Paul and Barnabas into the world.3. We are not just gathered—we are sent.The church is called to gather for spiritual renewal and then go into the world to serve, love, and witness to Christ.4. Mission begins here.You don't have to go overseas to be a missionary. Your mission field is your workplace, your school, your neighborhood.5. You are a minister of the gospel.Your baptism is your commissioning. Whether or not you're a pastor, you are called to be a witness of God's love.6. Keep the rhythm.A healthy church (and believer) balances both gathering and sending. Leaning too far into one or the other weakens the body.7. The mission of God has a church.God's desire to love and save the world has us—the church—as its instrument. It's our shared calling to live this out daily.Reflection Question:Are you leaning too much into gathering or too much into going? How is God calling you to embrace both?Closing Encouragement:You are part of something bigger. You are gathered to be empowered—and sent to make a difference. Let's be the church our world needs.

This week we dive into Acts 15 and the powerful moment in Church history when early believers confronted what it really means to belong. As Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and James wrestled with legalism and tradition, the Jerusalem Council boldly declared that salvation comes by grace alone—not by outward signs or cultural conformity. We explore how this turning point redefined the Church as a place of radical inclusion, anchored in the Gospel and led by the Spirit. Through it, we're challenged to tear down modern-day barriers and remember that Christ alone is enough. No matter your background or story, the invitation to the table is wide open—because grace doesn't just welcome you, it unites us all.Support the show

Church Matures G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 28 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days - from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! We saw last time that the church has experienced some crises but overcame them with guidance from the Holy Spirit, prayer and wisdom. They would need that again, in another 2 events we look at tonight! King Jesus Makes An Appearance to Saul! Reading from Acts 9 ‘But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He said, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do."' Paul's conversion is perhaps the most famous throughout the history of the Church. Known as Saul, he had led systematic persecution of Christians, including the death of Stephen we looked at last time.. The only possible cause for his conversion is the beautiful sovereign grace of God. Why did Paul hate the believers so much? Because, To his mind at the time, to him a dead Messiah was no Messiah at all and how could the Saviour of the Jews, the Messiah, die on a cross and be cursed by God. No, no. Paul considered it his duty as a man zealous for the law, to eradicate all those who were followers of this man. Carrying letters from the High Priest in Jerusalem, he set out for Damascus in a bid to stop these Christians. He would arrive in Damascus, a proud and pompous man, bent on ridding the city of its followers of Jesus. But Jesus appears suddenly to Paul and speaks to him! God arrested Paul, shone his light upon him, the mercy of God overflowed upon him and the grace of God through Jesus overwhelmed him! Leading to his conversion, Paul had his sub-conscious doubts about Jesus amidst the stories of Jesus being raised from the dead! The witness of Stephen as Paul watched him die and pray to Jesus asking the Lord to forgive his enemies - for as the church father, Augustine comments "If Stephen had not prayed, the Church would not have had Paul!" The inadequacy of the Old Covenant and Law to save! He knew that his thoughts & attitudes were not clean for example his sin of covetousness. Therefore he had no inner power or peace! But what were the consequences of this conversion? His name was changed from Saul to Paul (Acts 13)! His attitudes, character & relationships with God, fellow believers and the unbelieving world were utterly transformed with the Holy Spirit now living inside him. Instead of arriving in Damascus full of pride & bravery, as a self confident enemy of Jesus, Paul entered Damascus as a prisoner of Jesus, humbled and blinded. But his conversion was initially met with doubt! The first person to minister to him was Ananias who was hesitant to do so but was persuaded by the Lord to do so! Other believers in Damascus also doubted Paul's conversion, but they were won over by the Holy Spirit and Paul's transformation. Paul Sent Jesus appointed Paul to be 3 things: a servant of God; a witness for God to the world, and also an apostle engaged in pioneer work to the Gentiles. Jesus confirmed this to Ananias that Paul was a 'chosen instrument', and Ananias passed this onto Paul (v15). Four things Paul would do: His witness was centred on Jesus Christ.. His witness was powered by the Holy Spirit His witness was courageous in Damascus, the synagogues and in Jerusalem where the Sanhedrin met. He also debated with the Hellenists His witness was costly. His life was often threatened and throughout his life he was persecuted against. Paul's experience of rejection in Damascus repeated itself in Jerusalem. When he tried to join the Apostles and Christian believers, they were afraid and doubted he really was a believer. But this time Barnabas to the others about him and his changed life. Paul was eventually accepted by them into the community of believers. We see the maturing church has now five characteristics - peace - free from outside interference strength - confirming its position encouragement - comforted by the Holy Spirit growth - multiplying numerically godliness - living in the fear of the Lord. However soon after this, another problem - a matter concern doctrine! Doctrinal Issues Arise In Acts 15v1 we read "Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can't be saved." At its beginning, the apostolic church was one church under the unitary leadership of the apostles. However a new problem arose! This problem arose because some men from Judea came to Antioch and promoted the view that circumcision was necessary for salvation and that certain regulations of the Old Testament law be required of non-Jewish converts as prerequisites for their recognition as members of the church of Jesus Christ. They were opposed by Paul and Barnabas, and as there was no final resolution, help was sought from the church in Jerusalem, still at this point the heartland of the Christian church. On arriving at Jerusalem, the delegates from Antioch were welcomed by 'the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them', This gathering evidently consisted of the leadership (apostles and elders) and many of the membership, including those convened were putting forward the requirement that Gentiles 'must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses' (Acts 15v5-6). This was the context for discussion of the issue. There was free debate and no papering over differences. The apostles let the elders speak before they joined in and it is clear that their goal was to know the mind of the Holy Spirit in the matter (Acts 15v28). The Apostle Peter rose after much discussion, and proceeded to demolish the Judaist viewpoint with arguments drawn from his own experience of ministry to Gentiles. He first described the conversion of the Gentiles as the work of God (Acts 15v 7-9) as they were filled with the Holy Spirit just as Jewish believers in Jesus were! This was proved by the Gentile Christians' faith, which was no different from their own (Acts 15v9)! Rising to a glorious crescendo, the Apostle Peter declared emphatically the very heart of the gospel: that salvation is by grace alone, both for Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15v11). Now doubt he reflected on the words of Jesus who said 'my yoke is easy and my burden is light' (Matthew 11v30). James, the brother of Jesus delivered the coup-de-grace to the Judaism argument with a direct appeal to the Word of God. God had already spoken on the matter! Quoting Amos 9v11-12, James reminded them that the prophet had declared that 'David's fallen tent' was be restored and that this would involve the in gathering of all the Gentiles who bear the Lord's name' (Acts 15v16-18). This is fulfilled, James says, in all that Peter had described (Acts 15:14). The church of Jesus Christ was all along intended to encompass both Jew and Gentile and, one by one without discrimination, they are brought to the same faith by the same Lord. This, James showed, was 'the mind of God", in the Scripture'. A proposal There was a definitive doctrinal proposal: 'We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God' (Acts 15v19). It told the Judaizing party in the gentlest possible way that what they were asking for was not the Lord's will for the church, and contrary to the gospel of God's free grace in Christ by faith alone. Then in Acts 15v20 there was a practical 4 point proposal to foster church unity by asking the Gentile Christians to take particular care to distance themselves from their former manner of life. Leave Alone: Gentiles were to examine critically their old habits and give no cause to anyone to accuse them of their old sins. They were also encouraged to be graciously accommodating to Jewish dietary sensitivities. For their part, Jewish believers needed to understand that Gentiles were not to be required to observe the Mosaic ceremonial law. Grace Alone: The apostles clearly taught that salvation was by the free and sovereign grace of God through faith in Christ alone. Council of Jerusalem held that line and closed the door on further discussion. Spirit Alone: They emphasised that the decision 'seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to the church' (Acts 15v28). Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth (John 14v26; 16v13). Standing Alone: The council's four 'requirements', highlight the necessity and the blessing of the separated life for Christians and to "stand alone" from the world, whilst living in the world. 'You will do well to avoid these things' (Acts 15v29). The conversion of Paul and the Council of Jerusalem, led to the church maturing, going forward in unity and returning to the expansion of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Tap or click here to download as a MP3 audio file

In this sermon, we explore the profound impact of our understanding of God on our lives, as illustrated in Acts 14. As Paul and Barnabas embark on their missionary journey, they encounter diverse beliefs about God, from atheism to polytheism. Through signs and wonders, they confirm the message of Jesus, yet face division and opposition. The sermon challenges us to examine the "gods" we worship today, urging us to prioritize the Creator over created things. It emphasizes the cost of following Jesus and encourages us to remain steadfast in faith, trusting in the living God who made the world and everything in it. Join us as we delve into the transformative power of the gospel and the call to let go of false idols. For more information about our church, visit npfcc.org To help support the ongoing work of NPFCC and our mission partners around the globe, you can make a donation at npfcc.org/give

Barnabas

Colossians 4:7-187 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

Colossians 4:7-187 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

Pastor Christian Lake invites us to rethink generosity as an essential spiritual gift rather than a peripheral call to action. Through biblical examples, personal stories, and thought-provoking insights, he challenges us to pursue generosity with the same precision we might apply to other areas of life.• Looking at Acts 4:32-37 as a model of spirit-led giving• Connecting generosity to the Pentecost narrative and the second Exodus• Understanding how generosity reveals our trust in God's provision• Differentiating between giving based on preference versus meeting actual needs• Recognizing that generosity is worship and should be treated as sacred• Examining how Barnabas, named for his gift of encouragement, was highlighted for his generosity• Confronting our tendency to avoid generosity due to fear of scarcity• Moving beyond industrialized charity to authentic, need-meeting generosity• Realizing that stewardship, not generosity itself, is the real challengeGod doesn't leave us on our own to be generous—He provides what we need to give. As we learn to identify needs around us rather than simply satisfying our preferences, our giving becomes more strategic, impactful, and aligned with the Spirit's leading.

This Sunday, Pastor Jon Tyson continued our series through the Book of Acts, The Fifth Act, with teaching on the history altering birth of the church at Antioch in Acts 11-13 and the roles Barnabas and Saul played in expanding the Kingdom from there. Following the rise of persecution in Jerusalem, followers of Jesus not only began to go to the ends of the earth, but to try and make disciples of all nations as Jesus commanded them, now that the Holy Spirit had been given to the Gentiles. Antioch marks the first place that the Gospel was actively being shared beyond the Jewish community, and it led to a radical move of God that transformed a nearly godless city to the place where believers were called “Christians” for the first time.

Our guest Brad Jenkins walks us through Acts 13 and 14 and the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. We see how the Spirit sends, how the Church participates, and how we're invited to do the same. Despite both openness and opposition, the gospel spreads. And we can have confidence that God is still on mission and calls us to join Him.Support our mission:Your generosity helps us proclaim Christ as King and equip disciples to make disciples.alloflife.churchcenter.com/givingVisit our website:www.alloflife.church

This week, we reflected on Acts 14 and the bold advance of the gospel in a world full of competing gods. As Paul and Barnabas preached, they encountered both eager belief and intense opposition, revealing a gospel that is radically inclusive in invitation yet uncompromisingly exclusive in truth. We saw how the early church offered an alternative to the emptiness of idolatry and a vision of suffering that was redemptive, not random. In a pluralistic and often chaotic world, this passage invites us to cling to Jesus alone, our eternal hope, while extending His grace and gospel to all.Support the show

ACTS of the Holy Spirit - A Study on the Book of Acts - Lesson 10Acts 13:1-14:8. The Holy Spirit dispatched Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Relying heavily on prayer and upon the Holy Spirit, they lovingly spread the Good News even at great cost to themselves!To learn more about Michele and to support this international ministry, please visit https://intheword.com

Who might be waiting for your voice to unlock their calling?What if your quiet word, your simple act of kindness, or your unseen encouragement was the spark that helped someone step into their God-given purpose? In this message, Pastor Adam Burton shares the story of Barnabas—a man whose behind-the-scenes encouragement changed lives and helped shape the early church. Discover how your voice, led by grace and filled with faith, can make an eternal difference.ABOUT CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCHCentral Baptist Church is located in the heart of Maysville, Kentucky. We invite you to join our community and explore our services and programs. For more information, visit our website at ⁠cbcmaysville.com⁠. If you're new or want to get connected, please fill out our digital connection card at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://⁠cbcmaysville.com/connect⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We look forward to welcoming you!FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/cbcmaysville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/centralbaptistmaysville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@cbcmaysville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's sermon, Pastor Rich Jensen delves into the early missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas, focusing on the establishment of the church in Philippi. He examines the context of Philippians within the framework of the Great Commission, highlighting God's guidance through visions and the apostles' decision-making process. The sermon contrasts the apostolic age with the modern church, emphasizing the importance of Scripture as the primary guide for believers, rather than seeking mystical guidance. Pastor Jensen highlights the example of Lydia's conversion in Philippi to illustrate the necessity of gospel preaching and God's role in opening hearts to the message of salvation. The episode concludes by urging listeners to focus on God's revealed will in Scripture, prioritizing obedience and faithfulness to His calling, rather than seeking to discern His secret will.Podcast: www.ReformedRookie.comPodcast: https://anchor.fm/reformedrookieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReformedRookie Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYapologistSemper Reformanda!

Immerse yourself in the sacred *Double Edged Sword Podcast* episode, "Escape Vain Glory," rooted in Acts 14:11-14. Father Genard guides us through a reverent journey, reflecting on the apostles Paul and Barnabas as they reject worldly praise to glorify God alone. This episode traces the early Christian mission, from Pentecost to the healing of the lame, and the Gentiles' mistaken worship of Paul and Barnabas as gods. With wisdom from Holy Scripture and insights from saints like Theophylact, we're called to turn from vain idols and superstitions—past and present—and offer ourselves wholly to the living God who gave His Son for our salvation. Let this faith-filled reflection, enriched by prayers for enlightenment and obedience to God's commandments, uplift your soul. Tune in and be blessed!

How can Lutheran congregations support military service members and veterans through Operation Barnabas? Jill Tendler — Operation Barnabas volunteer at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Eureka, MO, and Lee Hinton — Administrative Coordinator for LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, join Andy and Sarah to talk about Jill's military family story, why Operation Barnabas is important to her, and how small actions make a huge difference for veterans and military families. Learn more at 314-996-1337 and lcms.org/ministry-to-the-armed-forces/operation-barnabas. This episode originally aired on January 9, 2024. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Mike Glenn, Interim Pastor

Discover the power of encouragement through the life of Barnabas—an unsung hero who changed the world by lifting others up. Learn how seeing people through God's eyes can unleash their potential and shape your legacy.

Welcome to Christ Community's Online Service! We all need encouragement—but what if God wants you to be the encourager? This week, we meet Barnabas—a man whose Spirit-filled encouragement helped spark a global movement of the Gospel. Through uncertainty, disruption, and division, Barnabas shows us how life-giving words, sacrificial generosity, and walking alongside others can change lives. Discover how encouragement isn't just kindness—it's kingdom work. For prayer and to stay connected, please visit: https://www.cccgreeley.org For Giving: https://www.cccgreeley.org/give/ Discussion Guide: https://cccgreeley.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-7-12-13-Group-Discussion-Questions.pdf RSVP Today for the Story Night & Potluck!

The early church, no less than ours, was a church that was filled with personalities. Sometimes those personalities clashed. Sometimes it was messy. And still the Word of God grew and flourished.

My daughter was all excited about the sign she saw at the airport. It was actually over the door at a terminal, and it simply said, "Through these doors pass the greatest employees in the world." She said, "You know, Dad, that would make me feel like I was really doing a good job if I came under that every day." It gives you something you want to live up to. I hope you're posting the right kind of sign. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "I'll Become What You Call Me." Well, our word for today from the Word of God is from Acts 4, and I'm going to read beginning at verse 36 where a man gets a name change. "Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet." Now, notice Joseph becomes Barnabas, The Encourager. We read about him on several occasions in the book of Acts, not the least of which is when he came with Saul of Tarsus, who had just come to Christ. Now, remember, Saul had been persecuting the church. He was like public enemy number one for the Christians. But, "When Saul came to Jerusalem, (Acts says) he tried to join the disciples, and they were all afraid of him. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles." This is the kind of thing Barnabas does throughout his ministry. He goes on to encourage new Gentile believers in Antioch, and nobody's quite sure about them. He rehabilitates Mark when Paul fires him. The point is, the apostles called Joseph an encourager, and he just kept living up to what they called him. That's a principle of human behavior. We tend to become the name we're called. That airline seems to know that, "Through these doors pass the greatest employees in the world." If you call them that, maybe they'll live up to it. That means you have at your disposal a powerful tool for building people, or a destructive weapon for tearing them down. For example, what names do you call your son or daughter? How many times have you said stupid, or lazy, or rebel, or problem? Well, you're programming them with ideas about themselves, and they may then go on to just prove you right. Think about what you've called your husband or wife lately, or that person who frustrates you - that person who's so irritating, so negative. You can help change a person if you'll look for their strengths and tell them what you see. Call them that good thing. Find a name you can use to bring out their best. Maybe that person, for all of their weaknesses, all of their negativeness, maybe they're obnoxious, but are they generous? Maybe they're sensitive, they fight for their family. Maybe they're a person of conviction; they're organized. Maybe they have a great smile, or a great spirit, or a budding talent. Would you tell them what you see? Would they make a great Christian if they turned their mind and talents toward Christ? Sometimes I've said that to people. "You know what, you would make a great follower of Jesus." Then they look surprised and I tell them their qualities that would make them a great follower of His. "With a mind like yours, with a gift like yours, oh what a follower of Christ you would be!" Tell the people around you who they could be with the strengths that they have, even if you only see a little bit of it. Because by naming it, you can nurture it. Look at those people close to you as if they were wearing a big old sign that says, "I'll become what you call me."