The Raymer enterprise., 1923-08-23
LESSON FOR AUGUST rs
sARNABAs, THE GREAT
HEARTED


HEARTED
LESSON TExr-Acts l:3s-37: il:ls.
GOLDEN TExr-"Hs was . good
man and full Of the Holy Ghost and OF
faith."-Aets ll:1%.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalm %:
PRIMARY ToPIc-Barnabas and
Paul Tell about Jesus.
. JUNIOR TOPIC - How Barnabas
Helped the Church.
INrrRMDDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
Ic-Hov Bsrnabas Showed Generous
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Christian Character illustrated oy
Barnabaa.
!. Barnabas the Man (Acts 4:S0.
His original name was Joseph.
When he became q Christian, he was
renamed Barnabas signifying the
change from the old life to the new.
This was common custom, for ex-
ample, Simon to Peter and Saul to
Paul. The name means "Son OF
Prophecy" or "exhortation and con-
ISOLATION" This shows not only tho
nature and spirit Of Barnabas but
that he possessed the gift Of horta-
tory preaching. The exercise Of this
gift made him Z son Of consolation.
u. sarnabas the PhIIanthroplst
fActs 4 an 4
So fully had the divine love per
meated the very being Of Barnabas
that seeing the need Of his fellow-be-
levers, he sold his property and
brought the money and laid 1t at the
apostles feet His generosity ex-
pressed itself In deeds, not In pious
words and promises. He counted
nothing his own while his brethren
were In need. He was In no sense
obliged to do this a. there was NO
such thing In the early church ~ q
binding law of q community Of goods.
Private ownership Of property was
recognized. Acts 5:4.
III. Darnabas, the Christian statse-
man (Acts IL :10-S0).
Tho violent prosecutions Of the
church scattered the disciples. Az
they went they preached the Gospel,
and churches were established The
most conspicuous Of these was at An
tioch, the capital Of Syria, because It
became the most important center In
the spread Of Christianity. Every
thing went well a. long as the Gospel
message was preached to the Jews
only. The Idea held among the dis.
ciples at that time was that the Gen.
tiles were excluded But at Antioch
certain Of these disciples deliberately
preached Christ among the Greeks.
The seal Of the Lord was upon this
ministry and great multitudes believed
and turned to the Lord. The news Of
this revolutionary preaching reached
the ears Of the church at Jerusalem
and caused not little excitement and
discussion. The church decided to
send q committee to Antioch to look
Into the matter. :.
/. Barnabas Sent to Antioch wv.
22-24). Fortunately In this case they
sent the proper man. Barnabas was
a good man and full of the Holy
Ghost and faith. Therefore, he had
spiritual discernment and broad sym
pathy. Good men are quick to see
good. When he came to Antioch he
saw the grace Of God and was glad.
II We have grace In ourselves, we will
be able to see grace In others. He
exhorted and urged them forward in
their work. Men like Barnabas are
much needed today In our churches
men Of vision and Christian courtesy
and sympathy.
2. Barnabas Goes After Saul wv.
1920. The work 80 prospered that
help was needed, SO Barnabas went
after Saul. These men had been to-
gether before. After Sauls conver-
sion, he came to Jerusalem and tried
to Join himself to the disciples but
they were afraid Of him. Barnabas
befricnded him (Acts 9:28-27). He
saw that Saul was really converted
man. Being a good man he could see
there was good in Saul. Barnabas
thus introduced Saul to his great
work as apostle to the Gentiles. z
s. Disciples Called Christians \
I6). After year Of teaching by Paul
and Barnabas, the name Christian
was given to the disciples. The name
was associated with the teaching.
Paul taught the vital oneness Of the
believer with Christ so 1t was natural
that the disciples should be called
Christian.
4. Barnabas and Saul 20 to Jeru-
salem With Aims wv. 28-3O). Because
Of the oneness Of Christians Nth
Christ and with one another, the dis.
tress Of the brethren at Jerusalem
must be relieved by the gifts Of the
believers at Antioch. These gifts
had powerful effect in removing the
suspicious Of the brethren at Jeru.
| salem.