Barnabas — The Long-Term Investor
By: The Conversation
Tags: See Through People, Encouragement, Barnabas

Barnabas — The Long-Term Investor

Look for Long-Term Gains

@ Acts 15:36–41 | Sunday, March 22, 2015 | Lesson 3/3

This is the third and final study on Barnabas.

PART 1 — WARMING UP, SINGING AND PRAYING

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

PART 2 — BIBLE STUDY

Reading Acts 15:36–41

[To desert] 1. Abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous

2. Fail (someone), especially at a crucial moment when most needed Mark deserted Paul and went back home

Paul and Barnabas disagree

The discussions about circumcision and about Gentiles in the church took a long time. The result was the meeting in Acts 15. Paul had established churches. Now he was now eager to go back to them. He wanted them to know more about Christ. He wanted them to tell other people, and to spread the gospel in their areas.

Barnabas wanted this too. However, he wanted to take John Mark again. John Mark had left them on their first journey. Paul and Barnabas disagreed about this. Neither of them would change his opinion. The Bible is honest about its heroes. It tells us the truth about this argument. When they had to decide about Gentiles in the church, there was agreement. When Paul and Barnabas had to decide about John Mark, there was no agreement. These people were men — not angels. But the Lord was good to them. He continued to use all three men.

Maybe it was wrong for John Mark to be with Paul again so soon. Paul was about to begin a journey, which became very difficult. Perhaps John Mark needed to be more mature first. Later, Paul was glad to have John Mark with him, (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 23; 2 Timothy 4:11). Barnabas took John Mark with him. They went to Cyprus. We do not know any more about Barnabas. There is a strong tradition that later Barnabas was a martyr there.

Paul took Silas with him. Silas came from the Jerusalem church. This might have been useful to Paul when he had to mention the Acts 15 decision. Certainly, it seems that Silas wanted to spread the gospel far and wide. The result of the disagreement was that there were two groups of missionaries instead of one.

REFLECTIONS

Barnabas, son of encouragement, again, is able to see through Mark, as he did with Paul, and decided, again, to act.

[See through someone or something]

1. Lit. [for one’s vision] to penetrate something clear or opaque or a person. Of course, I can see through the window! With x-rays, they can see through your body!

2. Fig. to understand or detect the true nature of someone or something. You can’t fool me anymore. I can see through you and all your tricks.

As a result of his choice, we see later that:

God use the disagreement to multiply one single mission into two groups; Mark probably appreciates the second change gave to him by Barnabas; and makes the best of it; Mark is back on the road; his contribution does not ends here. The writes the Gospel of Mark; Paul is able to reconcile with Mark, because of the second chance, and recognizes his value.

HOW HARD TO GIVE SOMEONE A SECOND CHANCE?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TRYING TO SEE THROUGH PEOPLE OR SITUATIONS IN LIFE?

WHAT IS THE OTHER DEFINITION FOR IT? WHAT ABOUT DISCERNMENT?

PART 3 — CLOSING

What are your key takeaways from this lesson on Barnabas?

A couple ideas:

The need for action; The role of encouragement; Humility, perseverance, availability, commitment; Generosity, collaboration (Barnabas was a true team player), bring others together, no isolation; Discernment and see through people and situations; and Barnabas was an imitator of Christ.

ILLUSTRATION

Video I saw this week on the importance of encouragement, bringing others, collaborating in churches.

This is a nice illustration of the need to seek for others, specially in churches. we need the others. We need to encourage and be encouraged.

PART 4 - ANNOUNCEMENTS

In April, after Easter, we will start studying the life of Jesus: "Like no Other" is a series of eight studies that we will be following.

PART 5 — PRAYING AND PRAYER REQUESTS