Sunday Sermon

Encouragement Dan Dupey July 16, 2006

ENCOURAGEMENT

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.  - I Thessalonians 5:11

Simple Things:

Encourage:

1. A simple word

2. A smile

3. A hug

4. A note

5. A visit

ICE CREAM

Eternal Life

And this is what he promised us -- even eternal life. - I John 2:25

…that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. - John 3:15

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. - John 14:1-2

Barnabas: Comforter, Encourager

Joseph: Kind, Compassionate, Encourager

Barnabas: Comforter, Encourager

1. Disciple

2. Levite

3. Cyprus

4. Owned Land

5. Gave to the Apostles

70% Discouraged / Lonely

Four ways we can encourage:

~ Stewardship ~ (Acts 4)

1. And Joses (Joseph) sold land and placed it as the apostles feet.

2. He was a man of great wealth

3. There was great persecution and poverty in Jerusalem.

4. Barnabas knew the difference between ownership and stewardship.

5. Many of us simply major in ownership

6. But God wants us to understand that we are managers for HIM!

7. Gal 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the Law of Christ.

~ Friendship ~ (Acts 9:22)

1. Saul had been an enemy of the Church.

2. The Jews took council to kill him.

3. The disciples took him by night to escape in a basket.

4. God has now humbled this man into becoming a soldier for Him.

5. Barnabas extended friendship and encouraged Paul!

6. Barnabas finds a new believer and makes him a friend.

7. True Friend: Someone who comes in when everyone else goes out!

~ Partnerships ~ (Acts 11:19-24)

1. Christians were scattered because of Stephen’s persecution.

2. They went to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch

3. They were teaching to the Jews.

4. Some followers came from Cyrene, and Cyprus.

5. There was some concern. Who can instruct and encourage?

6. Who did they send? Barnabas

~ Involvement ~

1. Barnabas went to Tarsus. Why? To look for Paul.

2. He took him to Antioch, where they worked for a year.

3. Followers were first called Christians there.

4. Paul told Barnabas that he wanted to re-visit the cities from their 1st missionary journey.
   What was the problem? Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but there had been a disagreement earlier in Pamphylia.

5. Barnabas decided to take John Mark with him to Cyprus.

6. Paul took Silas on his return journey.

7. Barnabas had rescued and mentored John Mark.

8. Finally, some time later, Paul asks for John Mark (II Tim 4:11)