Stepping In: Getting things started!

1 – Outside of your immediate family, who is one of your biggest encouragers? How do they go about being such a great encourager to you?

2 – Why do you think an “encourager” is an essential friend in your life?

3 – What’s something you’d like to start doing more to make you a better encourager?

 

Building Up: What is God Saying? 

Read Acts 4:32-37. How is the sharing of financial resources a powerful example of encouragement? Joseph had a nickname…Barnabas. It meant “Son of encouragement.” If you had a nickname, what would it be and why?

Read Acts 11:22-26. What might be some of the reasons the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch? Why did Barnabas go get Saul? The church in Antioch is where the term “Christian” was used. It’s also a truly diverse church. What kind of person would be needed to manage the tension between Jews and Gentiles or people from different ethnic backgrounds?

Read Acts 13:1-3. Knowing now what we know about Saul (Paul) and Barnabas, why do you think the Holy Spirit set them apart for this critical mission?

Read Acts 15:36-41. John Mark (the writer of the Gospel of Mark) left them on the first missionary trip (Acts 13:13). Mark turns out to be a significant figure in the early church, but if not for Barnabas, who knows? What could Barnabas have seen in John Mark that Paul didn’t see? Why is it important for us not to give up on people even when others do?

Of the other “Barnabas” types mentioned in the weekend message, which one do you need more of in your life right now (and why)?

• Epaphras…the prayer warrior
• Sarah…the side-splitter
• Ruth…the endurance runner

 

Living Out: How do I obey?

1 – After looking through our study, how could you be a more effective encourager this week? Be specific!

2 – Don’t take lightly the importance and power of praying for each other. Have each person in the group share one thing your group can pray about for them this week.

3 – How’s that Service Project coming??