Change the World – Barnabas

It’s one thing to study about how to live for God, but there’s something that captures us so much more when we see someone who actually lives it out. It’s good to study theology, but it’s better to live out your theology.

Hebrews 13:7 – Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Throughout this series, we are looking at how to be a world changer, so we’re going to look at people who changed the world, and we’re going to see what made them tick, what made them unique, what made them successful in what they did…and we’re looking at people that most of the time are overlooked in the Bible. We’re going to be looking at the unsung heroes of the Bible and how without them, the world would not have changed. And as we do this, we will see that we too can be world changers, because God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things, for His glory.

Tonight, we are looking at one of my favorite people in the Bible. We’re looking at Barnabas and what made him a world changer.

1. He had godly character.

Barnabas was an encourager.

Acts 4:36 – Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus…

Imagine how much of an encouragement he must have been to be named Son of Encouragement.

* anecdote about nicknames *

Barnabas was generous.

Acts 4:37 – …sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

This is pure generosity…no strings attached…expecting nothing in return. We know this because of what happens right after. You see Ananias and Sapphira give while lying and pocketing some of the money and God strikes them dead. It deepens our appreciation for the character of Barnabas, seeing that. Our generosity often is not like Barnabas. We give with expectation of reward. We should give freely.

Barnabas was willing and eager to extend grace.

We see him extend grace towards Paul. He was the only one willing to receive Paul after his conversion and was the one who persuaded the apostles.

Acts 9:26-28 – 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

We see him extend grace towards Mark, who was the cause of Paul and Barnabas ending their partnership.

Acts 15:36-40 – 36 And after some days 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.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

But look at Mark and Paul later…after Barnabas, and I think because Barnabas had spent time helping mentor Mark as he helped mentor Paul. Paul writes this to Timothy years after the what we just read.

2 Tim 4:11 – Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

When you realize the extent to which you’ve been forgiven, then the extent to which you forgive expands. When you experience true immeasurable grace, you must be willing to extend grace. We see this with Barnabas, and we can and should embody this as well.

Barnabas cared about people.

Acts 11:22-24 – 22 The report of t