Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote that "Our chief want is for someone to inspire us to be what we know we could be." Encouragement does that. It is what spinach is to Popeye. We all need it. The problem is that we do not encourage others enough. The Gottman Institute, a marriage counselling centre, estimates that for every encouraging comment we receive we also hear 6 discouraging remarks. It seems that encouragement does not come naturally to us; we have to work at it.

Our text this week describes the actions of Barnabus when he was involved in establishing the church in Antioch. Barnabus was actually his nickname, his real name was Joseph. Barnabus means "son of encouragement" and in the idiom of his day that meant he was a very encouraging guy.

When the Gospel came to Antioch something very unique happened. Since Antioch was located quite a ways from the heart of Judaism (Jerusalem) many of the people there had no Jewish background and those that did were "Hellenized" Jews, they spoke Greek. The more conservative and traditional Jews looked at Greek speaking Jews as less than truly devout. But the unique part of the Gospels spread in Antioch was that it reached beyond Judaism altogether. Greeks were coming to Christ. This made the church in Antioch a very cosmopolitan place. While the church in Jerusalem looked and felt very Jewish, and many converts to Christ practiced both Judaism and Christianity not so in Antioch. The ethos was entirely different. The church there was a step or two removed from its Jewish roots.

Barnabus comes into this situation as an emissary from the church in Jerusalem. We wonder if the outcome would have been different if they had sent James, who seemed to hold to a more strict view of the law. Barnabus does his thing and encouragement flows. The church increases greatly and becomes the centre of missionary activity for the book of Acts and Paul's missionary journeys. It is not a mere coincidence that the Son of Encouragement had such a positive impact on the fledgling community. His encouraging ways bring Paul to Antioch and thus he is instrumental in launching the career of the Early Church's greatest theologian and statesmen.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Slide 2. Do we ever outgrow the need for encouragement?

2. Slide 8-9. How did persecution shape the spread of the Gospel? What does that tell us about the Lord's use of trials and difficulties? Why is it so important that the Gospel takes root in Antioch? Use your imagination and compare and contrast the church's gatherings in Jerusalem and Antioch in terms of dress, worship style and leadership.

3. Slide 10-12. Why was it so "providential" that Barnabus was sent to Antioch from the Jerusalem church? Read the text again and instead of using Barnabus' nickname in English use the direct translation and substitute "Son of Encouragement" in its place. What new insight does that bring as you read it as it was most likely intended?

4. Slide 13. Why do you think we tend to encourage sparingly?

5. Slide 14-15. Why was Paul just the right man for the job? Imagine what Barnabus had to say in order to get Paul to follow him to Antioch. How might you improve your encouragement ratio?

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote that "Our chief want is for someone to inspire us to be what we know we could be." Encouragement does that. It is what spinach is to Popeye. We all need it. The problem is that we do not encourage others enough. The Gottman Institute, a marriage counselling centre, estimates that for every encouraging comment we receive we also hear 6 discouraging remarks. It seems that encouragement does not come naturally to us; we have to work at it.

Our text this week describes the actions of Barnabus when he was involved in establishing the church in Antioch. Barnabus was actually his nickname, his real name was Joseph. Barnabus means "son of encouragement" and in the idiom of his day that meant he was a very encouraging guy.

When the Gospel came to Antioch something very unique happened. Since Antioch was located quite a ways from the heart of Judaism (Jerusalem) many of the people there had no Jewish background and those that did were "Hellenized" Jews, they spoke Greek. The more conservative and traditional Jews looked at Greek speaking Jews as less than truly devout. But the unique part of the Gospels spread in Antioch was that it reached beyond Judaism altogether. Greeks were coming to Christ. This made the church in Antioch a very cosmopolitan place. While the church in Jerusalem looked and felt very Jewish, and many converts to Christ practiced both Judaism and Christianity not so in Antioch. The ethos was entirely different. The church there was a step or two removed from its Jewish roots.

Barnabus comes into this situation as an emissary from the church in Jerusalem. We wonder if the outcome would have been different if they had sent James, who seemed to hold to a more strict view of the law. Barnabus does his thing and encouragement flows. The church increases greatly and becomes the centre of missionary activity for the book of Acts and Paul's missionary journeys. It is not a mere coincidence that the Son of Encouragement had such a positive impact on the fledgling community. His encouraging ways bring Paul to Antioch and thus he is instrumental in launching the career of the Early Church's greatest theologian and statesmen.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Slide 2. Do we ever outgrow the need for encouragement?

2. Slide 8-9. How did persecution shape the spread of the Gospel? What does that tell us about the Lord's use of trials and difficulties? Why is it so important that the Gospel takes root in Antioch? Use your imagination and compare and contrast the church's gatherings in Jerusalem and Antioch in terms of dress, worship style and leadership.

3. Slide 10-12. Why was it so "providential" that Barnabus was sent to Antioch from the Jerusalem church? Read the text again and instead of using Barnabus' nickname in English use the direct translation and substitute "Son of Encouragement" in its place. What new insight does that bring as you read it as it was most likely intended?

4. Slide 13. Why do you think we tend to encourage sparingly?

5. Slide 14-15. Why was Paul just the right man for the job? Imagine what Barnabus had to say in order to get Paul to follow him to Antioch. How might you improve your encouragement ratio?

Pastor Don continues our Life Apps series with the next installment: The Trust App.

Pastor Chris continues our current series "Life Apps" with our next application: Rest.

For our third sermon in our current series, "Life Apps," Pastor Chad preaches on the different ways we are meant to confess and the importance behind the implementation of this life application.

For our third sermon in our current series, "Life Apps," Pastor Chad preaches on the different ways we are meant to confess and the importance behind the implementation of this life application.

Revenge is sweet. I'm sure you've heard the phrase before – perhaps you've even used it. It is amazing how creative we can get when we are in "revenge mode", the ideas, the situations we conjure up in our mind to get back at those who have hurt us. But what if getting revenge is more sinister than we think? What if the desire for revenge is less about the other person and more about us? What if there is a better way to handle these offenses? In our message today we’re looking a story Jesus told about a man who had been forgiven millions of dollars and ruthlessly turned around and went after the man who owed him a few thousand dollars. It is a lesson about forgiveness – What is forgiveness? Why should I forgive? How do I forgive?

Discussion Questions:

1. Share about a time when someone did you wrong. How did you respond? Are you prone to dreaming about the “perfect revenge encounter”?

2. Read Matthew 18:21-35 What are some of your initial feelings as you read this parable?

3. According to this story – what is the essence of forgiveness?

4. What does the cross have to with our ability to forgive?

5. What are results of unforgiveness?

6. Read Ephesians 4:31,32 - What does it mean to forgive "Just as" God has forgiven me?

Moving Forward:

Seeking revenge is living in the past. Making the choice to forgive is moving forward. Take some time this week to reflect on the forgiveness God has given you. Then extend that forgiveness to those who have hurt you.

This week we are concluding our series on Joshua. We are going to the end of the 11th chapter to look at the summary of conquest of Canaan. In our text, which is bracketed by the repeated statement "So Joshua took (the) this entire land" we discover at least three principles regarding how the Lord fulfills his promises. This is the fulfillment of a 500 year old promise first made to Abraham. This must have been a huge accomplishment in the mind of the author of the book; after all, it was a long time coming.

The author is careful to note that the entire land was taken. By this he does not rule out that there were still sections of the country where hostiles remained as fugitives in the land. Later stories confirm this. We also should note that not until David's time did the Israelite territory extend to its maximum size. But it does mean that Joshua carried out the specific orders given by the Lord.

The victory and the fulfillment of the promise is due to a combination of Joshua's courage and faithfulness and the Lord's miraculous intervention. It is a remarkable illustration of how the Lord accomplishes his purposes through his people. He even uses the hardness of the Canaanite hearts to ensure their extinction.

The mention in verse 22 of Gaza, Gath and Ashdod is quite interesting. These areas become infamous strongholds and the center of Philistine resistance in later years. We are left to wonder why Joshua was not instructed to carry on the battle to these coastal areas. Perhaps the presence of the Philistines in later years is what the Lord uses to keep Israel dependent upon him. This is a discussion for the book of Judges which deals with this very problem.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Slide 2. Why do you think the author is emphasizing in our text that Joshua took the entire land? What might have prompted this assertion? Hint: Think about the Judges when things are not going very well and the Philistines are overrunning the country.

2. Slide 9. Reread the "be strong and courageous" challenges in 1:6-9. What was Joshua's central responsibility? While he was not perfect, why did he succeed?

3. Slide 10-12. Discuss the interplay between God's miraculous intervention and the work of Joshua and the army. Why doesn't God just do this himself? In what ways have you seen God work though the free will of others, even those who are unbelievers?

4. Slide 13-16. Why mention the Anakites specifically? What do we learn here about delaying the fulfillment of God's promises? Why do you think the Lord did not get rid of every giant in the land? How has God used giants in your life to draw you closer to Him?

5. Slide 17. Review some of the great promises of God received in your handout. Which ones are most relevant to you today? How might you apply the lessons learned in this text to your promises?

This week we are concluding our series on Joshua. We are going to the end of the 11th chapter to look at the summary of conquest of Canaan. In our text, which is bracketed by the repeated statement "So Joshua took (the) this entire land" we discover at least three principles regarding how the Lord fulfills his promises. This is the fulfillment of a 500 year old promise first made to Abraham. This must have been a huge accomplishment in the mind of the author of the book; after all, it was a long time coming.

The author is careful to note that the entire land was taken. By this he does not rule out that there were still sections of the country where hostiles remained as fugitives in the land. Later stories confirm this. We also should note that not until David's time did the Israelite territory extend to its maximum size. But it does mean that Joshua carried out the specific orders given by the Lord.

The victory and the fulfillment of the promise is due to a combination of Joshua's courage and faithfulness and the Lord's miraculous intervention. It is a remarkable illustration of how the Lord accomplishes his purposes through his people. He even uses the hardness of the Canaanite hearts to ensure their extinction.

The mention in verse 22 of Gaza, Gath and Ashdod is quite interesting. These areas become infamous strongholds and the center of Philistine resistance in later years. We are left to wonder why Joshua was not instructed to carry on the battle to these coastal areas. Perhaps the presence of the Philistines in later years is what the Lord uses to keep Israel dependent upon him. This is a discussion for the book of Judges which deals with this very problem.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Slide 2. Why do you think the author is emphasizing in our text that Joshua took the entire land? What might have prompted this assertion? Hint: Think about the Judges when things are not going very well and the Philistines are overrunning the country.

2. Slide 9. Reread the "be strong and courageous" challenges in 1:6-9. What was Joshua's central responsibility? While he was not perfect, why did he succeed?

3. Slide 10-12. Discuss the interplay between God's miraculous intervention and the work of Joshua and the army. Why doesn't God just do this himself? In what ways have you seen God work though the free will of others, even those who are unbelievers?

4. Slide 13-16. Why mention the Anakites specifically? What do we learn here about delaying the fulfillment of God's promises? Why do you think the Lord did not get rid of every giant in the land? How has God used giants in your life to draw you closer to Him?

5. Slide 17. Review some of the great promises of God received in your handout. Which ones are most relevant to you today? How might you apply the lessons learned in this text to your promises?

Our text this week reminds us of the importance of worship in the life of a believer. It follows the battles of Jericho and Ai but may have been placed here in the book for theological rather than chronological reasons. Notice that all the people are present and last we heard, the women and children were on the other side of the Jordan. Notice also it takes place in an area that had not yet been conquered by Israel's army. It is significant in that the author wants to make his point that worship was to be at the heart of all that God was doing through his people.

Joshua sets up an altar following the instructions of Moses from Deuteronomy 27 and 28. He follows the directions perfectly as an illustration of the importance of following the law. The people are rallied together to be reminded of their identity. In a rather spectacular scene they are spread out in a valley between two mountains that form a natural amphitheater. Even today visitors to that area remark at the quality of the natural acoustics of the area.

They are reminded of their national identity as the People of God as they worship and pay attention to the words of the law. The text illustrates for us the role of worship in the community of faith today. It aligns us with the Lord and reminds us of our true identity. Something that we need regularly. For we too live in a foreign land. We too are surrounded by this century's version of the Canaanites. We too are tempted to wander into their ways of thinking and behaving. Worship anchors us and at the same time infuses us with the strength to be the kind of people who will not be strangers in the Kingdom that is to come.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Slide 2. How does worship fit into your life? Is it merely something you have to do or does it serve a purpose? When do you not feel like worshipping? Why?

2. Slide 8-12. Why does the author put this story here in the text? What is he trying to teach the reader about Israel and the Lord? What must Israel learn if they are to be successful in their conquest of Canaan? Why is everyone involved in the event?

3. Slide 13. Discuss times when worship has centered you. What was that like?

4. Slide 14. Why are offerings such an important part of worship?

5. Slide 15. How has the Word of God strengthen you during community worship? What might you do to enhance the experience and meaning of worship?