Barnabas: Son of Encouragement

by Darrin Chastain

Lessons from an Influencer in the Early Church

In a world constantly seeking influence through social media followers and viral content, the biblical figure of Barnabas offers a timeless example of genuine, life-changing influence. Though just an “average Joe” (his real name was Joseph), Barnabas made such an impact that he became known by his nickname, which means “son of encouragement.”

Who Was Barnabas?

Barnabas appears about 20 times in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts. Though he didn’t write any biblical books himself, his character and actions were so remarkable that his story continues to teach us valuable lessons today.

We first meet Barnabas in Acts 4:36-37:

“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

This introduction reveals much about his character – he was known for encouragement, and he demonstrated extraordinary generosity by selling property and giving the proceeds to support the early church.

Four Ways Barnabas Influenced Others

1. Through Radical Generosity

In the early church, believers shared everything they had, and Barnabas exemplified this spirit. His willingness to sell valuable property showed that he had taken God at His word and trusted Him to meet his needs. His display of generosity challenges us to examine whether we rely on or love our possessions more than we trust God.

2. Through Accepting the “Unacceptable”

In Acts 9, we find perhaps Barnabas’s most significant contribution to Christianity – his acceptance of Saul (later known as Paul):

“When he [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.”

Imagine the scene – the notorious persecutor of Christians showing up claiming conversion, and everyone keeping their distance except Barnabas. By welcoming and vouching for Saul, Barnabas demonstrated extraordinary faith and helped integrate the man who would become Christianity’s most influential apostle.

3. Through Consistent Encouragement

Acts 11 describes Barnabas being sent to Antioch where the church was experiencing explosive growth:

“When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”

Barnabas lived up to his nickname, encouraging new believers to remain faithful. The work grew so much that he recruited Paul to help teach the rapidly expanding congregation. In fact, it was here in Antioch that believers were first called “Christians.”

4. Through Giving Second Chances

Later in Acts 15, we see Barnabas’s commitment to restoration when he insisted on giving John Mark a second chance after he had previously abandoned their missionary work. This led to such a sharp disagreement with Paul that they parted ways:

“Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise… They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.”

Barnabas’s willingness to mentor Mark demonstrates his belief in second chances and restoration. History vindicates Barnabas’s judgment – Mark went on to write the Gospel of Mark and even Paul later acknowledged his usefulness (2 Timothy 4:11).

Becoming a Modern-Day Barnabas

How can we apply these lessons in our own lives? The sermon suggests several ways we can grow as influencers:

Reflect on the “Barnabases” in your life: Who has encouraged you, modeled faith, demonstrated generosity, or accepted you despite your flaws? Consider expressing gratitude to these people.

Ask yourself if you’re on anyone’s “Barnabas list”: Are you encouraging others? Are you accepting of those who struggle? Are you generous with your time, talents, and resources?

Embrace the potential for change: It’s never too late (or too early) to allow God to mold you into the person He wants you to be. Real change comes not through gritting your teeth and trying harder, but through:

• Prayer and fasting
• Immersing yourself in God’s Word
• Fellowship within the church
• Ongoing repentance

As Psalm 139:23-24 says:

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

The Path to True Influence

The Christian life isn’t simply about being a “nice person” but about being an image-bearer of our God and King. True influence comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in our lives:

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Like Barnabas, we can influence our world through generosity, encouragement, acceptance, and giving second chances. And like the soil in Jesus’s parable, our hearts can change and become more receptive to God’s work in our lives.

We may occasionally feel “befuddled” on our journey (as Daniel Boone reportedly said, “I’ve never been lost, but I was bewildered once for three days”), but we’re never truly lost when we follow God’s guidance and the examples of faithful influencers like Barnabas.

LISTEN TO OR WATCH THE FULL SERMON HERE: