Barnabas: How to be a World-Class Encourager

 Pastor’s Pen,

This Sunday: Barnabas: How to be a World-Class Encourager                                           Acts 4:32-37  

A number of years ago I was scheduled to record a radio interview with two athletes. One plate for the Dallas Cowboys; he weighed over 300 pounds and was extremely muscular. The other was a slender African-American man who didn't appear that athletic. 


However, his name was Carl Lewis and at that time he was known as the world's fastest human. Carl was what's known as a world-class athlete. 


This weekend I want to introduce you to one of my heroes, a man I consider to be a world-class encourager. His original name we would have called just plain Joe. He was a member of the early church, and they actually renamed him Barnabas because that name meant the son of encouragement. 


In the book of Acts, Luke writes four descriptive vignettes that illustrate four major ways we can be and encouragement to others. During the stressful days in which we are living, and with the holidays fast approaching, everyone needs encouragement. My prayer is that we will use the principles we consider today to enable each of us to become more effective at encouraging others.




*****


We appreciate those who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in in in in in in in in in in in preparation for Sunday worship as well as those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’ on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each Sunday’s message on our website (www.fccwylie.org) on Sunday afternoons. 


When you enter the sanctuary Sunday, after you are given a bulletin, stop by the communion table where the offering plates are located in the rear of the worship center and pick up your disposable communion cup. Then following the service, please dispose of it in the trash can. (Mark 10:45) 


We continue to hold our Sunday services with all safety protocols and pre-service sanitizing in place. No Sunday school yet, and the nursery is not available.  We are now following the latest CDC guidelines which allow fully vaccinated individuals to go without masks. We use bulletins printed untouched by human hands, with songs, etc. printed therein, and pre-packaged communion elements. Offering plates are located at the rear, or giving can be done online at www.fccwylie.org.


If you still feel uncomfortable attending, feel free to join our live stream on Facebook, at 10:45 AM, which includes communion and the worship hymns. Or the message is available each Sunday afternoon on our website. (www.fccwylie.org)


Barnabas: How to be a World-Class Encourager                                                                Acts 4:32-37  

                                                        

  • A world-class encourager  encourages with his possessions (Acts 4:32-37) 
  • A world-class encourager exercises loyalty when it might not be popular (Acts 9:26-29)  
  • A world-class encourager exhorts verbal he has a team player (Acts 11:19-26) 
  • A world-class encourager extends a second chance (Acts 15:36-41)


Conclusion:

A Biblical example of the result (2 Timothy 4:9, 10)

A contemporary example: My friend John

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

PRAYER ITEMS: Please check the Prayer list on the Bulletin!

Bruce Moilan—surgery recovery, continued progress dealing with multiple health issues: Also, grandson Lucas - upcoming surgery this coming week, and son Drew - surgery the day before Thanksgiving.

Kim Ramsey-health issues

John Royal’s father: parents relocated to Texas

Rbeda’s brother-in-law—spiritual 

Darla and other healthcare workers; Educators, students

A.B. Simmons, recovering

Mike’s son Jesse

Shirley’s cousin: lost his wife, heart surgery upcoming

Cora and her family in the death of her brother

Kaleiann Loughery, new baby born 

William Martin-colon cancer

RADIO THIS WEEKEND:   

Stress has reached all-time levels with the coronavirus pandemic, and the approaching holiday season will only add more stress. Christian life coach John Coleman joins guest host Dan Webster to provide insight and encouragement for coping with stress, this weekend on Encouragement Live.

Encouragement Live can be heard Saturday at 7:05 PM central time on American Family Radio (90.9 FM) or (www.afr.net) and on theworshipchannel.org.  Re-broadcast Sunday 9 pm on The Worship Channel. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Moses' Road Hazard

Image
  Pastor’s Pen , Sunday:     Moses’ Road Hazards                                                      Numbers 11:24-12:16  SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS RESUMED-- 9:45 AM SUNDAY IN THE SANCTUARY! Bruce Moilan will be preaching next Sunday as we will be returning from the ABHE (Bible Colleges) Convention It used to be that when you bought tires, they came with a road hazard warranty. As a result, when you were exposed to risks on the road such as obstacles that caused attire to blow, insurance would cover the cost of replacement tire. One day several years ago I was taking my son to a meeting in Omaha from his home in Lincoln, and I ran across a muffler in the inside lane of Interstate 80. But when I made it to the tire store, I discovered, “no more road hazard warranty.” There are no road hazard warranties in the Christian life either.  But we can be sure we will encounter hazards along the road, just as Moses did on the road from Mount Sinai to the promised land. ******* Stewardship is an importa
Read more

Epaphras: Faithful Service

Image
  Pastor’s Pen, This Sunday:  Epaphras: Faithful Service                                                                  Colossians 4:12, 13    I f someone were to ask you  to identify the most impactful servants of Christ, it is likely the names of Paul and Peter would come to mind. Certainly they and other members of the  apostles served our Lord faithfully.   However if you were to had the opportunity to ask the apostle Paul that question, I suspect he my name a man named Epaphras. A native of the city of Colossae,  Epaphras  likely played a key role in planting churches in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis, the three key cities of the Lycus Valley in what today is Turkey.  After playing a key role in founding the churches there, he wound up spending time with Paul in Rome, where he was identified as a ”fellow prisoner.”  There is much to be learned from the life of this little-known New Testament saint.   *****   We appreciate those  who help sanitize our facilities for services e
Read more

Aquila and Priscilla: Family Ministry

Image
  Pastor’s Pen, This Sunday: Aquila and Priscilla: Family Ministry                                                        Acts 18:1-28   Thanksgiving is typically a time when we gather together with family. We eat turkey, watch football, maybe take a nap. Family is important to us, and family is important to God. As we continue our series of biographical studies of Biblical characters, this weekend we will consider a family engaged in significant ministry, partnering with the apostle Paul to spread the Gospel throughout the world.  Their names: Aquila and Priscilla. As we consider the various facets of their ministry, let's think about how God may use our families and service to Him. ***** We appreciate those who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in in in in in in in in in in in preparation for Sunday worship as well as those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’ on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each Sunday’s message
Read more