Encouragement
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle B
Words are important. They start wars, create unions, and touch our emotions. One man knew the impact of positive words. He touched others by believing in them so much that they in turn believed in themselves. His name was Joseph.
Joseph was naturally cheerful, encouraging, and generous. He was also very exuberant about his faith and told everyone he saw what Jesus meant to him and what he had seen. Joseph used words to communicate the gospel, to help others understand it and be supported.
Joseph was an apostle sent to Antioch to help the church grow. He was a Levite, born in Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the disciples, giving it to them for their ministry. Joseph sent the disciples on their way with words of support and affirmation.
The other disciples renamed him Barnabas, "son of encouragement." They felt this name fit him better. Barnabas turned out to fit his name very well.
When Paul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, most of the new Christians did not want to associate with Paul. They knew the reputation he had. He had been a persecutor, an enemy of the Christian community. But Barnabas wanted Paul to have a chance to prove himself. What if Paul really was a changed man? What if Paul really did love the Lord as he said? Barnabas wanted Paul to have the opportunity of ministry.
Barnabas and Paul went on a missionary journey together, taking Mark with them. Mark was Barnabas' younger cousin. Mark turned back after their arrival in Perga, much to Barnabas' and Paul's regret.
Barnabas and Paul continued their missionary work. When they set out for a second journey, Barnabas once again sought out Mark, but Paul was against it. Paul felt that Mark was undependable. Barnabas wanted to give Mark a chance, as he had given Paul a chance.
Barnabas went with Mark on a missionary journey, while Paul took Silas with him. Mark responded to Barnabas' encouragement. Paul later wrote several times in his epistles that Mark had proven to be a valuable assistant. It helped that Barnabas had taken Mark to familiar territory, to Cyprus, where Mark had worked before. Mark was welcome there and he witnessed the results of the work he had done two years earlier.
We don't read much about Barnabas after his second missionary trip. He stayed in Cyprus, his home, where he had a flourishing ministry which was carried to North Africa.
Throughout the Bible we read of Paul's stubbornness. But we also see how stubborn Barnabas was. Barnabas believed in others and would not let them miss their potential. Barnabas overlooked others' faults and encouraged them with care and compassion.
Barnabas did not seek his own glory; he was a faithful servant who wanted what was best for the Church. He gave generously of his life and material goods for the relief of the poor and for the disciples' ministry. He was instrumental in spreading the gospel by encouraging both Mark and Paul in their missionary work.
Joseph was naturally cheerful, encouraging, and generous. He was also very exuberant about his faith and told everyone he saw what Jesus meant to him and what he had seen. Joseph used words to communicate the gospel, to help others understand it and be supported.
Joseph was an apostle sent to Antioch to help the church grow. He was a Levite, born in Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the disciples, giving it to them for their ministry. Joseph sent the disciples on their way with words of support and affirmation.
The other disciples renamed him Barnabas, "son of encouragement." They felt this name fit him better. Barnabas turned out to fit his name very well.
When Paul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, most of the new Christians did not want to associate with Paul. They knew the reputation he had. He had been a persecutor, an enemy of the Christian community. But Barnabas wanted Paul to have a chance to prove himself. What if Paul really was a changed man? What if Paul really did love the Lord as he said? Barnabas wanted Paul to have the opportunity of ministry.
Barnabas and Paul went on a missionary journey together, taking Mark with them. Mark was Barnabas' younger cousin. Mark turned back after their arrival in Perga, much to Barnabas' and Paul's regret.
Barnabas and Paul continued their missionary work. When they set out for a second journey, Barnabas once again sought out Mark, but Paul was against it. Paul felt that Mark was undependable. Barnabas wanted to give Mark a chance, as he had given Paul a chance.
Barnabas went with Mark on a missionary journey, while Paul took Silas with him. Mark responded to Barnabas' encouragement. Paul later wrote several times in his epistles that Mark had proven to be a valuable assistant. It helped that Barnabas had taken Mark to familiar territory, to Cyprus, where Mark had worked before. Mark was welcome there and he witnessed the results of the work he had done two years earlier.
We don't read much about Barnabas after his second missionary trip. He stayed in Cyprus, his home, where he had a flourishing ministry which was carried to North Africa.
Throughout the Bible we read of Paul's stubbornness. But we also see how stubborn Barnabas was. Barnabas believed in others and would not let them miss their potential. Barnabas overlooked others' faults and encouraged them with care and compassion.
Barnabas did not seek his own glory; he was a faithful servant who wanted what was best for the Church. He gave generously of his life and material goods for the relief of the poor and for the disciples' ministry. He was instrumental in spreading the gospel by encouraging both Mark and Paul in their missionary work.
