Text: The Book of Acts
Topic: How to encourage others

• Illustration: In Peanuts, Linus tells his sister that older sisters are the crabgrass in the lawn of life.
• If we're not careful, we can find ourselves being more pessimistic than optimistic, more discouraging than encouraging.
• Encouragement is vital for life and for relationships.

• In Acts 4:36, we're introduced to Joseph, who is nicknamed Barnabas, "Son of Encouragement."
  • Illustration: Cooper shares how the nicknames students gave each other at Dallas Seminary were generally not flattering.

• In Acts 4:36-37, Barnabas sells his land and gives the money to the disciples.
• If you want to encourage someone, do something tangible for them.
• There are two key things that show what's important to us: where we spend our money and how we spend our time.
  • Illustration: An excerpt from Charles Ryrie's book, Balancing the Christian Life.

• In Acts 9:20-27, people are questioning Paul's conversion, but Barnabas brought him to the apostles.
• Encouragers have a wonderful ability to let the past be the past and to start fresh right where you are.
  • Illustration: Many people questioned Chuck Colson's conversion, but if he hadn't had encouragers around him perhaps we wouldn't have Prison Fellowship today.

• In Acts 11, Barnabas is sent to the Gentiles to help them grow.
  • Illustration: Cooper's mother encouraged him in school, which spurred him on to do the best he could.

• In 11:24-25, when the church is booming, Barnabas leaves to find Paul.
• The major goal is to meet the need, even when they're not the best ones to do it. An encourager is never out to make a name for himself, only to glorify the Name.

• In Acts 15:36, Paul and Barnabas split ways over whether to take John Mark with them.
  • Illustration: Author Gene Getz believes this could be because Barnabas may have been considered, but not chosen, to replace Judas as the twelfth disciple.

• Illustration: When he was a child, painter Benjamin West's mother encouraged his abilities, rather than mentioning the mess he'd made while painting.