May 10th & 14th
Acts pt 2 Ignite
Elevators
The words of the godly encourage many…
—Proverbs 10:21 (NLT)
We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.
—Hebrew 10:24-25 (GWT)
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
—Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
—Acts 4:32-37 (NLT)
Our lives are elevators … they will either take people down or they will take people up.
I take people UP because the Holy Spirit does.
…the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”).
—Acts 4:36 (NLT)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
—2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of encouragement and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in all our troubles, so that we can encourage those in any trouble with the encouragement we ourselves receive from God.
—2 Corinthians 1:3,4
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
—Acts 9:31 (NIV)
I take people UP by living generous.
And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
—Acts 4:32 (NLT)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
—Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
He [Barnabas] sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
—Acts 4:37 (NLT)
I take people UP by building the church.
All the believers were united in heart and mind … and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
—Acts 4:32-33 (NLT)
When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.
—Acts 11:22-24 (NLT)
Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)
—Acts 11:25,26 (NLT)
I take people UP by bringing life change.
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
—Acts 9:26,27 (NIV)
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
—Acts 9:28 (NIV)
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
—Acts 15:36-38 (NIV)
They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left…
—Acts 15:39 (NIV)
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
—2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)
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Next Steps:
1. I invite Jesus in my life for the first time.
2. I will encourage others by finding a serve team.
3. I will encourage 3 people this week.
4. I will invite my friend to church and take them to lunch.