In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

As you go through life, and face disappointments and difficulties, it is easy to become discouraged. This applies to any stage of life. The child who struggles can use some encouragement. The teen who faces rejection can use some encouragement. The young called worker who wonders if he has what it takes can use some encouragement. The middle-aged person who struggles with depression can use some encouragement. And the elderly person who sees every ability beginning to decline can use some encouragement too. Who doesn't, from time to time, need a nice word, a little pick-me-up, a word of encouragement? I am thankful to God that I have known some real "encouragers" who have really helped me along life's way. Can you think of some people who encouraged you, when it mattered most? While it's great to think of others who have encouraged us, I wonder how many people would think of us as their "encouragers." Today, consider how you can be an encourager for your fellow members.

1. AS BARNABAS DID (22-26a)

Barnabas means "Son of Encouragement." Whenever we think of Barnabas, we should remember that he was a great encourager. That was his role in the early church. And what a role it was! He doesn't get the attention that the apostle Paul got, but he sure was important! And that is kind of the characteristic of a great encourager. An encourager is someone that works behind the scenes, supporting and helping.

Now, we know that the church's mission is to preach the gospel to all creation, but not everyone is cut out to be a preacher. God gives to some people a special ability to encourage others, and I believe some of you have that spiritual gift. You just have that knack of finding something good to say to cheer people up and keep them going. More and more, I've become convinced that in almost any given day, you can either pick out everything bad that happens, and criticize and complain, or you can pick out everything good that happens. You can find something wrong in just about anything, even a worship service. If you want to, you can think: it's too hot, or too cold, too breezy or too stuffy. And then, you could set out to ruin someone's day by unloading your unbearable burden, or you could find something that is good and right and nice and set out to make someone's day by encouraging.

Well, Barnabas was an encourager and everyone knew it. When a great mission outpost started in the Syrian city of Antioch, the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas. His task was to kind of supervise the mission work that they were doing. He was to see to it that they all were taught properly and that everything was done according to God's Word. And Barnabas did that. But he did that in an encouraging way. I suppose Barnabas could have arrived on the scene as some kind of big shot, and started ridiculing every little thing that they were trying to do in Antioch. He could have said, "Well, in Jerusalem we do it this way," and "Pastor so and so did it that way." He could have ignored the 64 things that they were doing right, and focused on two bad things they were doing. That wasn't Barnabas. He was an encourager. He saw how God was working through his Word there and he was glad. He "encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." Notice that he wasn't just saying that whatever they do is right, no matter what. He was urging them and encouraging them to remain faithful to Jesus. He was like the coach that always tries to get his team to do their very best. He tried to urge these people to remain faithful to the LORD. And these people loved Barnabas, and recognized him as a good guy, who was "full of the Holy Spirit and faith."

The Lord blessed the work in Antioch so that many people were brought to faith. In fact, there were so many, Barnabas needed help. He went to go get Saul, better known as the apostle Paul, and brought him to help in the work in Antioch. Just as Barnabas had encouraged the people at Antioch, he was now encouraging the apostle Paul. Can't you just picture the scene? Barnabas travels to Tarsus, and tracks down the apostle Paul. I picture Barnabas as arriving with a big smile on his face, and saying something like this, "You should see what the Lord is doing in Antioch! There are so many new converts, we need your help to teach them. Will you come?" Most likely, Paul enjoyed every step of that journey to Antioch, as Barnabas encouraged him for the work. And by the time he got there, he probably hit the ground running. That was just his style. But, Barnabas was there, bringing Paul in, and encouraging him. Barnabas wasn't interested in hoarding the limelight or the glory. He just wanted God's work to be done. And it was done. Great things happened in Antioch. God blessed their efforts. And great things can happen here too. Christians, be like Barnabas! Encourage each other!

2. WITH GOD'S WORD (26b)

We read: {26b} So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Barnabas and Paul were teaching Bible Classes, and there were many people who learned God's Word. They taught God's Word to these people for a whole year. And so, they encouraged these people to remain faithful to God's Word.

We encourage each other with God's Word. Paul urged Pastor Timothy and Pastor Titus to encourage people with God's Word. He urged the people to encourage each other with God's Word (1 Thess. 4:18). Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." We encourage one another with God's Word, here at church. Have you ever noticed how it can be encouraging to see the church filled with people, and discouraging to see empty places all over the place? Simply by showing up in God's house, we can encourage others!

First, we must proclaim God's Law. Sometimes you have to hurt people before you can help them. A surgeon makes an incision, or a cut, before he can do his good work. We apply the Law, before the Gospel. We haven't all been perfect encouragers, have we? Think of all the times that we could have encouraged others, but we didn't. Maybe someone was down in the dumps, and we didn't even notice, or just walked away. Maybe we could have said something nice, and instead, we cut them down with some sniping comment. We all have sinned, and deserve God's punishment. But God has given us the most encouraging message of all, the message of his love and grace. Jesus was the perfect encourager, in our place. Then, he died on the cross for all of our sins. He rose from death and lives forever as the one and only Savior from sin. We have a reason to be encouraged: we are going to heaven, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved!

Think of how we can encourage each other with God's Word. When a loved one dies in the Lord, we can encourage one another with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. When a fellow member is hospitalized, or is struggling with some kind of illness, we can encourage our fellow members with God's Word. Maybe you could send a card. Look for ways to be an encourager!

Look at the big picture. We are called "Christians." As members of St. Stephen, we can become known as a congregation of encouragers, or we can be known as a group of angry, self-centered, hypercritical complainers. Which do you want to be? May God help us so that when others look at us, they say, "Oh, how they encourage one another!" We need to encourage each other to remain true to the Lord, just as Barnabas did. He wasn't one who came in and said, "Anything goes!" Oh, no. He went to Antioch to insure that people would remain faithful to God's Word, that people would learn God's Word. We live in a day and age when people have this idea that churches are supposed to allow every sin and vice and just smile about it. That isn't right. Barnabas didn't do that, and neither did Paul. They didn't just bring in anybody as a member, no matter what they believed. They called people to repent of sin, and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. They taught people thoroughly. We try to do the same. But sometimes, we could use a few more encouragers to insist that we not give up one word of the Bible. Do you have any idea what kind of pressure people apply to try to get us to give up this or that part of God's Word? The complaints far outnumber the encouragements, sometimes. Don't assume that it's easy to stay true to God's Word.

We are encouraged when you attend worship services and Bible Classes. Please join us regularly, and invite your fellow members to join us. We could use a few more encouragers to invite our own members to church and Bible study opportunities. Husbands, encourage your wives in this, and wives, encourage your husbands. Parents, encourage your children to hear God's Word and remain true to the Lord. Children, you can encourage your parents. There is nothing more striking than a child's question. "Dad, why aren't we going to church today?" "Mom, wouldn't it be better if we went to Sunday School?" Or, "Aren't you glad that we went to God's house today?" Christians, encourage each other, with God's Word! Amen.