The Encourager

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 11:19-26

TO CHEW ON: "Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch." Acts 11:25, 26a

- You studied hard but still didn’t do well on the test.
- You’d like to join the badminton club but you don’t know any of the kids.
- It’s youth night at church, but the friend with whom you usually go is out of town.

Q: What do you need in each of these situations?

A: An encourager, like Barnabas.

Barnabas was a well-known and respected leader in the early church. When Jesus’ followers were scattered because of persecution, he stayed at headquarters in Jerusalem. But then news came that everywhere Jesus’ followers had moved, people were believing in Jesus. The leaders sent Barnabas to check things out.

When he came to Antioch he saw God was blessing Jewish people and Greeks as well. He encouraged these new followers of Jesus.

Then he went to Tarsus to look for another new Christian named Saul. When he found Saul, he brought him to Antioch and put him to work, teaching the new believers.

Because of Barnabas’s encouragement the church in Antioch loved Gentile Christians and accepted Saul instead of being afraid of him.

Are you an encourager? Look up the word ‘encourage’ in the dictionary.

Which of the comments below would you say is NOT encouragement?

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to be an encouragement to others today. Amen.

MORE: Encourager You

Which things below are encouraging?

1. You suggest to your friend, who is a fast runner, that she try out for the track team.
2. You tell your Mom she makes good meals.
3. You compliment the kid who gives away his lunch cookies so maybe he’ll give them to you.
4. You help the teacher straighten the classroom after school hoping she’ll give you a better mark.
5. You volunteer to help carry the equipment bags for your baseball coach.
6. You invite the new kid at church to youth group, then introduce him to your friends.

As you go through today, watch for people who need encouragement, then encourage them.

ANSWERS

You Might Also Like:

Come!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 22:12-21 TO CHEW ON: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him...

Strong Noah

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 6:9-14 "Noah and Sons Build the Ark" TO CHEW ON: "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. This is the account of ...

Faith Adventure

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read Genesis 12:1-7 Abraham journeying into the Land of Canaan by Gustave Dore TO CHEW ON: "The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your...

Surprising Appearance

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 8:26-39 TO CHEW ON: "Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." Acts 8:35 Im...

The First Martyr

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 7:51-60 "Stephen before he is martyred" - Artist unknown TO CHEW ON: "Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hol...

The Majority Loses

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Jeremiah 14:13-16 TO CHEW ON: "Then the Lord said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appoi...

The Sharing Church

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 4:32-36 TO CHEW ON: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but t...

The War Inside Me

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 7: 14-25 TO CHEW ON: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15 Wh...

Too Scared to Eat!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 27:27-44 TO CHEW ON: "Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his...

Toxic Tabernacle

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 2:12-26 TO CHEW ON: "Meanwhile the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord....And the boy Samuel continued to grow in...

Unlikely Warrior

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Judges 6:11-16 TO CHEW ON: "The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.'...

When God says "Go"

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 9:10-19 TO CHEW ON: "But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go.'” Acts 9:15 Saul had a reputation. Followers of Jesus (Christians) knew ...

Who's At the Controls?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 8:5-11 TO CHEW ON: The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 Most v...

Centurion Summons Simon

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 10:1-8 TO CHEW ON: "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion...” Acts 10:1 Cornelius was not a Jew but a Gentile...

Busy Behind the Scenes

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Joshua 2:1-14 TO CHEW ON: “'I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all w...

Give Your Problems to God

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Isaiah 40: 27-31 TO CHEW ON: "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will ...

From Problem to Praise

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 13:6-12 TO CHEW ON: "But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from...

From Bad to Good

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 8:1-8 TO CHEW ON: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." Acts 8:4. Have you ever had to move becau...