One of the noted early apostles, a missionary companion of Paul, was known to the church by his nickname — Barnabas.
Only once in Scripture is his real name, Joseph, mentioned (Acts 4:36). The disciples started calling him Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement,” and the name must have been descriptive of the type of ministry Joseph, a believer from Cyprus, had in the early church at Jerusalem.
At the first meeting of the new LifeGroup I’m starting on Wednesday nights, I will pose this challenge:
If the members of your church (or office, or community, or family) were to give you a nickname based on the quality of your interaction with them, what would it be?
Would you be a Son (or Daughter) of Encouragement, like Barnabas?
I’ve taken on the challenge of starting this group because I need encouragement right now. And I have found in my many years as a Christian (over 50 of them; I’m not exactly the proverbial spring chicken), that the way God usually answers my prayer for encouragement is to send me someone to encourage.
So if I’m such a good Christian, why do I need encouragement? As Christians we are not immune from depression, and my circumstances are definitely depressing.
On Christmas Day 2007, I got sick with a sore throat and fever. I felt so bad, in fact, that I left my mom’s house and went home without eating Christmas Dinner. (If you’ve ever had my mom’s cooking, you know that means I was really, really, REALLY sick.) Soon the illness turned into chronic bronchitis.
Since that day I have never been completely well. By August of last year I had maxed out my out-of-pocket insurance expenses just on co-pays and my 20 percent costs. I’m on the same track this year–and I still don’t have a diagnosis.
But what I do have is hope, a wealth of biblical knowledge and experience, and the desire to share it. In the Barnabas LifeGroup, we’ll be exploring–and exercising–the spiritual gift of encouragement. I believe it’s a gift available for all believers.
If you’re interested in being a part of this online group, which will meet on Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm Central time, please click here and fill out the contact form. I’ll email log-in instructions for the group.
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May God richly bless your new study, Connie. May you encourage abundantly and also be encouraged in all you do.
Connie, what a great post! Love the thoughts around Barnabas and the question it begs for each one of us. Thanks for using your knowledge of the Bible to spread encouragement. Excited for this group!
Your challenge question is really intriguing–best wishes to you and the group. I wish I could drop in.
Connie – This sounds exciting to me! I will fill out the contact form – not sure if I can make it every time, but I hope to attend when I can!
Hi Connie – Sorry to hear about your chronic bronchitis. A few months ago my Daughter became very ill with Mono and she became very discouraged because she plays on the Varsity Volleyball team. I prayed for her while driving to work after watching a program on healing and after retuning from work she was completely healed. I know God doesn't want you to be ill can you have some of your brothers and sisters in Christ lay hands on you and get you healed from this sickness?
I believe that any type of illness affecting the lungs is the result of suppressed grief. I will keep you in my prayers.We serve a mighty God whose arm is not too short. The bible says to speak to the mountain. In this case the mountain would be your lungs.Command them to function properly in the name of Jesus. Every knee shall bow. That includes bronchitis.