The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "Pattern of Life."
The best disciple-makers are more than instructors. Disciple-making no doubt involves instruction, both formal and informal, but the best disciple-makers are whole persons with personalities and relationships who instruct, model, encourage, and motivate their disciples. Their disciple-making is informed and shaped by who they are and what they have learned from their experiences. In a nutshell, the best disciple-makers cannot be reduced to merely the task they perform.
While Paul was unquestionably a disciple-maker—about whom we know much—he was no doubt surrounded by other disciple-makers—about whom we know little. One of the lesser known but best disciple-makers in the New Testament is Barnabas, whose name appears twenty-eight times in the book of Acts—first in chapter 4 in connection with the sale of a piece of land he owned and last in chapter 15 in connection with a “sharp disagreement” he had with Paul over whether to take John Mark on their second missionary journey.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (c. a.d. 33) resulted in the conversion of 3,000 Jews. About them, Luke writes: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer . . . All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Ac 2:42-45). Believers with means voluntarily provided for their brothers and sisters who could not provide for themselves. Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement,” was one of those who ensured that there were “no needy persons” among the community of believers (4:34) by selling a real estate investment and bringing the money to the apostles to disburse as they saw fit (v. 37).
Paul was converted about two years after Pentecost (c. a.d. 35). Three years or so after his conversion (Ac 9:1-7) and subsequent stay in Damascus and Arabia, the apostle came to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples there (vv. 26-29; cf. Gal 1:18-20), but they refused to accept him because they feared him. Fortunately, Barnabas, who had earned the respect of the believing community, vouched for him, verifying that Paul had in fact seen the Lord on the road to Syria and that after the Lord had spoken to him, he had in fact “preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus” in Damascus (Ac 9:27). His endorsement made it possible for Paul to “move about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord” (v. 28).
About three years later, following Peter’s ministry to the Gentiles (Ac 10:1-11:18), the gospel spread to Antioch, where a great number of Greeks believed and turned to the Lord (11:19-21). The church in Jerusalem wasn’t sure what to make of the reports they were hearing from Antioch, so they sent trusted Barnabas to investigate (v. 22), and when he arrived (c. a.d. 41), he did what Barnabas always did—he “encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (v. 23). What’s more, he went to Tarsus to look for Paul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch to minister there (c. a.d. 43). About their ministry in Antioch, Luke writes: “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” (v. 26).
It was from the great city of Antioch that Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey (c. a.d. 48-49; cf. Ac 13-14), and from it that they later decided to go on a second journey. They wanted to return to the towns where they had previously preached to see how those who had responded to their message were doing. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark who had previously “deserted them in Pamphylia” (Ac 13:13), but Paul refused. Their sharp disagreement was resolved by Paul taking Silas on his second missionary journey (c. a.d. 50-52; cf. Ac 15:35-18:22) and Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus. Nearly two decades later, Paul finds himself nearing the end of his life in prison in Rome (c. a.d. 67). He writes to Timothy, telling him, “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2Ti 4:11). When Paul abandoned John Mark like John Mark had abandoned him, Barnabas stepped in to invest in the young man’s life; over time he instructed, modeled, encouraged, and motivated him. And clearly his disciple-making paid off. Not only did John Mark turn out to be valuable to Paul, but he also turned out to be the author of the Second Gospel, the Gospel of Mark. (for dates see Harold Hoehner, “A Chronological Table of the Apostolic Age,” in Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament by H. Wayne House, 129-32; cf. The NIV Study Bible, 1844-45).
Central Message of the Text:
The church at Thessalonica was a disciple-making church that continues to set an example for other churches to follow.
Family Talk:
My daughter had a little dirt bike, wheelie, ditch incident the other day and fractured her elbow. One trip to urgent care later, she’s in a splint from armpit to fingertips. Though there are six other family members around to help, she insists on doing everything by herself. Opening a pickle jar, she’s got it. Washing her own hair, she’ll handle it, thank you very much. I had a little flashback to when I broke my wrist several years ago and insisted on doing everything by myself because I was fully capable. I suppose she comes by this stubborn quality naturally. I learned this lovely headstrong determination from my father. As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Our kids are always watching us. They see our actions, hear our words and pick up on our attitudes. While I would prefer my kids take the best of my qualities and throw away the less than desirable aspects, it looks like they’re picking up on it all. What are you modeling for your kids? When they accidentally spill milk, do they witness great patience or intense frustration? When you come home from work, are you cranky about your day or happy to see all their new tricks? During trials, do your kids hear you complaining or faithfully trusting God? None of us are perfect, but thankfully we serve a perfect God. With His help, we can right this ship and model godly behavior for our kids. Pick one or two things to change this month and prayerfully ask for God’s help. He is able to more than we could ever ask or imagine!
Another Bible Study on this passage: Commendable Christians