BE ENCOURAGED BY THE SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT!

I. By Jesus, the Son of God

II. By Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement

Acts 11:19-26 19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in

connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,

telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from

Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also,

telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was

with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent

Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace

of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord

with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and

faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then

Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he

brought him to Antioch. 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.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior, dear Christian friends,

Mother’s Day weekend and a Scripture text about encouragement seem to be a

match made in heaven. What mothers don’t need encouraging as they carry out their life-

giving, life-guiding, life-nurturing, life-protecting role for their children? What mothers

haven’t spent their entire lives as encouragers in the lives of their children and others and

are deserving of some special recognition this weekend? Here is a good story to look at

both sides of this encouragement coin.

A man stopped at a flower