Barnabas: Missional Leader

Last month I wrote of my search for an icon of Barnabas and of his example as the prototypical Christian coach. A couple of things have happened since. I found the icon on line (pictured here) and it is now hanging in my office. I have also been teaching The Book of Acts on Sunday morning and have been immersed in texts on Barnabas’ role as a leader in the growth of the early church. I still affirm his empowering role as a coach, but I have seen another aspect of Barnabas as well.

Barnabas was a missional leader. He was committed to the missio Dei—the mission of God. The missional church concept is built on the nature of a missional God, One who sends. God sent the prophets, God sent Jesus Christ, and God is now sending us. This God has a people who are living out his mission in the world. Barnabas was one of those people. Although he was not officially an apostle, he was one of the “sent ones” who furthered God’s mission in the early days of the church.

We see his missional life style in several situations in the Book of Acts.

First, Barnabas showed a spirit of generosity by his care for others in the church at Jerusalem. He saw possessions not as something to be accumulated but an opportunity to bless others. Missional Christians are very conscious of the proper stewardship of those things with which God has blessed them.

Second, he exercised hospitality even if it involved taking a risk. When Saul came to Jerusalem and could not get a meeting with the leaders there, Barnabas took a risk and became his advocate. In so doing, he was exercising radical hospitality to a former persecutor of the Way. Missional Christians today are challenged to open their doors, hearts, and lives to those who are different, even potential antagonists.

Third, he found where God was working and got involved. When he visited the church at Antioch, he sensed the work of the Holy Spirit there and not only became engaged himself but sought out Saul to join the community. Missional Christians are sensitive to where God is working (and God is working just about everywhere) and invest themselves there.

Fourth, Barnabas was open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit set aside Saul and Barnabas for what we now call “the first missionary journey” to the Gentiles, there is no indication of hesitation on his part. He accepted the opportunity willingly. Missional Christians today need to recognize the leadership of the Spirit into new places of service and ministry and respond quickly.

Fifth, he was willing to be creative and innovative in sharing the Gospel. Barnabas and Saul worked together to penetrate their culture for Christ. When the leaders of the synagogues rejected them, they moved on to other venues and new relationships. Missional Christians are willing to adopt new (and sometimes old) methodologies to reach people for Christ.

Missional Christians today can learn much from the faithful example of Barnabas as a missional leader.

Comments

Check these out

Confessions of a Recovering Southern Baptist

I am grateful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist. I was exposed to the Bible and worship from a very young age. I grew up in a church in south Alabama that supported the Cooperative Program of missions giving. This meant that our church had the benefit of being part of a supportive group of local churches and the educational opportunities that afforded. Our state convention provided varied and effective ministries with groups like orphans, ethnic groups, and college students. We supported missionaries at home and abroad. We had good Bible study and training literature (which we paid for, of course). I went to an accredited seminary and paid a remarkably low tuition. Wherever you went on a Sunday morning (in the Southeast and Southwest, at least), you could find a church that sang the familiar hymns and studied the same Bible lesson. In hindsight, I realize that this Southern Baptist utopia was imperfect. There were significant...

The Bible Tells Me So

As I read the story of the Good Samaritan during my devotional today, I was reminded of the times that I have heard the story in the Christian education setting of the local church--as a youngster in primary and intermediate classes (old terminology), as a young adult in college classes, and then as an adult, often teaching the passage myself. The characters and story line are very familiar due to these experiences of Christian education. These are challenging times for Christian education in the church. Like so much of what is happening in the church today, the old forms do not seem to support present needs. What once worked no longer seems to be effective. Christian education or the formation of believers is in a state of flux. In an article on ethicsdaily.com , retired professor Colin Harris addresses this issue. He points out that the period of the 60’s and 70’s “saw the beginnings of a loss of vitality within the educa...

Metaphors of the Kingdom of God

In a recent blog , consultant Seth Godin addresses the power of metaphor. He points out, “The best way to learn a complex idea is to find it living inside something else you already understand.” In other words, “this” is like “that.” “When you see a story, an example, a wonderment,” says Godin, “take a moment to look for the metaphor inside.” Jesus turned this around. In the use of parables, he told a story or provided a metaphor and challenged his hearers to see the truth within. For example, in his teaching on the Kingdom (or Reign) of God in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom to such things as a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a net, a king, and a landowner. His hearers are encouraged to use their imaginations to understand something that they had never experienced. He also attempted to shift their perspective so that they might see signs of the Kingdom breaking into their present reality. These are metapho...

The Tragedy of Willow Creek Community Church

File photo of Steve Carter, Heather Larson, and Bill Hybels As Christian brothers and sisters, we need to pray for Willow Creek Community Church. On the eve of the Global Leadership Summit, a worldwide conference sponsored by the church in cooperation with the Willow Creek Association, church leadership imploded as a result of further allegations against former pastor Bill Hybels. Last year, Hybels introduced the team who would assume church leadership upon his retirement--lead pastor Heather Larson and teaching pastor Steve Carter. Although the founding pastor planned to stay on to assist in a time of transition, reports of sexual impropriety involving Hybels surfaced early this year. He accelerated his departure from the church and left the board of the Willow Creek Association. When other charges emerged last week, teaching pastor Carter resigned. On Wednesday evening, Larson and the entire elder board--lay leaders who provide accountability ...

A Future for the Global Leadership Summit?

Craig Groeschel, the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church. The Global Leadership Summit which began as a project of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and its founding pastor, Bill Hybels, over 25 years ago was held this week without Hybels. For several years, the GLS has been now produced by the Willow Creek Association, a spin-off organization and a loose network of churches but Hybels has been its driving force. Attended by thousands at the church facility in South Barrington and broadcast to thousands more at satellite locations, the annual meeting brings together not only evangelical leaders but outstanding speakers from business, charitable organizations, politics, and business. For the first time, Hybels did not appear due to allegations of sexual impropriety brought against him over the past year by former employees, staff members, and business associates. He has already left the church and resigned from the board of t...

Barnabas File

Search This Blog