The Barnabas Way: A New Perspective on Biblical Leadership

Copyright

The Barnabas Way

© 2018 by Isaac Smythia

ISmythia1@gmail.com

In many of the personal examples and illustrations, names and identifying information have been changed to protect the individuals’ privacy.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-5323-6213-2

Printed in the U.S.A.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Introduction

Start

Trust

Vision

Failure

Authority

Spirituality

Work

Results

Empowerment

Release

Success

Generosity

Wrong

Conflict

Legacy

Conclusion

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Endorsements

Bibliography

Notes

For Terry

The light of my life after Jesus Christ

Introduction

When he (Saul) had come to Jerusalem... Barnabas took him

The Middle Eastern man pulled his prayer shawl over his head and peeked around the corner again. He watched the young Pharisee absentmindedly kicking at the dust with his sandal before sitting beside the community well, looking around. The Pharisee’s dark eyes squinted as they roamed back and forth over the square, searching, waiting. The young man was well dressed, a little on the short side, with just the beginnings of a bald spot.

He appeared to be alone, but how could one be sure? It could be a trap. The young man's reputation was certainly well known. The watcher hesitated, pulling his shawl a little tighter around his head. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck in the afternoon sun as he watched. So much was at stake, and the leaders did not trust this supposed new follower of Messiah. Yet there was something about this young man. It was more than a hunch but not quite enough to keep nagging doubts from plaguing the watcher's mind.

Father, he prayed, You know all things. I ask that You guide me, protect me, and give me wisdom. He took a deep breath, then slowly pulled the shawl from his face as he stepped around the corner and toward the well. His voice sounded more confident than he really felt as he called out, Brother Saul, my name is Barnabas.

(Based on Acts 9:26–27)

Which came first—the apple or the tree? The chicken or the egg? There is no question for those who acknowledge God as creator. God created trees, chickens, plants, animals, and humans, all with a mandate to reproduce through their seed. If you trace the seeds of the church to its beginnings, you will find Jesus Christ, the author and the finisher of our faith. He did more than just give His life on the cross. He invested three years of His time on earth into the lives of His disciples, who then took the good news of His kingdom from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.

After Christ, who was the most influential leader of the early church? Many would point to the apostle Paul. Paul spread the gospel first to Turkey and then into Europe. He testified to kings and rulers of the power of Jesus Christ, and his letters make up a major portion of the New Testament.

But if you take a step back in your thinking, another early church leader may come to mind. Barnabas saw something in Saul when the apostles were unwilling to meet with the young man. Later, when Saul had been sent home after stirring up problems for the struggling new church in Jerusalem, Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for him. Barnabas also took Saul with him on the first missionary journey.

John Mark was another young Christian leader whose life was greatly influenced by Barnabas. Most recognize Mark’s book as the first Gospel to be written; 93 percent of it was used in the writings of Matthew and Luke. John Mark is also known for founding the powerful church in Alexandria, Egypt, opening the door for the spread of the gospel into Africa.

This is the same Mark who abandoned Barnabas and Paul during their first missionary journey. Later, Barnabas insisted on giving Mark a second chance despite Paul’s vehement opposition. Paul could not see beyond Mark’s desertion on the shores of modern-day Turkey. Yet Barnabas saw something Paul couldn’t see, and he paid a heavy price for his vision. After a heated argument between the two apostles, Paul and Barnabas separated. Paul took Silas for the journeys described in the remainder of Acts. Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus and disappeared from the pages of Scripture.

Only God truly knows what might have happened in Paul’s life without Barnabas’ influence. We can only speculate whether Mark would have written his Gospel or traveled to Africa had it not been for Barnabas’ intervention in his life. Yet we do know Barnabas shaped the lives of these two Christian leaders. His leadership sowed seeds that bore much fruit, as together Paul and Mark wrote almost a third of the New Testament and planted churches from Europe to Africa.

So which came first or had more impact? The apple or the tree? These two key leaders of the New Testament church or their mentor? Whatever your answer, I believe Barnabas gives us a unique perspective of biblical leadership. There are many ways to consider and learn about leadership in the church—books, sermons, Power Point presentations, and so on. This is simply what I call the Barnabas Way.

The seed for this book was first planted in my life years ago when I began to consider what the statement in Acts 11:25, Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, meant not only for Paul but also for Barnabas. Three powerful facts sprouted from the Word. First, Barnabas saw what no one else saw, first in Saul and then in Mark. Second, Barnabas did what no one else would do. When the original apostles and later Paul refused to do so, Barnabas mentored two young Christ followers who had experienced significant setbacks in their ministries. Finally, Barnabas paid a price that others wouldn’t pay. He left Jerusalem to an unknown future in Antioch. He then gave up his leadership position in Antioch to take Paul on their historic first missionary journey. Later, he left his position with Paul to start the process all over again with Mark.

The Barnabas Way follows the life of Barnabas in the book of Acts, gleaning the biblical leadership principles he leaves in his wake. The fictional vignettes at the beginning of each chapter illustrate what Barnabas may have experienced during his ministry. They are nothing more than my attempt to color in some detail to the broad strokes of the biblical record.

In this book I look at Barnabas’ leadership through the lens of my own experiences. Many of the illustrations come from my wife’s and my twenty-five years of missionary work in Uruguay and other parts of the world. My prayer is that you will take a new look at Barnabas’ story through your own lens and draw lessons that will help you influence those who are building the Kingdom with you.

Start

Barnabas... sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet

As he stood near the back of the group, Joseph’s head swam as he tried to organize the whirl of memories from the past weeks in his mind. He could still see the flames on everyone’s heads when the Spirit had first come upon them. Someone had told him he had one over his head too, but he hadn’t felt anything. Actually, he had felt everything—the joy, the wonder, the pressure deep inside that had birthed the strange language pouring from his mouth. Barely able to stand, he had opened his eyes a few times to see others staggering as well. He didn’t know how long it had lasted, only that when Peter had begun to address the gawking crowd, the sense of floating in God’s presence had started to abate and Joseph could feel his feet on the ground once again.

It was almost the same every time the believers gathered, sometimes in houses, other times in the temple. It didn’t matter—everyone knew that when they came together something was going to happen. The 120 in the upper room became thousands. Beggars and prostitutes, Pharisees and priests were baptized and then stood side by side in awe and worship. Old psalms sung in tired rituals suddenly became the Spirit’s chariots of praise that lifted the singers into the presence of God. The stories and words of the prophets burned with new fire.

It was amazing. It was also terrible. The Sanhedrin was stiffening its resistance. No one could deny the miraculous healing of the beggar outside the temple, yet Peter and John were arrested and threatened. Other followers of Messiah were thrown out of their synagogues. There were rumors of a special group of Pharisees going from synagogue to synagogue to get rid of the people of the Way. Families fractured as parents, spouses, and even children turned against loved ones who dared to confess Jesus as Lord. Believers’ homes opened to receive those who had nowhere else to go. But so many more now-dispossessed followers of Christ were in precarious positions.

Joseph had watched as the number of suddenly indigent believers multiplied and realized God would have to supply food and money so they could eat. The field. Now, where had that thought come from? He had purchased it as an investment soon after he moved from Cyprus. He then instinctively knew he needed to sell it. It had sold quickly and for a better price than Joseph had imagined.

Joseph’s eyes refocused on the people around him. His hand instinctively patted the bag of coins tied to his belt, which responded with a muffled clink. He jiggled the bag once more before stepping to the front of the crowd and laying it on the ground before Peter. Peter’s eyes widened as he reached into the bag and lifted the gold and silver coins before the congregation.

Look how God has provided! His voice boomed. And by the hand of … What is your name, Brother?

Joseph. Joseph from Cyprus, he replied slowly, not entirely comfortable being the focus of everyone’s attention.

No, not Joseph, the voice of another apostle called out. You are Barnabas, truly the ‘Son of Consolation.’

Suddenly a stream of believers formed and began to present their own offerings. Others left only to return and add to the growing pile of coins, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. The Presence descended again as worship lifted from the lips of all.

Hours later, Joseph began working his way back through the throng of singers, almost missing the poorly dressed woman with gray hair and a warm smile who reached for his arm and spoke.

Excuse me, Sister, he began, I didn’t quite catch what you said.

She smiled again. I said, ‘Thank you, Barnabas!’