The 11th Commandment
Connection Celebration

Sunday September 24th, 2017 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Acts 9:26-31, Acts 11:21-30

HE TRIED TO JOIN (Connection)

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple (Acts 9:26)

• One of the human desires is the longing to Belong.
• One of the quests of a guest is "Do I belong here?"

Connection cannot happen in an environment of fear.
Barnabas believed in Paul

TOOK HIM AND BROUGHT HIM (Hospitality)

Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:27)

• Connection cannot happen without hospitality.
• Hospitality can turn strangers to friends
• Hospitality can turn enemies to friends
• Hospitality can turn guest to become part of the community

Barnabas took Paul and brought him to the disciples. Paul is a gift of God.

THEY WERE MULTIPLIED (Conversion)

So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him... Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied (Acts 8:28-31)

• Hospitality establishes connection.
• Connections lead to belonging.
• Belonging lead to involvement

Barnabas showed kindness to Paul. The impact of his hospitality empowered Paul to connect many people to Jesus.

THEY SENT OUT BARNABAS (Encouragement & Sharing Faith)

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord (Acts 11:21-22)

• Hospitality creates the environment to share our faith with gentleness and respect.
• Treat people outside the faith as a guest and invite them to the table of grace.

Barnabas encouraged in the grace of God

FOUND HIM HE BROUGHT HIM (Leadership)

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26)

• Hospitality emphasizes quality over quantity
• A quality leader makes people around him better

Barnabas made Paul better

DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF (Generosity)

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:27-30)

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:33-36).

Sold it and laid it (Generosity)

• Hospitality develop a culture of generosity
• Generosity is an attitude of grace and gratefulness

Barnabas was an example or generosity