Day 1 – READ ACTS 9:26-36

Who was Paul trying to associate with in Jerusalem? (Hint, these are the eleven men who had spent time with Jesus)
Why did the disciples not want to meet with Paul? Why were they scared of Paul? Who stood up for Paul? How did Barnabas know Paul was safe?
This relationship between Paul is important but it is often missed in scripture. This week we are going to focus on Paul and Barnabas. Most people know about a guy named Timothy, the young man Paul discipled. Often times people miss the relationship between Paul and Barnabas. This is very important because the Bible paints a clear picture that Barnabas was one of the people who discipled Paul.

GIVE IT A TRY!

During month 3 and 4, you were instructed to write down questions you had for anything you read. These questions could be a great start at a discipleship relationship. After you have your initial few meetings and are ready to start with spiritual conversations bring these questions to the table and start learning…

Day 2 – READ ACTS 4:32-37

Let’s spend a few moments learning about Barnabas. Let’s rewind a little bit before Paul’s conversion to learn about him. In Acts 4, Peter and John are preaching the Gospel boldly… so boldly they were put in prison. They miraculously got out and many people began to believe and become part of the church.
What was Barnabas’ real name? Who called him Barnabas and why? What does Barnabas mean? What did Barnabas do? Was Barnabas a strong believer? Did Barnabas show he had a faith worthy of observing? Who believed in Jesus first… Barnabas or Paul?
After Acts 4, the next few chapters focus on Peter and John and the growth and pitfalls of starting the church. It even shares the first martyr for Jesus named Stephen. The next time Barnabas is mentioned is Acts 9. We don’t know how or when he went to Damascus but it is clear God put him there for one important reason… to encourage and disciple Paul. He also went with Paul to Jerusalem and defended Paul to the disciples. Not only did Barnabas contribute to Paul’s spiritual growth (Acts 9:22), but he also stood up for him. We often think a person who disciples will be all about the tough stuff, but we forget that God will use them to help you and stand up for you when it is needed. Maybe you have lived a life of sin that has caused you to have a bad reputation… just like Paul. God can use anyone, no matter what, but He can use a discipleship relationship to help rebuild and restore your reputation. Barnabas had credibility with the disciples and because he had spent time with Paul helping and experiencing his change… he was able to confidently stand up for Paul and tell others that God was doing a new thing in him.
What are ways someone who disciples you can stand up for you?
Why do you think this is important? Do you think it is important for the person who disciples you to know all about you… even the bad stuff? Why or why not?

Day 4

Paul believed in Jesus and was given his mission from God. He then grew with the help of people who taught him, and got to meet some very important people tasked with the same type of calling. Then something crazy happened, he was sent to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). The reason was to keep him safe but Paul probably had no idea how long he would be there… 10-13 years. We don’t know much about what happened but according to Galatians 1:22-24, he was relatively unknown except for the people who saw he had changed. If you know anything about Paul you know that later on his ministry… he was known. He was so well known that the Roman emperor put him in prison.  At this point in time he was under the radar. What? Why would God do this? Paul was converted, and had grown tremendously. Why would God put a “major player” in the plan of spreading the Gospel “on the bench” ministry wise for 10-13 years? First of all, Paul was not on the bench in God’s eyes. We don’t know what happened in those years, but God’s track record in the Bible (and in our own lives) show that God is always at work in our lives preparing us. We don’t know if Paul was discipled or discipling but we can infer that in some way or form he might have been a part of both types of relationships. Tarsus was Paul’s hometown.  The question Paul might have and you will hopefully have is “When does the disciple get to disciple?” Why does God make you wait when you feel you are ready?
Remember, God will call you when you are ready. If you are waiting He is preparing. Another reason for your wait is because God is also preparing the “field” for your ministry. Jesus told Paul himself that He would share the Gospel with the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). When Paul visited Peter, the Gospel message was not ready to be spread that far. Peter knew what Jesus said about who the Gospel was for, but He was too busy sharing the Gospel in Jerusalem and surrounding Israel to be concerned for the gentiles. God had some preparing to do.
Read Acts 9:26-Acts 11:18
Take note of how God was preparing the way for Paul to spread the message of the Gospel to the Gentiles while He was away in Tarsus. What did Peter need to see? What can you learn about trusting God in waiting? What is God doing to prepare you right now?

Day 5 – READ ACTS 11:19-26

The Gospel message had trickled to Antioch where the majority of people where Gentiles not Jews. Paul is in Tarsus… and it’s about to be game time for him… Pay attention to how the disciple turns into the apostle (which means one who is sent out). From here on in scripture, the disciple becomes the one who disciples.
What happened in Antioch? Who was coming to know the Lord?
Who did the disciples send to Antioch to check it out?
Who went to go get Paul? What did they do together?
Barnabas was sent to Antioch. Maybe the disciples had forgotten about Paul in Tarsus. Who knows why they didn’t fetch Paul, but once Barnabas got there he knew he had to go get Paul for the Lord had called him to share the Gospel with the Gentiles. The person who disciples you is a teacher, a mentor, an example, an encourager, and in some ways like a coach. Since they know your strengths and calling, they know when to “put in you in the game.” It was Paul’s time and Barnabas knew it. Take some time to recap what you have learned about being discipled. Why is being discipled important?