So Barnabas went to
Barnabas could only do so much by himself. He brought a co-laborer with him. Someone who shared his passion: Paul. It is important to note that Barnabas was a trusted leader in the church and is to be credited with enabling Paul’s ministry by introducing Paul to the skeptical apostles (Acts 9:26-27) and plugging him in where God’s seed needed further watering.
Perhaps this can be called, “Christian networking,” but only in the sense of establishing new relationships for the sake of Christian edification. Question: to what extent do you promote relationships in the church for the purpose of mutual edification? The human tendency, devoid of the Spirit, is to pacify rather than edify.
The word here, “teach,” means to instruct with God’s
Word. Scripture. Almost all of the uses of this word in the
New Testament are closely bound to the teaching of Scripture. The third part of the Great Commission
(Matthew 28:18-20), “Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you,” is carried
out here through the teaching of Barnabas and Paul. Paul did the same things in
Teaching in the church cannot exist without God’s Word.
The authority of God’s Word is critical to discipleship.
Do you see God’s Word as your authority? It is only when you learn and apply God’s Word that you develop roots which keeps you from being, “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14).
You’re not a disciple of Christ if you don’t live on His Word.