Disciples Making Disciples

There are so many crazy people and stories in the Bible; you have Moses who through God parted The Red Sea, David who slayed Goliath, Samson who killed a lion, and Paul who was stoned and bitten by a snake. Out of all these people my all-time favorite is Barnabas! When I was growing up, I knew him just as the guy who encouraged people, with his thumbs permanently up, patting everyone on the back with a big smile on his face. However, Barnabas was so much more than that! He was ultimately a disciple maker, someone who discovered people that needed guidance and then developed them into mature disciples. When we first hear of him in the Bible, he is selling his land and putting the money at the Apostles feet. One of the craziest things that he did was take in Saul who eventually became Paul, whom which went on to do amazing things for the kingdom of God. In Acts 9:26-27 it says

“When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul”

I love this because Barnabas is bringing in someone that makes people feel uncomfortable. Barnabas believes in Saul, he has compassion and grace for him. He obeyed Jesus’ last commandment before he left Earth which was the Great Commission; “Go and make Disciples”. We see through Barnabas that Disciple making isn’t a call for just the “spiritual elite”. Jesus called his disciples into disciple making, and if you are a follower of Christ you are also a disciple! Can you imagine if Barnabas was too scared to bring him to the Apostles? I think there are many people we are afraid to bring into the church, so many people we are reluctant to go seek out and form a relationship with in fear of what other people might think. Not only does Barnabas bring Saul in but he also spends time with him, he teaches him, he encourages him, and I don't mean with just a slap on the back, but he encourages him by constantly pointing him towards Christ.  I love that Barnabas took the Great Commission seriously, and set an excellent example of what it looks like to be a disciple. One of Common Grounds main pillars is Restoration. We want to restore communities back to the love of Jesus Christ, it’s the main reason why we exist as an organization. I want Common Ground to be an organization that takes discipleship seriously, and is constantly encouraging people back to the love of Christ.  

Mathew 28: 18-20

"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commandments I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even until the end of age"

-Jake Piering