Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:4-5
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
Day 1 – Read Matthew 4:18-22
Dig In: This may be a hard topic for some of you to deal with…What emotions run through your mind when you think about elementary school and that dreaded time to pick teams for kickball? Someone always is picked first and someone always has to be picked last. With those emotions swirling around in your head, how beautiful is it that Jesus has chosen to be our Savior and Friend?
Take Root: This short section of scripture is first episode of Jesus calling His disciples. What we know about all of Jesus’ disciples is that they had lives they were living: ordinary lives with ordinary issues. But when Jesus invited them to follow Him, He did so because of the potential that He saw in them. Where the disciples saw a life of pursuing a great net of fish, Jesus saw them drawing the net of all of humanity to hear about Jesus and His plan for their lives.
Cultivate: As you begin this week’s devotions, start today with the reality that God sees more potential in your life than you will ever see for yourself. Ask yourself this question: “What would my life begin to look like if I would accept God’s view of me and my potential more than how I view myself?”
Journal #1: Make a quick list of ways you could be a “Barnabus”, an encourager, to someone who really needs it. Would you give them a call? Would you write a note? Would you purchase a small gift? Would you invite them to lunch or dinner? This week seriously consider those you know who need your encouragement. Beware: Encouragement is seldom a “one and done” kind of thing. Prepare to extend a hand of friendship, and a gift of time.
Day 2 – Read John 11:17-44
Dig In: Think of a time when you experienced something that seemed impossible to get over or would be very difficult to move forward. How did that experience challenge your faith? Looking back on it now, how was your faith grown?
Take Root: Of all the episodes of Jesus seeing the potential of someone who seemed to have none is the story of raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus’s family and Jesus’ disciples would always remember that moment that they saw Lazarus alive!
Cultivate: How would you describe the transformation that Mary and Martha went through from the beginning of the chapter to the end? How does having a relationship with Jesus, who has the power to raise someone from the dead, inspire you to see the potential in others?
Day 3 – Luke 19:1-9
Dig In: Were you ever picked on in your life for something? How did someone else’s words affect your view of yourself?
Take Root: While we all have some type of negative views of the IRS, that is nothing compared to how tax collectors were viewed in the times of Jesus. Tax collectors worked for Rome to collect taxes and padded their own pockets with collecting more than Rome required. Zacchaeus was not favored by his community. That changed when he was favored by the one who saw the potential in his heart, Jesus.
Cultivate: Why is it difficult to embrace the love and grace that Jesus offers more than we embrace the biting or critical words of other people? Knowing that Jesus sees and knows our hearts and loves us anyway should help us to pursue our Godly potential, while rejecting a worldly and lowly view of ourselves.
Journal #2: Are you prepared to put encouragement into action? Remember that we said encouragement takes an investment, often of our time. Pray and ask God to put someone on your heart who needs your encouragement. Write that name – or those names – down in your journal so that you will be reminded to pray for them. Ask God to show you how to encourage them in a meaningful way to see their potential and themselves through God’s eyes.
Day 4 – John 12:1-8
Dig In: How easy is it for you to judge other people who worship differently than you? Someone who might be more expressive? dress differently for church? Etc. How does that limit our ability to see the potential in others when we do this?
Take Root: Mary worshipped Jesus by anointing his feet with a perfume type substance called “nard”. The value of that bottle of nard was worth a year’s wages. While her attention to Jesus and the expense of the act of worship were questioned by those in the room (Martha and Judas) – Jesus affirms her and her sacrifice by pointing out that his presence was temporary and worshipping Him while he was there was more important than what others were prioritizing (chores and money).
Cultivate: When God sees the potential in His children He is always looking at the heart and the intention of our actions. What in your life needs to be addressed when it comes to prioritizing your relationship with Christ? What pursuits in your life are undermining the potential God sees in you?
Day 5 – Read Matthew 16:13-30
Dig In: Has there been a time in your life where someone asked you to do something that you thought was beyond you, but in the end you grew through the experience? (teach a class, play a new position, a promotion…) How did it make you feel to be trusted with something big?
Take Root: Peter was a disciple that many of us can relate to. He was quick to act while being slow to think. As he rashly attacked one of the guards coming to arrest Jesus to moments later being afraid to be associated with Jesus, we see that Peter was someone who at times “flew by the seat of his pants”. But as we see in this passage, Jesus saw greater potential in him and showed him the fruit of his potential (leading the early church).
Cultivate: We have all blown it at some time in our life. What should it mean that Jesus’ grace allows us to live in the potential that comes from being His heir? What are somethings in your life that need to be dealt with in order for you to be able to accept God’s view of you versus your self-view that is tainted by your past mistakes.
Cultivating the Soil:
Is it easier to encourage someone or to judge or discourage them? Why? Which takes longer? Which takes more effort?
Who are you ready to encourage this week? Can you think of someone on our church staff or a Bible study leader who might need a word of encouragement – or maybe one of their spouses? Will you do so?
Encouragement – just like praise – often doesn’t help at all if it is empty, or trivial, or contrived. If God has laid someone on your heart to encourage this week, pray that He would lead you to do what is meaningful and needed in their life.
According to this week’s sermon, what was the outcome of Barnabus’ influence on John Mark? What if Barnabus had given up, followed Paul’s lead, and gone with him?
Small Group Questions
Do you think Barnabus ever discussed with John Mark the reason for his leaving Paul? If so, take a moment and think about how that conversation might have gone. Remember that Barnabus’ goal was to encourage and restore John Mark to the ministry team. Write down how that scenario may have played out.
Imagine that you were with the ministry team in those exciting early days of the Christian church. When the great divide occurred between Barnabus and Paul, would you have been surprised? With whom would you have decided to travel? Why?
Are major differences between those who are called to lead in the body of Christ a cause for alarm, or a call for examination and prayer? Why do you think so?
What were the long-term results of Paul and Barnabus going their separate ways? What might have seemed negative to Paul and Barnabus or those travelling with them at the time? Do you think there were also positive results?