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A prison ministry wants to establish a halfway house in your community for just-released felons who profess coming to faith while incarcerated. The location for this controversial facility would be in your block. Do you oppose this as a security hazard to your family and neighborhood? Or do you actively support returning these new believers to society?

Barnabas faced a parallel situation in the passage we consider this week.

Acts 9:26-28

1. Why could believing the best about Saul (see Acts 8:3) seem naïve and foolhardy?
2. What else did Barnabas risk by becoming a sponsor for Saul?
3. How did Barnabas overcome the apostles' suspicions about Saul?
4. Barnabas's real name was Joseph (see Acts 4:36). Can you see from this paragraph how he got his "Son of Encouragement" nickname?
5. How might you come alongside, encourage, and teach a new or misunderstood believer, and introduce him to other believers?

Ask God to help you shed a critical spirit and trust the Holy Spirit's working in the lives of other believers.

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was only pretending to be a believer!27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus. Barnabas also told them what the Lord had said to Saul and how he boldly preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.28 Then the apostles accepted Saul, and after that he was constantly with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, you received me when I was down and out. Help me to accept others in the same spirit.

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