Living in the Image of God M05S08
First of a two-part study of relationships among leaders and followers, when two or more organize to execute a mission or project. The study is based in part on the partnership of Paul and Barnabas and in part on the call of four disciples on Lake Galilee. God called Paul and Barnabas to a Gospel mission, chose Paul as leader, and did not explain the choice. He can call people to a mission by choosing a leader and providing others opportunity to join as followers. Also, he can assign a mission to a group of people and guide them to choose a leader. In the case of Paul and Barnabas, he called them to the mission and guided them to choose Paul as leader. The choice became evident through their interactions with Elymas in Paphos and at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. When God calls people to a mission, he assigns them responsibilities as leaders or followers, choosing leadership based on intrinsic qualities that are understood better as they perform the responsibilities. Also, as we see in Part 2 of the study, he values leaders and followers alike.
This is the first of a two-part bible study on understanding relationships among leaders and followers, when two or more organize to execute a mission, for the advancement of worship directly or indirectly through other aspects of living. The first part of the study is based on the partnership of Paul and Barnabas. The second part is based on Christ teaching through interactions during his call of four disciples on Lake Galilee.
The partnership of Paul and Barnabas began with Barnabas re-introducing Paul (then known as Saul) to the disciples in Jerusalem. The partnership continued in Antioch when Barnabas brought Paul to collaborate with him in planting a church. Later, the church they planted in Antioch commissioned them to a mission of international evangelism, to propagate the Gospel among Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews). The bible does not discuss their choosing a leader, but shows Paul providing leadership early in the mission, through interactions with Elymas in Paphos and at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch.
The two-part study leads to understanding that the choice of a leader often is based on intrinsic qualities that may not be clear at the beginning but are understood better as the leaders and followers perform their individual responsibilities to the mission or project. When God calls people to a mission, he assigns them responsibilities as leaders or followers, choosing leadership based on his assessment of the people and mission requirements. Also, as will be discussed in Part 2 of the study, he values leaders and followers alike and rewards each mission participant based on their capacity, irrespective of serving as leader or follower.
Paul and Barnabas
The partnership of Paul and Barnabas began informally in Jerusalem but was established formally in Antioch. Paul was known as Saul early in the partnership. The team was set up by Barnabas. They worked together for a few years to plant a church in Antioch. Later, the church they planted commissioned them to a mission of international evangelism, to propagate the Gospel among Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews).
The study begins with Saul’s return to Jerusalem from Damascus after his conversion, discusses the growth of their partnership through planting a church in Antioch, and their mission of international evangelism, when Paul showed himself leader through interactions early in the mission.
Paul Joins Disciples in Jerusalem
After his conversion in Damascus and a brief period of preaching the Gospel there, Paul (also known as Saul then) returned to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples there. However, the disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of him; because he was a fierce persecutor of members of the church before his journey to Damascus: “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple” [Acts 9:26].
Barnabas knew about Saul and introduced him to the disciples in Jerusalem. He told them about Saul’s conversion and gospel work in Damascus [Acts 9:27] “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”
The introduction by Barnabas enabled Paul to join the disciples in Jerusalem and continue his Gospel work there. However, he was later moved to Tarsus to protect him from Jews that plotted to kill him [Acts 9:28–30]: “So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.”
Paul Joins Barnabas in Antioch
Later, the Jerusalem church received news about converts in Antioch and sent Barnabas to plant a church there. Barnabas arrived there and realized that the growth of converts in Antioch was promising. Therefore, he went to Tarsus to bring Saul to work with him. They worked together for one year to guide the growth of the new church in Antioch. Thus, the friendship they started in Jerusalem became a partnership in Antioch [Acts 11:25–26]: “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
Paul-Barnabas Commissioned to Mission
The church that Barnabas and Paul planted in Antioch later commissioned them to begin their formal mission of spreading the Gospel among Gentiles [Acts 13:2–3]: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Leadership in Paul-Barnabas Partnership
The bible does not provide any discussion of leadership in Paul-Barnabas partnership, but shows Paul providing leadership in two formal interactions early in their mission. First, Paul provided leadership in their interactions with Elymas the sorcerer (also known as Bar-Jesus) in Paphos. Second, Paul provided leadership by delivering their introductory Gospel address at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. Maybe God chose Paul as leader and informed them about the choice spiritually.
Interactions with Elymas the Sorcerer
Elymas the sorcerer (i.e., the man known as Bar-Jesus) was an attendant to a Roman official that wanted to hear the word of God from Paul and Barnabas. He tried several times to interrupt them, to turn his master away from hearing the Gospel. Paul rebuked him and struck him with blindness [Acts 13:9–11]: “Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.’ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.”
We can surmise that God chose Paul to deliver the message in the encounter with Elymas the sorcerer. He could have chosen Barnabas, who also was filled with the Holy Spirit, based on interactions early in their mission in Antioch. However, God chose Paul but not Barnabas as leader and did not disclose the reason for his choice. He chooses leadership based on intrinsic qualities that may not be clear initially but will be understood better as the leaders and followers perform their individual responsibilities. Further, as will be discussed in Part 2 of this study, he values leaders and followers alike.
Gospel Address in Pisidian Antioch
Paul provided leadership again during interactions at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. He and Barnabas visited the synagogue to interact with the people. After regular proceedings, the synagogue leaders invited Paul and Barnabas to share their message. Paul rose and said [Acts 13:15–16]: “After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.’ Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: ‘Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!’” He proceeded to deliver the first formal address of their mission (Acts 13–41).
Summary of What We Learned
This is the first of a two-part study of relationships among leaders and followers, when two or more organize to execute a mission or project. The study is based in part on the partnership of Paul and Barnabas and in part on the call of four disciples on Lake Galilee.
God called Paul and Barnabas to a Gospel mission, chose Paul as leader, and did not explain the choice. He can call people to a mission by choosing a leader and providing others opportunity to join as followers. Also, he can assign a mission to a group of people and guide them to choose a leader. In the case of Paul and Barnabas, he called them to the mission and guided them to choose Paul as leader. The choice became evident through their interactions with Elymas in Paphos and at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch.
When God calls people to a mission, he assigns them responsibilities as leaders or followers, choosing leadership based on intrinsic qualities that are understood better as they perform the responsibilities. Also, as we see in Part 2 of the study, he values leaders and followers alike.