This Is the Way: A 30-Day Journey Through the Book of ActsSample

Build the Tribe

By Casey Hale

When [Barnabus] found [Saul], he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) —Acts 11:26

At the beginning of every school year, my son’s class has a unit called “Build the Tribe.” This is an intentional time when the students, new and old, are getting familiar with the school and its rhythms. They get to know the teacher, and the teacher gets to know them. They learn new boundaries and the ins and outs of classroom expectations.

Perhaps more importantly, they get to know each other. They play fun games to learn more about each other and begin laying a foundation for friendships that will last throughout the year. They learn the culture of their classroom and discover how to be good leaders and good friends.

I like to imagine the time in Acts chapter 11 is a bit like “building the tribe” for the very first Christian church. Of course, the twelve disciples and other followers of Jesus had known each other for many years at this point—they are a “tribe” all their own. But here we see the beginning stages of the “capital ‘C’ Church.” New leaders are stepping up to intentionally evangelize, disciple, and build community.

My overactive imagination can visualize an up-and-coming inspirational drama series on TV called “Acts 11: Building the Tribe”:

Opening scene: the lights are low, and the tension is thick. Peter quiets the room to reassure the Judean believers that God called them to preach to the Gentiles too.

Flashback scene: Christians are running down dark alleys with all they can carry to escape persecution after Stephen’s martyrdom.

Fast forward time: the people of Antioch are being baptized by the men from Cyprus and Cyrene; a bright sunbeam shines down on them, reflecting off the river’s gentle waves.

Next scene: the Jerusalem church leaders’ meeting is interrupted by a man (unknown) bursting through the door with news of the new Antioch Christians!

Transition into a montage: Barnabas, with a pack and walking stick in hand, is hitchhiking his way to encourage the new Christians.

Another time hop: Once again we see Barnabas and Saul has joined him. Together they sit with the Antioch believers, breaking bread and teaching them about Jesus. More prophets come to Jerusalem and challenge the disciples to send financial support to the Antioch church for a coming time of famine. The people cheer! A baby laughs. A single tear of joy falls. The screen fades to black.

While this story would make for great TV, their circumstances werenoteasy by any stretch of the imagination. These leaders joined together out of obedience to Jesus and His commission to spread the good news of salvation. And they were scrappy about it! They heard about a revival and immediately sent a strong leader to help. They raised funds and shared all they had, they supported and loved each other, and they faced persecution at every turn but remained sure of their calling. They clung to faith and rested in complete trust that God would walk with them every step of the way.

It’s interesting to note that Barnabas left the revival to get Saul and bring him back to Antioch, where they stayed a year and taught together (Acts 11:25–26). Scholars have differing opinions on why this may have been. Some suggest Barnabas needed help teaching the Antioch Christians and he recruited Saul because he was such a gifted speaker. Some think Barnabas included Saul because he saw the leadership potential in him and wanted to give him opportunities to grow. It had been many years since Saul’s conversion, and he’d spent his time preaching the gospel, but Barnabas was also no newbie. He was a well-known leader in the Christian movement, fondly referred to as the “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Each man could have easily managed their own ministry. And wouldn’t they have been able to share the gospel with more people if they had stayed separated?

Barnabas needed Saul to be part of the ministry happening at the church of Antioch. Perhaps Barnabas knew “a friend [like Saul] is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need” (Proverbs 17:17). Whatever the reason God sent Barnabas to retrieve Saul, the Bible is clear that Barnabas and Saul together“met with the church and taught great numbers of people” (Acts 11:26 NIV).

Ministry happens in community! And friendship is truly a gift from the Lord. Whether it’s through linking arms side-by-side or by giving or receiving a challenging word to call us higher, God designed us to need other people in our lives.

We can all be encouraged by the example of the early Church leaders. One person didn’t run the show; they relied on each other and helped each other. Through the Lord’s guidance, they laid the foundational stones of culture for followers of Jesus and modeled what it looks like to be servant leaders and brothers-in-arms. They “built the tribe,” and now we’re empowered to continue that good work.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of community and friendship. I don’t want to do life alone. Help me be mindful of areas in my life where I lean toward solitude instead of toward other people. Help me be a good friend. Open my eyes and ears to see needs in my community so I can be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• Who do you consider your “tribe”? Reach out to them and encourage them this week. If you’re not sure who your tribe is, ask the Lord to show you.
• Has community been a blessing to you in the past? Take time to thank God.
• Reflect on who God might be calling you to partner with or mentor. Is there someone like Saul who could benefit from your guidance? Or do you need to seek out someone who can challenge you and help you grow spiritually?
• Find a place to serve alongside others in your church or local community. This helps build relationships and strengthens the “tribe.”

For Further Study

Acts 11; Acts 2:44–47; 1 Corinthians 12:25–27; Hebrews 10:24–25

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?