Joyful Moments in Christ

Overcoming Fear in Ministry

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. – Acts 9:26-27 (ESV)

This passage highlights a pivotal moment in early Christian ministry, where fear and skepticism could have hindered the spread of the gospel. Fear is a powerful motivator that can drastically and negatively impact Christian ministry. Acts 9:26-27 provides an excellent example of how fear could have halted Paul’s ministry and how other Christians came alongside him to alleviate that fear.

Paul’s Transformation

To fully appreciate the impact of fear and the courage needed to overcome it, we need to understand Paul’s dramatic transformation. Paul had a history of violently opposing the gospel message, making the disciples in Jerusalem understandably wary of him. As we saw earlier in the chapter, Saul, who was later known as Paul, was on his way to Damascus to arrest the Christians, then known as “the Way,” when he had an amazing direct encounter with Jesus.

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Acts 9:4-6 (ESV)

This confrontation changed Paul and the rest of the world forever! Convicted, Paul made an immediate about-face and went from being one of the biggest persecutors of the Christian faith to the most famous Christian missionary the world has ever seen.

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 9:20-22 (ESV)

By the time we reach Acts 9:26-27, Paul has convinced the Christians in Damascus that he is on their side, but now he must convince the Christians in Jerusalem. Let’s not forget that just a few chapters before, Paul was holding the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen for declaring his faith in Jesus. If I were a Christian in Jerusalem, I’m not sure how close I would be willing to get to Paul!

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:26-27 (ESV)

Barnabas’s Courage

Amid this skepticism, Barnabas’s role becomes crucial. His willingness to vouch for Paul illustrates the importance of support and advocacy within the Christian community. Fortunately, Barnabas was willing to intercede for Paul. It is unclear from the text whether he was with Paul in Damascus or had a reliable source of information that made him willing to intercede, but intercede he did! What if no one had done this? Would Paul have received the training from the apostles that he needed to become the most influential missionary the world has ever seen? The answer is unknown, but the implications of this choice are significant. Maybe someone else would have stepped up, or maybe God would have let the opportunity pass.

Personal Contemplation

Barnabas’s courage challenges us to consider our own actions. How often do we let fear hold us back from supporting others in their ministry? This has huge implications for us. Are we furthering God’s kingdom or letting opportunities pass? How many times has God prompted us to speak, only for us to question whether it is a good idea and lose the chance to speak? How can we train our minds to be more like Paul and Barnabas? Paul risked death repeatedly to share the gospel message. Can we risk our pride to share the gospel message?

Let’s pray for courage and discernment to act when God prompts us, trusting that He will use our obedience to further His kingdom.

Reflection Questions

Personal Fear and Ministry

1. Reflect on a time when fear held you back from ministry. What was the source of your fear?
2. How can recognizing the impact of fear help you overcome it in your own ministry efforts?

Paul’s Transformation

1. How does Paul’s dramatic transformation from persecutor to proclaimer inspire you?
2. What aspects of Paul’s story resonate with your personal faith journey?

Supporting Others and Overcoming Skepticism

1. How can you support and advocate for others in their faith, like Barnabas did for Paul?
2. What steps can you take to overcome skepticism and welcome new believers into your community?

Responding to God’s Prompting

1. How often do you respond to God’s prompts to act or speak, and how can you improve your responsiveness?
2. What strategies can you use to be more attuned to and act on God’s guidance?

Courage, Risk, and Missed Opportunities

1. In what areas do you need more courage to stand up for others or share your faith?
2. Reflect on missed opportunities due to fear or hesitation. How can you better prepare to seize future opportunities?

Prayer for Courage

1. How can prayer help you gain the courage and discernment needed to act on God’s promptings?
2. Spend some time praying for courage and wisdom to act as God leads.

Reflective Prayer

Use Acts 9:26-27 to pray using the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, Supplication

• Adoration: Praise God. Does this verse bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
• Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Does this verse bring any specific sins to mind?
• Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from this verse inspire gratitude?
• Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from this verse inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.