Willing to Risk

Willing to Risk

Acts 9:26-28

January 4, 2026

Don’t let fear dominate, v. 26.

• Paul had been violently the early believers.
  • He watched and approved the stoning of
  • The high priests sent him far away to arrest believers in Damascus, Acts 9:1-2.
• The believers did not Paul when he showed up in Jerusalem.
  • Was he trying to them just to get inside the church?
  • Why had he disappeared for 3 years (Gal. 1:18-19)?

Be willing to take a chance, v. 27.

• Despite the Barnabas decided to bring Paul to the disciples.
  • We can assume Barnabas urgently for discernment.
  • After talking with Paul, he believed Paul’s story to be true.
  • There was no way Barnabas could guarantee Paul was telling the
• Barnabas made the best he could.
  • We can be certain the Holy Spirit was actively at work, John 16:13.

Watch to see what God does, vv. 28-30.

• This opened the way for Paul to work with the apostles in Jerusalem.
  • Paul began sharing the gospel in Jerusalem.
  • When his success led to persecution, the apostles helped protect him.
• Paul’s was a great encouragement to other believers.

What can we learn from Barnabas?

• Faithful service to God sometimes includes risk.
  • Refuse to let fear dictate your decisions, 2 Timothy 1:7.
• God uses people like you and me to reach the world, Acts 1:8.
  • Who is God leading you to take a risk with?
• There are many blessings we will never see if we are not willing to take a risk for God.
  • Look to see what God does when you take a risk for Him!

(Answers: persecuting, Stephen, believe, fool, risk, prayed, truth, decision, boldly, example)