On one occasion, while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work to which I have called them.” Then, after completing their fasting and prayer, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:2-3 (NCB)

The example of Barnabas and Saul from Acts 13 teaches us a valuable lesson about how to live as a Christian community with a kingdom perspective and emphasis. As we engage with each other to discern God's calling for our lives, we will discover we are all called and sent by Christ to reveal and proclaim the love of God to others.

Being kingdom-minded is about releasing people to their God-given assignments, even if that means losing them to another church or ministry. Such willing readiness is found in the gospel itself, for it calls us to authentic discipleship and intentional disciple-making.

We are to make and multiply disciples, not church goers.

If our mission is to seat just one more person in the pew, we are missing out on everything God intends for the church. This is where Churchianity and Christianity differs. How do we practically discern the two? One is about attracting consumers, the other is about raising true sons and daughters of God. Churchianity is more concerned with collecting church members as trophies because its focus is on building empires instead of advancing the Kingdom. In contrast, Christianity is more concerned with making disciples who make disciples.

Following Jesus inspires us to inspire others to follow Jesus.

That is the essence of being a follower of Jesus. If our hearts are completely surrendered to Christ, we will experience His love for the bruised, broken and the battered, and we will yield ourselves to be His hands and feet of compassion, grace and hope. Hence, it should come as no surprise that Barnabas and Saul were able to demonstrate and manifest the incredible love of Jesus in the lives of others through healings, signs and wonders. Similarly, if you listen to Jesus and do what He says, He can do so much more through you and with you.