"and great grace was on all of them" (Acts 4:33)

(Read 4:32-37) 33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.” ()

“and great grace was on all of them.”

Again, Luke highlights how generous the earliest Christian were to one another (2:44-45).

We even get a very vivid example of what this generosity looks like, with the example of Barnabas at the end of the passage.

Then followed by a bad example in chapter 5 with Ananias and Sapphira.

Our passage reveals to us that Christian fellowship isn’t just a community of friends but a display of divine character!

As we’ll see this is a particular sign that the grace of God is at work in the fellowship!

We are hoping to see some of the marks of a grace-filled people in this passage.

Side-by-side and Sharing… 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” ()

So in v32 what’s described as side by side? [heart and soul]

Biblically the heart is: the disposition or the port of a person’s thoughts (mine), will, emotions, and knowledge of right from wrong. (conscience).

The soul [mind] is: This is the activating cause of an individual life. This is the inner self, your being.

How are all their hearts and souls described as being? [one]

So when Luke says that they were one in heart and mind, he’s indicating this oneness in both friendships and their unity of purpose.

These friendships and single-purpose find a practical expression in the fact that v32 says

no one said that the things he possessed was his own but they had all things in common.

It was not just that they all belonged to the same organization, but that they had true spiritual unity.

They believed as one. They thought as one.

They were in the truest sense a body, a single organism with one heartbeat and one soul.

Do you remember Paul’s words to the Philippians? 27 Only [just one thing]let your conduct [let your life] be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,” ()

Their unity or side-by-side ness {if you will} came from their preoccupation with evangelizing (v33) and loving one another.

They were too busy with those priorities that to worry about themselves or who’s on what committee or of what color the carpet was!

Strong Sermons...33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus...” ()

Awesome! These powerful testimonies of Christ’ resurrection where going on in the face of what [v31, persecution]

The preaching was bold and powerful.

This preaching of the resurrection is what always seem to get them in trouble.

Look at v2 of the same chapter. What was disturbing the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees?

It says that they were “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” (v2).

So, obviously we don’t set up our message to win the approval of others. These guys were proclaiming the very thing that was bringing on their persecutions.

We never suppress the biblical message because someone might be offended.

The apostles’ preaching ministry included teaching as well as evangelism.

says that those who believed “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching.”

This was a well-fed but always hungry flock.

The Jerusalem church would have been a wonderful place of fellowship.

They did not follow any of the contemporary user-friendly marketing techniques,

but the fellowship was warm and real.

They lovingly met one another’s actual needs. And they had rich and ample teaching.

tells us, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

None of that was designed to attract unbelievers.

Nevertheless, new people kept coming, because the Lord kept adding to the church day by day those who were being saved (v. 47).

When God’s grace is coursing through a fellowship of believers, one of those marks is a powerful preaching of the gospel

that motivates believers, as they hear the gospel message about God’s grace in Christ a inspired a culture of self-less, self-giving in love ()

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Sacrificing and Serving...34 For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,

v34 happened because God’s grace was at work, and was moving those who owned land or houses to sell them.

That last little line in v35, “as any had need” let’s us know that the rate of contribution was also determined by the need.

The apostles distributed the funds to those who had needs.

Through that simple system, all the needs were met (v. 34).

That is essentially the same system we use today when we take an offering in the church.

The money goes into a common fund, where the leaders of the church have the responsibility for stewardship of it.

Submitted to shepherds...35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.

That is essentially the same system we use today when we take an offering in the church.

The money goes into a common fund, where the leaders of the church have the responsibility for stewardship of it.

Standard Setters...36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” ()

Luke chose to use a spiritual role model. This is the same Barnabas who accompanies Paul on his first missionary journey.

Barnabas was a Levite, a member of the priestly tribe of Israel.

It is unlikely that he, a priest, would have been a very wealthy man.

But somehow he had acquired a piece of property.

He sold it.

Then he brought the money to the apostles to be distributed.

He sold it. Then he brought the money to the apostles to be distributed. He didn’t ask for recognition.

He didn’t ask for recognition.

He didn’t try to control how the money was used.

He just turned it over.

What is clear from Acts chapter 4 is that Barnabas gave from love out of a pure heart—just for the blessedness of giving.

And we can assume that a whole lot of others in the Jerusalem church did the same thing.

In stepping back and watching Jesus disciple, He meets all their needs. They never had to look beyond Him for anything.

So His model (Christ-centered) of discipleship places a heavy emphasis on one person pouring his life into others.

In the church model (4:32-37) (church-centered) model of discipleship.

What Jesus was to His disciples, now the body member are to one another.

It’s still all centered on Christ. Watch this:

You may pray to Christ for encouragement, and a friend may call you on the phone and pray with you.

If I am sick, two members of your Care Group may bring you a hot meal.

Through His Spirit, God prompts members to minister to one another.