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Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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This morning we are picking back up in our study of the Book of Acts.

If you’re new to our church, it would be good for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”. What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Our goal, to better understand what the Bible is saying to us in our modern day lives.

That being the case, we are currently doing that through the NT book fo Acts. A book that was written by a first century Christian named Luke, who under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote it for mainly for two reasons:

First, to give a history and tell the story of the beginning days of the church. In other words, how the church was started and what the circumstances were that surrounded it.

And second, to highlight how Jesus designed and intended the church to function in order to accomplish the mission of taking the Gospel from our local communities to the rest of the world.

So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to www.mcf.life where you can listen to all of the messages leading up to today.

With that said, as we come back to our study today, we come on the heals of the first round of resistance and persecution the disciples of Jesus would face as a result of their faith. A resistance that Jesus promised would take place.

You may recall it all started in chapter 3 with the healing of a crippled man. A healing that resulted in the arrest of Peter and John by a Jewish religious group known as the sanhedrin. The same group that was responsible for the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus.

And as we learned, this group was upset with Peter and John for three primary reasons:

First, they were teaching the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In other words, they were proclaiming that Jesus was the promised savior and redeemer not only of Israel, but of mankind. And that it was only through Jesus’s name that a person could be made right with God. A teaching that wasn’t religiously, culturally, or politically correct.

Second, along with their teaching, the healing of the crippled man had resulted in the conversion of 5000 people to faith in Jesus that day. Meaning a revival had broken out which was brining disorder to the temple mount.

Third, because so many people were responding to the gospel, it had raised a concern with a group of religious leaders called the Sadducees. The Sadducees were a Jewish political group who wore a religious facade, who had partnered with the Roman government to keep the Jewish people quiet and submissive. And the kickback for the Sadducees was, as long as they maintained order among the people, Rome would provide them with power, influence, and resource.

And now with so many people responding to the gospel, and order disrupted, the Sadducees fear that Rome could get involved. And if that happens, they could potentially lose their power, influence, and position.

All that to say, the message of the gospel is starting to make waves, and it’s ticking some people off.

And as we’ve learned, not much has changed since then. Today the gospel continues to make waves, and it continues to tick people off. As Christians who are “All In” continue to spread the message of Jesus, a message that isn’t politically, culturally, religiously, or Hollywood correct.

In fact, just last week, a pastor was fired in California for taking a stand against the sexually immoral values of our culture. His stand ticked some people off, and it resulted in the loss of his job.

But the good news is, when we face resistance, it’s not a sign that we are losing the battle. It’s actually a sign of soon coming victory. Because the fact is, we don’t serve a defeated savior. We serve a victorious risen savior. And the only reason we are facing resistance is because the devil knows we’re a threat. And devil knows the more we are “All In” for Jesus, the more the kingdom of God will advance as we proclaim the gospel.

That being the case, we have to keep pushing forward trusting that God will help us in our time of need.

And as we saw last week, that’s exactly what happened for Peter and John. Because as Peter and John stood their ground on the truth of God’s Word, in this moment there was nothing this religious body could do to harm them because the evidence of the truth was too great. A crippled man had been healed, and there he stood.

And what was true for Peter and John, can be true for us as well. Because if we’re willing to stand on the truth of God’s Word, we can know with all confidence that God will equip us with His Spirit, and help us endure the trials to come.

So, with that as our backdrop, we are picking back up in chapter 4 today as Luke now moves to a less turbulent moment in the life of the church. A moment that gives us an interesting peek into the internal life and makings of the early church. A perspective that I believe will encourage and challenge us this morning.

And so, in order to set up where Luke is taking us, I’d like to begin by asking you to consider a scenario for your life.

Question: How many of you would be interested in having a group of friends, or begin a part of an organization, where you knew no matter what happened, or what you needed, that group would be there for you? Friends, that if necessary, would give you the shirt off of their back. Friends who would make sacrifices for you. How many of you would like to have friendships like that in your life?

I’d say we probably all would. I know I do. Believe it or not, that’s why television shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and Cheers have been so popular over the years.

They’re popular because they model what so many people are so desperately looking for. A group of friends that we know we can count on. A group of friends we know have our best interest in mind. A group of friends we know would do anything to help us.

So we watch these shows, and in the back of our mind we’re thinking, “I wish I had friends like that. I wish I had a place I could go like that and get counsel. I wish I had people in my life who cared for me to that degree.”

In fact, I think that’s why social media platforms are so popular. Because it’s a place people are trying to find belonging, acceptance, and friendships.

But the truth is, friendships like that are hard to come by. To be honest, it’s hard to find friends we know we can count on no matter what. Friendships that are genuine and lasting. In fact, I would say most people struggle believing friendships like that even exist.

But what if I told you this morning, friendships like that are possible. What if I told you this morning there is a place you could go where everybody knows your name. Where they’re always glad you came.

But what if I told you this morning, friendships like that aren’t a fantasy. What if I told you this morning there is a place you could go where everybody knows your name. Where they’re always glad you came.

What if I told you there’s a place where you can find genuine lasting friendships.

A place where your troubles become their concern.

A place where your challenges become their focus.

A place where you can know that regardless of what you are facing, there is a group of people who have your best interest in mind and would go out of their way to help you.

Let me ask you, would you be interested in a place like that?

I know I would. So, you might be wondering, “Pastor, where is this place? Because it almost sounds too good to be true.”

Believe it or not, the Bible describes this place, and it’s found in . And it’s not a television show. It’s not in a bar. And it’s not a some social media platform. Listen to how Luke describes this place as we pick back up in chapter 4:32:

But as we come back to today, that’s exactly what the early church appears to be advertising. A place where people can find genuine friendships and support they can count on, no matter what. Listen to how Luke describes it as we pick back up beginning i n verse 32:

Acts 4:32–37 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:32-

In this passage Luke says this place is the church as he describes a picture of the first century church. A picture of what I believe God intends the church to be.

A church where everybody is on the same page spiritually and relationally.

A church where everybody is on the same page. There is no gossip, bickering, or infighting in this church.

A church where everybody is welcome. Doesn’t matter where you came from, what your last name is, what social class you belong to, or what your background is.

A church where every need was met. A church where church members generously went out of their way to help each other. Sounds like an amazing church, right? Sounds almost to good to be true.

A church where every was welcome. Doesn’t matter where you came from, what A church where church members generously went out of their way to help each other. Sounds like an amazing church, right? Sounds almost to good to be true.

A church where everybody is welcome. Doesn’t matter where you came from, what your last name is, or what your background is.

A church where church members are generous and selfless, and go out of their way to help one another.

A church where church members are generous and go out of their way to help one another. Need help? You’ve come to the right place.

A church that almost sounds too good to be true.

But it is true. Because Luke says this is how the early church functioned. Luke says, this is what you could expect if you became a member at First Century Church.

Let me ask you something, “How many of you would like to attend a church like that? How many would like to be a part of a church where everybody was welcomed, cared for, taken care of, and loved no matter what?”

I think we’d all like that. In fact, that’s my desire for MCF. That we would continue to become a church where people are generous, people are cared for, people are loved, and needs are met.

And to be honest, I think we are on that path. I know I’m biased, but I haven’t been in to many churches like MCF where people are so welcoming, friendly, giving, and generous. But, like any church, I think we have a ways to go.

Now, the truth is,

So, a good question might be, “How did the early church achieve this? How did they become a church that was so relationally bonded.” A church where Luke says, “There was not a needy person among them”, because apparently, all the needs had been met. How do you become a church like that?

To be honest, I don’t think you become a church like that overnight, and I don’t think it's a step 1 do this and step 2 do that process. However, from this passage this morning I believe we can gain a greater understanding of what it means to become what I’m going to call a “Biblical Church Family”.

Because after all isn’t that what the church is supposed to be? A family? The apostle Paul puts it like this in :

Romans 12:5 ESV

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Paul says we are members of God’s house. Which makes us, “Family Members”.

And the fact is, family takes care of each other. Family makes sacrifices for one another. Family goes out of its way to meet each others needs.

So, if that’s the case, how does a church adopt a family mentality. How do we continue to grow more and more into a Biblical church family?

Thankfully our passage this morning gives us insight into how the early church accomplished this. And as I said, these really aren’t steps as much as they are principles for Christian living. Three principles specifically that Luke seems to highlight in this passage.

And so what I want to do this morning is walk back through this passage, identify these three principles, and hopefully help us get a better grasp on what it takes to grow as a Biblical Church Family.

And so to get us going, let me begin by giving you the first principle:

Principle #1 - A Biblical Church family consists of Christ followers, who are committed to one another, and hold earthly possessions loosely.

Going back to our passage, Luke writes:

Acts 4:32 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

What I want you to notice first, is that Luke begins by giving us some key insight into the family dynamics of First Century Church, which we’re going to refer to from this point on as FCC (First Century Church).

Luke says

First, Luke says FCC consisted of all who had believed. In other words, FCC was made up of Christ followers. People who had put their faith in Jesus. And because of what we learned last week, we know this number is around 5000 people.

Now, you might be wondering, “Why is this detail so important?” It’s important because it identifies who the church family is and what qualifies a person for family membership.

Number 1, it’s important because if you want to be a part of a church family, it begins with putting your faith in Jesus. In other words, while you can attend a church, you don’t really become a part of a church until you join the family. And the way you join the family isn’t through a membership class, but through faith in Jesus.

And what I want you to notice is in order to join the FCC family:

It’s not about being part of a certain denomination or church. At FCC there are no Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterian, Lutherans, Assembly of God, Church of Christ, or any other denomination.

Acts 4:32 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

It has nothing to do with your spiritual background or heritage.

And it’s not dependent on attending a membership class or going through a conformation class.

The fact of the matter is, if you want to be a part of the FCC family, all you have to do is put your faith in Jesus. That’s it. That’s what gets you in the family. That’s what qualifies you for family membership.

So, first and foremost, what makes people a part of this church family is their faith in Jesus.

Second, Luke says the believers were of one heart and soul. So, what does that mean?

What it means is because of their faith in Jesus, they were of one mind spiritually. In other words, they were all in and all on the same page when it came to faith in Jesus. Meaning, they all had the same mindset when it came to their faith. They all had the same beliefs. For these believers, Jesus was Lord and Jesus was the most important focus in their life. Everybody was that committed.

Third, Luke says they didn’t see their possessions as their own, and had everything in common. In other words, they didn’t live with a materialistic or capitalist mentality.

Now, when I say that, some might think, “So, Pastor, are saying the first Christians were socialists? Did they believe that everything should be equal and that peoples possessions should be regulated and distributed equally? Is that what’s going on here? Is that where you are going with this?”

And the answer to that is no. The first Christians were not socialists, but they weren’t capitalist either. The idea here is that they held onto their possessions loosely. In other words, these early Christians understood a few important realities about worldly possessions that we tend to forget in our American culture:

Number 1, earthly possessions are temporary and fleeting. In other words, nothing lasts forever. What we own from our vehicles, to our homes, to the clothes on our back are temporary and are in a constant state of decay. As a result, putting our hope in or basing our identity on possessions is foolish. Because eventually those possession rust, decay, fade, and end up buried in a land fill.

Number 2, you can’t take earthly possessions with you. The fact is, when you die, your possessions cease to be your possessions. Naked you came into the world, naked you will go out. So, to hold on to your possessions tightly is foolish, because at some point, death is going to yank them out of your hands anyway.

For example, ancient Egyptians buried their dead with possessions for the next life thinking they would need them there. But guess what, 1000’s of years later archeologist have found those possessions. They’re still there. Because you can’t take them with you.

Acts 4:

Number 3, your possessions were never yours to begin with. The fact you can’t take them with you proves that. The truth is, everything you own from your vehicle, to your home, to your clothes, to the cash in your bank account doesn’t really belong to you. It belongs to God. You’re just a steward of what’s His. The only reason you have them is because God has allowed you too.

Now, you might say, “But pastor I earned what I have. I worked hard.” That’s true. But you earned it with the gifts and abilities God gave you, which weren’t yours to begin with as well. Which again, proves, everything you have, including your very life is His.

The first Christians understood this. And as a result, they held onto their possessions loosely. They weren’t all wrapped up in materialism. They weren’t trying to keep up with the Jones’s.

At the end of the day they understood possessions are temporary, you can’t take them with you when you die, and they were never theirs to begin with. As a result, they held what they had loosely, willing to give or let it go if necessary or needed.

All that to say, their focus was on the eternal not the temporal. And if a church is going to be a Biblical church family, they have to shed the temporal mindset and embrace the eternal. We’re not here to build our own personal kingdoms. That should not be our number 1 goal in life. We’re here to advance the Kingdom of God and use the resources God has given us to do that.

They were fully committed Christ followers who held their possessions loosely.

But the truth is, when I say that, that rubs against what so many of us believe. Because automatically our guard goes up. Automatically we get possessive of our possessions. Automatically we assume people who are need are lazy who need to learn to help themselves. Automatically we attach the thinking of our American culture to our church.

Can I tell you right now, the church wasn’t based on American ideals and beliefs. The church was based on the Kingdom of God and a savior named Jesus.

Some people are lazy. Some people have made poor decisions that have put them in a bad financial position.

Now, some might say, “But pastor some people are lazy. Some people have made poor decisions that have put them in a bad financial position. Why should I have to be responsible to bail them out?”

Your right, some people are lazy, and some people have made really poor decisions, and some people are looking for a handout. But let me ask you something. Wasn’t that the state of all of us were in prior too Jesus? Isn’t it true we were all helpless and spiritually poor. Isn’t it true we were all destitute and in need. Isn’t it true we've all made some pretty poor decisions in our life. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:

But that doesn’t mean those with means shouldn’t help them. And it doesn’t mean that giving them money is the answer.

Maybe they need somebody to give them an opportunity by offering them a job.

Maybe they just need to be encouraged to keep pressing forward.

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

that was us. That was you. And the truth his, because of your sinful state, you were deserving of nothing. But that didn’t stop Jesus from helping us, did it? Paul puts it like this:

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

When we were in desperate need of help, Jesus extended his love to us and gave. He gave us His life. Jesus puts it like this:

John 15:13 ESV

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus provided for us when we didn’t deserve it.

The Apostle John writes this:

1 John 3:17 ESV

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

John says if Jesus is living in you, God’s love should motivate us to help other brothers and sisters in Christ. And if we have the means to help, but we’re not motivated to do that, then John says, “We have a problem Houston.”

I know it sounds radical, but it’s how they rolled at FCC.

Now, I will say this. If you’re the person that asks for help or needs help, then what you have to understand is help doesn’t always come in the form of a dollar. Sometimes help is getting some godly counsel. Sometimes help is learning how to live more responsible. Because the truth is, if somebody comes to me and they can’t pay their electric bill, typically the issue isn’t that they don’t make enough money to pay it. The issue is they don’t know how to budget. The issue is their spending $300 a month on cigarettes and booze. And my help is going to be a different form of help for them than it would be for the single mom who is barely making it. Do you see what I’m saying?

But the truth is, many churches and church members struggle to operate like this. Why? Probably because we’re way to attached to our possessions. Probably because we’re more concerned about our own well being rather than others. And please hear me, I’m not saying you shouldn’t take care of yourself.

But what I am saying is if all your concerned about is yourself, then I would have to question where you heart and faith is. Listen to how the Apostle John puts it:

1 John 3:17 ESV

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

John says, “Listen, if Jesus is living in you, God’s love should motivate you to help other brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need. And if we have the means to help, but you’re not motivated to do that, then John says, “We have a problem Houston.”

All I’m saying is, if you have the ability to help a fellow Christian in need, but you don’t, then according to John, you might have a heart issue.

Now, you might be wondering, “Ok pastor, I get what you’re saying. So what does this look like? How do I practically help other Christians in need?”

Two ways:

First, it begins with you trusting God with the tithe. It begins as you give God 10% of your income back to God through His church. Because the truth is, if we all did that, the church and those who attend it would have no needs. How do I know that? Because when you’re faithful to God, God is faithful back.

The truth is, if everybody was “All In” on tithing, we’d all be better off financially.

Now, someone might be thinking, “There he goes, talking about money again.” Here’s what I would say to that. Tithing isn’t about money. Tithing is about trust. It’s about you trusting that God can provide in a way you can’t. Because when you’re “All In” on tithing, you’re “All In” on trusting God financially. Tithing is you saying, “God, I believe you can do more with 90% of my income than I can do with 100%.

So, while money is involved, it’s not just about money. It’s about you trusting God.

Second, it continues as you meet needs as you see them. In other words, when you become aware of somebody’s need, with the means you have available, you take responsibility to help them.

Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about. I have a friend who attends a church in Kansas City. Over the past year his family has gone through some financial transitions and challenges with his job. But despite that, he’s been tithing and he’s been trusting God. Last week, somebody in their church walked up to them and said, “Hey, I know you guys are going through a tough time. So, in order to help your family get back on their feet, my wife and I want to pay your mortgage for the next six months.”

That’s pretty awesome, right? And what’s awesome about it is, nobody made them do it. Nobody twisted their arm. They just did it out of their love for this family by sharing what they had with someone who was in need.

All that to say, along with tithing, a great way to meet needs is to just be aware and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. And when prompted, to give or provide for someone in their time of need. Listen, if we all did that for each other, just like the early church, we would be a church where there is no need.

This leads us to the second principle for what it takes to be a Biblical Church Family:

They were “All In” for Jesus, and they proclaimed the Gospel boldly.

Principle #2 - A Biblical Church family consists of people who are “All In”.

Luke writes:

Acts 4:33 ESV

33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

I know some of you might be getting tired of me using the term “All In”. And what I would say to that is, “Get used to it, because I’m going to keep saying it.” Because like it or not, that’s what it takes to be a Biblical church family. In fact, that’s the primary purpose of the church family. To be All In and boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s why we exist.

And for churches who embrace the All In mentality, there are some spiritual benefits that come with it that churches who don’t will never experience.

Let me show you what I’m talking about. Notice what Luke says resulted from their All In commitment. Luke says “great grace was upon them.”

So, what does that mean. It means because FCC made living for Jesus and reaching for people for Jesus their #1 focus, the favor of God was upon them.

So, what’s the favor of God? Let me give you a definition.

Definition: The favor of God is unmerited divine favor, arising in the mind of God and bestowed on his people. And is often considered with regard to its beneficial effect.

In other words, it’s when God is really, really, really happy with you, and he shows his appreciation by blessing your life in ways you can’t.

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to have that kind of favor on my life, wouldn’t you? Because when God’s favor is upon you, the blessings come.

At FCC, the blessing of God was upon them all. Divine favor extended in and through their lives. Favor that affected their finances, their marriages, their kids, and their relationship with other Christians. Grace that protected them from the attack of the enemy. Grace that brought peace in the midst of conflict.

What did that Divine favor look like?

Think of it like this.

That’s one of the reasons being All In is so important. Because the more All In we are, the greater the favor of God upon us. And when the favor of God is upon us, life becomes easier. Life becomes less hectic. God’s grace calms the storm around us and brings peace into our situation.

Simply put, the more All In we are, the more the grace of God will be upon us. The more peace we will have. The more resources we will have. The more confidence we’ll have. The more joy we will have. And the list goes on.

To be honest, this building is a demonstration of God’s grace. Because there is no way we could have built this on our own. God’s grace has allowed us to accomplish this. He has provided in ways we couldn’t.

And God’s not done. I mean imagine what would happen at MCF if everyone who attended was All In. And when I say All In, I’m talking about everybody being fully devoted to following Jesus. Fully devoted to making Him Lord of your life. Fully devoted to leading people to Jesus. Fully devoted to trusting God financially. Fully devoted in every aspect of your life. Imagine the grace that would be upon our church. Imagine what God might do.

If you want to know what that would look like, look at . Look at First Century Church. They were fully devoted. And as a result, they were turning their community upside down. 5000 people got saved in one day. They were a church where there were no needs, nobody went without. They were a power house for Jesus. They were a church operating in and under the favor of God.

A biblical church family is “All In”. A biblical church family boldly declares the gospel and lives in the favor and grace of God.

You just need to know, I’m not going to stop talking about being “All In” or encouraging you to be “All In”. Because I know the benefits. I know the more we are All In at MCF, the greater the impact we will have, and the greater the blessing we will experience. And I want that for our church family. I want that for you. I want you to experience the grace of God in your life. But for that to happen we have to be “All In”.

This leads us to a final principle of a Biblical church family:

They cared about the needs of others, and they gave sacrificially.

Principle #3: A Biblical church family cares about the needs of its own, and they gave sacrificially.

Luke writes:

Acts 4:34–35 ESV

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Luke says because of God’s grace, because of their view of possessions, the Christians at FCC didn’t mind sharing and helping people in need. In fact, they did it sacrificially. Luke says some were even selling land and houses and were donating it to the church so that people who had needs could be taken care of.

‘acts 4:34-35

Now, when I say that, some of you might be thinking, “Well good for them pastor. But that’s pretty extreme and not very practical. I hope your not suggesting that I go sell my house or a piece of land and give the money to the church.”

Now, a good question would be, “What does that mean and look like in the 21st century church?” To be honest, it should look the same way. All churches, including our church, should be a place where people are fully committed to Jesus and there are no needs.

No, that’s not what I’m suggesting.

I’m just telling you what some Christians at FCC felt motivated to do when they saw some of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ struggling.

I’m just telling you what they did when they saw a single mom working 3 jobs trying to support her kids.

I’m just telling you what their response was when the guy they sit next to in church every week lost his job and doesn’t know how he’s going to feed his family.

Listen, I’m just telling you what some Christians at FCC did when they saw people they loved struggling or suffering. That’s all I’m saying.

Because isn’t that what family does? Isn’t that what I do for my brother when he’s going through a tough time. Isn’t that what I do for a sister when she’s struggling to make it. In that moment I help them, right? Maybe even make a sacrifice, right?

But the truth is, when I say that, that rubs against what so many of us believe. Because automatically our guard goes up. Automatically we get possessive of our possessions. Automatically we assume people who are need are lazy and need to learn to help themselves. We assume their just looking for a handout. Automatically we attach the thinking of our American culture to the church.

And I get that. But guess what, the church wasn’t based on American ideals and beliefs. The church was based on the Kingdom of God and a savior named Jesus.

And in God’s kingdom, God provides help for people in need, regardless of how they got there.

Think of it like this. Before you met Jesus what was your life like? Was it empty? Were you living in the consequences of poor decisions? Were you helpless and spiritually poor? Were you hopeless and wandering without direction? You were, right? The Apostle Paul puts it like this:

Your right, some people are lazy, and some people have made really poor decisions, and some people are looking for a handout. But let me ask you something. Wasn’t that the state of all of us prior too Jesus? Isn’t it true we were all helpless and spiritually poor. Isn’t it true we were all destitute and in need. Isn’t it true we've all made some pretty poor decisions in our life. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

You see, that was us. That was you. And the truth his, because of your sinful state, because of your poor choices, because of your spiritual laziness, you were deserving of nothing. But that didn’t stop Jesus from helping us, did it? Paul puts it like this:

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul says before we even said sorry, Christ died for us. When we were in desperate need of help, Jesus extended his love to us and gave. He gave us His life. Jesus puts it like this:

John 15:13 ESV

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Here’s the deal. If we’re going to model the Kingdom of God and be a Biblical church family, then we have to quit worrying about why somebody is in need, and focus on helping them get out of need. That’s what Jesus did for us. Jesus didn’t focus on all the bad decisions we made. No. What he focused on and gave his life for was the solution.

So, what does that mean for us when it comes to helping people in need? It means I’d rather be a Christian that focuses on the solution

Now, I will say this. If you’re the person that asks for help or needs help, then what you have to understand is help doesn’t always come in the form of a dollar. Sometimes help is getting some godly counsel. Sometimes help is learning how to live more responsible. Because the truth is, if somebody comes to me and they can’t pay their electric bill, typically the issue isn’t that they don’t make enough money to pay it. The issue is they don’t know how to budget. The issue is their spending $300 a month on some kind of substance abuse. And my help is going to be a different form of help for them than it would be for the single mom who is barely making it. Do you see what I’m saying?

But what I am saying is if all your concerned about is yourself, then I would have to question if you’ve really experienced the forgiveness that Jesus offers. Listen to how the Apostle John puts it:

1 John 3:17 ESV

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

John says, “Listen, if it doesn’t bother you to see a fellow brother or sister in Christ in need, and you have the means to help them, but don’t, then there’s something wrong. In fact, John says if you do that, then he’s not sure God’s love is even in you. Because if Jesus is living in you, then the same compassion that Jesus had for you. The same love Jesus extended to you, should now be demonstrated as you pass it on to others.

All I’m saying is, if you have the ability to help a fellow Christian in need, but you don’t, then according to John, you might have a serious heart issue.

Now, you might be wondering, “Ok pastor, I get what you’re saying. So what does this look like? How do I practically help other Christians in need?”

I’m glad you asked. Two ways:

First, it begins with you trusting God with the tithe. It begins as you give God 10% of your income back to God through His church.

Compare that to what the Christians at FCC were doing. They weren’t just brining the tithe, they were brining all the proceeds of a sale to the church. For example, if they sold a field for $100,000, they didn’t just put $10,000 in the offering bucket, they put the entire amount. How do I know that? Because Luke tells us that. Listen to the example Luke gives:

Acts 4:36–37 ESV

36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Check that out. That’s amazing, right? And it’s amazing because it wasn’t that God was requiring that. All God asks for is the tithe, 10%. But this Christian at FCC went above and beyond that. He gave 100% of the sale.

And it wasn’t that God was requiring that. All God asks for is the tithe, 10%. But the Christians at FCC went above and beyond that.

So, I’m not asking you to go out and sell something. Here’s what I’m going to ask you to consider. How about you to start with the tithe. Start with what God does require. Start by giving God 10% of your wealth. Of your income. And see how God responds. See if he pours his grace upon you. Because I promise you He will. In fact, concerning the tithe, it’s the only command in scripture that God challenges us to test Him on. Listen to what God says about this in Malachi.

Malachi 3:10 ESV

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

God asks us to give so there can be resource in His house for His people. And He promises blessing for those who are obedient to that command.

And here’s the deal, if we all did that, the church and those who attend it would have no needs. How do I know that? Because when you’re faithful to God, God is faithful back.

The truth is, if everybody was “All In” on tithing, we’d all be better off financially.

So, while money is involved, it’s just an object of trust. An object that most of us have put to much trust in.

So, if we want to model the First century church, a good place to start would be the tithe.

And here’s the deal, once you start tithing, you’ll bec

Second, along with tithing, it continues as you meet needs as you see them. In other words, when you become aware of somebody’s need, and you have the means to help them, instead of coming to me, take care of the need.

Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about. I have a friend who attends a church in Kansas City. Over the past year his family has gone through some financial transitions and challenges with his job. But despite that, he has continued to tithe and trust God. Last week, somebody in their church walked up to them and said, “Hey, I know you guys are going through a tough time. So, my wife and I have been talking, and we want to pay your mortgage for the next six months as way to help you guys move forward.”

That’s pretty awesome, right? And what’s awesome about it is, nobody made them do it. Nobody twisted their arm. The pastor didn’t tell them to. They did it because they became aware of the need, and out of their love for this family they offered some of their surplus.

So, those are the principles. That’s how a Biblical Church family functions.

They are a family committed to Jesus, they are committed to one another, and they are willing to make financial sacrifices for the sake of fellow family members.

Can you imagine what it would be like if all churches were like that? Because that’s attractive, right? That’s something people want to be a part of. That’s something the world desperately needs.

Now imagine if we were a church like that. Imagine the impact we would have in this community. Imagine the opportunities God would give us. Imagine the grace that would be upon us. Imagine the number of people who would be saved and added to our family.

Imagine what would happen, if like the Christians at FCC, the Christians at MCF started living with this kind of commitment.

Imagine what would happen if everybody was “All In”. If everybody was fully committed to live for Jesus. If everybody was fully committed to love others. If everybody was fully committed to tithe. If everybody was fully committed to make sacrifices for the good of others. Imagine what our church and community might become.

So, how do we get there? How do we grow in this? Well, like anything, it starts with a decision. It starts with each of us deciding to be All in or not. And the truth is, I can’t make that decision for you. It’s a decision you have to make.

But I will say this, it’s not a decision that you can fake. Next week we’re going to find out what happens to people who claim to be all in and are not. Because the fact is, God takes this seriously. This isn’t a game. The eternal destiny of lives is at stake.

But for now, and as we close this morning, I want to leave you with a few questions to consider. Questions you and I need to know the answer to if you want to model the First Century Church.

But when a church isn’t all in, it’s a church following a death path. As we will see next week.

And the truth is, the more of us that make that decision. The closer we’ll be to becoming that kind of church.

And

Question 1 - Are you a Christian? In other words, have you given your life fully to Jesus? Have you accepted Him as Lord. Have you put your hope in his death and sacrifice for your sins? That’s where it starts. That’s how you are born into the family. In fact, Jesus calls it being born again. Jesus puts it like this:

John 3:3 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

If you want to be in God’s family, it starts with putting your faith and hope in Jesus.

Question 2 - If you are a Christian, do you hold things loosely, or do you hold on tightly. In other words, are you living life with a temporal or eternal mindset. Are you more concerned with what you possess in this life or what you are building for the life to come?

For example, if I were to tell you this morning about a family in need. A family who needs some financial support. What would be the first thing that goes through your mind. Would it be, “Well, I hope they get if figured out.” Or would it be, “Pastor, how can I help? How much do you need?”

The Apostle James puts it like this:

James 2:14–16 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

In this passage James challenges Christians who say they’re All In, but their works fail to demonstrate it. James says, “What good is that?” In fact, he even questions if you have faith because you won’t help a brother or sister in need.

How tightly are you holding onto this life? What’s your faith really in? If He asked you too, are you willing to give what God has given you to others. That’s the question. That’s the kind of family members God wants in His family.

Question 3 - If you’re a Christian, are you willing to give sacrificially. Are you willing to tithe? Are you willing to meet a need when you see it. How far would you go to help a brother or sister in need? Would you pay their mortgage for 6 months if God asked you to. What kind of sacrifice would you be willing to make?

The fact is, we serve a God of sacrifice. A God who have up His son. A Son who gave up His life.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The question is, are you willing to make a sacrifice? Are you willing to give something up for the good of someone else?

Listen, I know these are tough questions. But it’s what makes the church so unique. Because unlike socialism or capitalism, Christianity challenges us to live for others not ourselves, and not because somebody is making us, but because we want to. Because we want to model for the world the kind of love that Jesus extended to us.

The truth is, our answers to these questions will largely determine what kind of church we will become.