Leaving Our Money

Series Review

Thrift store - old stuff; someone else’s old stuff; rethink and buy back?

giving something you treasure; offer something that cost us nothing?

hard to take on the mission w/o getting rid of other activities

hard to give w/o changing desires (not just $)

Scripture info - not socialism

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

e.g. Nicaragua bible study; quickly dismissed socialism; white middle class man

e.g. communal living; raw foods diet - compliance an issue, communal living; accountability

other ways of communal living, transferrable principles

1. Be ready to share anything.

sacred objects?; part with everything but…; no savings to protect (faith)

transferring ownership; not just considering ourselves; changing priorities; radically different

pastor took out 2nd mortgage???

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:34 NIV

that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

Luke 12:33 NIV

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

hard teaching; would be disciple left sadly; nervous laughter

difference between telling and teaching; describing and prescribing

a tough story to apply today

relief - had me worried

not off the hook; invest in the eternal; invest in the kingdom;

discipleship is not mainstream; radical testimony that does not reflect the world; more than donations: sharing and caring; imagine how they stood out to the world; poverty was assumed and allowed; the earliest Christian community would not accept it

transferrable principle: get rid of the junk; free yourself of unnecessary expenses so you can give more;

2. Giving is not a task, it is a sign of God’s grace.

Acts 4:33 NIV

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

How do we know God is at work in our lives? Our generosity.

God does not work in our lives because we are generous. God works in our lives so we can be generous.

God does not work in our lives because we are good parents - we are good parents because of God’s grace;

Christ centered, resurrection centered. Budgets, fundraising, spending should be Christ centered. Period.

result of God’s grace “powerfully at work”

unity - single purpose, mission

3. Giving should prioritize the poor.

safe nights great participation (cots, food, fellowship) a week of engagement with poverty; I see them at the library, movie theatre, it doesn’t end, our efforts shouldn’t either

realign the budget; personal and church;

purpose of generosity - poverty is not God’s plan; doesn’t eliminate poverty, but the common life, generosity is an example to the world

purpose of generosity - poverty is not God’s plan

Acts 4:34 NIV

that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

from

Deuteronomy 15:4 NIV

However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,

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Deuteronomy 15:11 NIV

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

Series Thrift store - rationale, motivation Getting rid of surplus Rid of things that are bad

Reasons to keep -  mother in law; memories; compliment;

Challenge: Keep because we don’t need; contribute good?

Bible Commune? Socialism? Nicaragua How do we do this? Bible say? Live with you? Not just live; share money, no Individual ownership What is the Bible really meant this? Jesus

Teach v. Tell - apply - YES

Live with you? Raw foods - why commune? Compliance; Shared way, accountability

Sermon - Communal living - Raw veggies; compliance; attitudes; hard to comply

3 attitudes: leave old attitudes and actions pertaining to giving; 1. Be ready to share anything anytime Ministry; new and existing; need; Communal living today? Sharing our lives; study; groups, here

2. Sign of God’s grace God blesses our giving; yes, but Makes that first step possible - able to release our reliance, confidence (2008) Anything: not our generosity;

3. Focus on poor Huge marketplace of good causes; which one? Acts? Needs in front of you; immediate; poverty a barrier to discipleship Real tragedy of poverty is inability to give Ministry - prioritize the poor; budget: prioritize the poor Invisible: where do we go? Not there. E.g. Narrow view of ministry? Isn’t this a good ministry? Bible presents a narrow view of church ministry; Ignore the poor ignore dicipleship

Closing: how ancient church’s communal living and communal living to you and me: 1. Be eager to share; look for opportunities; realize ownership 2. God’s grace allows (our acts of generosity; don’t pat on the back, thank God for his grace 3. Poor - measurement of discipleship - need to always carry measurement stick