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The Imperfect Church – 31
The Generous Church
Introduction
In September 2013, a man in Brazil developed what doctors called "pathological generosity."
In an article published in the journal Neuroscience, doctors described the strange case of a 49-year-old man identified as "Mr.
A" who had a remarkable personality change after suffering a stroke.
His physicians said that after the stroke affected the subcortical regions of the man's brain, he suddenly had an "excessive and persistent" urge to help others.
He wouldn't stop giving money and gifts to people he barely knew.
According to his wife, he would buy candy, soda, and food for kids he met on the street.
Eventually, the issue became so troublesome that he quit his job as a manager at a large corporation.
Dr. Larry Goldstein, a neurologist at Duke University said, "Although the observation of personality change is not that unusual, this particular one is apparently novel."
When asked by researchers if he wanted to return to his job, Mr. A. claimed that he "saw death from close up" and he wanted to "be in high spirits" for the rest of his life.
Don’t we all!
Though this man’s generosity came from a tragic medical issue, he did come to understand that generosity created the reality of “high spirits” in his life.
He came to realize that giving made a difference in his life.
Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than receive.
We understand a bit of what Mr. A experienced, don’t we?
He had a major life-changing event, and that change resulted in generosity.
From the biblical perspective, we call that “conversion.”
When God does his saving work in someone’s life, one of the radical changes that occurs is a new commitment to, and participation in, a lifestyle of generosity.
We see this from the very beginning of the Church.
Let’s go to and remind ourselves of how the Church started and how it functions.
records the events surrounding the birth of the church.
It is the Day of Pentecost, around 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
120 believers are in a room together and the Holy Spirit falls.
They go outside where there is the sound of a mighty rushing wind.
A crowd gathers and the disciples start preaching.
Peter, the chief spokesman for the day, preaches the first recorded Gospel sermon in history.
- 32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.
33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand.
And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.
34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
35 until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”’
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
The sermon landed well.
V. 37 says that Peter’s words “pierced their hearts.”
So they believe that what Peter said was true, and they are convicted by it.
And they ask, “Brothers, what should we do?”
How do we respond to this Gospel?
- 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
And man, do they respond!
V. 41 says that 3,000 people were baptized into Christ that day, and thus the Church begins.
Immediately, the Bible records for us what the Church did, what they focused on, and how they lived out their new Christian life.
- 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.
And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
If you have been around Broadway for any time at all, then you know that we look to these verses to show us how to build a great church.
We don’t get to make up how the church functions…God has already shown us.
These verses show a pattern of living that is true of all Christians (slide of graphic)
1. DISCOVER GRACE
These people had just had a radical encounter with the truth of the Gospel.
They responded to it and discovered God’s grace can change any life.
They have crossed, as the NT says, from death to life.
From Hell to Heaven.
From hopeless to hopeful.
Grace changes people.
They immediately showed signs of that change.
2. TAKE STEPS
Notice that they didn’t sit and talk about their new faith.
They didn’t decide that they were now Christians, so let’s go back to the way life was before.
They immediately began growing in their new faith.
v. 42 – All the believers devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
From the start, the Church focused on growing in their faith.
They devoted themselves to the practices and environments that would help mature their new faith.
But these were not just personal, private practices they did at home.
Others were involved.
3. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
v. 44a, 46 – And all the believers met together in one place…they worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.
Their faith was not based on a “me and Jesus” philosophy.
They understood that if they were going to live out their faith, and properly grow in their faith, they had to do that with one another.
Part of God’s purpose for the Church is to bring diverse people together, showing the Gospel’s power to create unity.
But as they were spending time together, they realized that this change that God brought about in them was not for the purpose of them just hanging out together.
As they were with one another they were up close and personal with the real needs around them.
4. PURSUE GENEROSITY
v. 44-45 – And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
They knew that part of this change that God brought about in their life was to life their focus off of themselves and put it on others.
They saw needs and made some radical changes to meet them.
Notice that it doesn’t say they gave a bit out of their extra stuff to meet needs.
No, they gave up to be able to give.
They sold property and possessions to generate necessary funds.
After Warren Buffet gave a $26 billion gift to the Gates Foundation, he said that his gift has not changed his lifestyle at all.
He still goes to the movies and goes out to eat.
He said the true heroes were those who give gifts that require they can’t go to the movies or out to eat.
He acknowledged that sacrifice is the measure of generosity.
This practice of generosity was so ingrained in their lives that by chapter 4 in Acts, we find this description of the Church: - 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind.
And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
“No needy persons among them.”
That’s incredible!
When a person discovers grace, they next move is to begin taking steps to grow in that faith.
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