Giving to others as Christ has given to us
Notes
Transcript
Context
Context
Who wrote acts? Luke
a. Luke recorded these aspects of the church because he found them honorable.
b. Luke was the only writer who told the parables of...
the good samaritan
the rich fool
the great banquet
the dishonest manager
the rich man and Lazarus
Who were they writing to? Theophilus
Why did they write it? To record the deeds of the church so that Theophilus would have a foundation to believe the gospel.
Notes
Notes
Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified!”
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “What should we do, men and brothers?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he solemnly urged and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.
And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers. And fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were being performed by the apostles. And all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common. And they began selling their possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need. And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved.
v40 “When they withdrew from the untoward generation, they did not turn hermits, but were very intimate with one another, and took all occasions to meet; wherever you saw one disciple, you would see more, like birds of a feather. See how these Christians love one another. They were concerned for one another, sympathized with one another, and heartily espoused one another’s interests.”
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2071). Peabody: Hendrickson.
v42 devoted to the teaching of the apostles'
fellowship/breaking of bread: it is more than meeting together but it is at LEAST meeting together. It could have been a daily celebration of communion before they ate together; either way, they lived with one another in a drastic way. In part a consequence of their Jewish heritage, “ The laws governing worship (sacrifice, purification, admission to the Temple, and the like) were similar to the religious laws of other people in the ancient world. Judaism was different because in most other cultures divine law covered only such topics, but in Judaism it regulated not only worship but also daily life and made every aspect of life a matter of divine concern.”
prayers: corporate
v43 “fear”? Awe at the works God was doing through the apostles.
had everything in common “They had all things common, according to the law of friendship; one wanted not what another had; for he might have it for the asking.”
that is, their worldly goods, their possessions and estates; no man called any thing peculiarly his own; and whatever he had, his brother was welcome to, and might as freely take, and use it, as if it was his own.
Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 163). London: Mathews and Leigh.
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2071). Peabody: Hendrickson.
BKBC “By the 4th century, the Christians had the largest social care network in the Roman empire.”
v45 “they began selling their possessions and property and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need.”
^ You might want to say, “yeah, but that was a different time. That is what they did but it isn’t a commandment.” excuses, etc.
^Luke didn’t record this as a historical account so that we could ignore it. Luke records it because it is praiseworthy. Do we have to provide for one another and meet daily to break bread and worship God? No! (Acts 5:4 ) But it would be awesome if we did.
^When did being Christian turn into, do as little as possible?
v46 every day, devoting themselves to meeting… breaking bread from house to house.
Not only meeting in temples but “house to house” literally “at home” in contrast to temple-worship.
One purpose, one accord, one soul.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Power from Heaven! (Acts 2)
The Christians you meet in the Book of Acts were not content to meet once a week for “services as usual.” They met daily (Acts 2:46), cared daily (Acts 6:1), won souls daily (Acts 2:47), searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and increased in number daily (Acts 16:5). Their Christian faith was a day-to-day reality, not a once-a-week routine. Why? Because the risen Christ was a living reality to them, and His resurrection power was at work in their lives through the Spirit.
End sermon with a quote from John Chrysostom
“This was an angelic commonwealth, not to call anything of theirs their own. Forthwith the root of evils was cut out. By what they did, they showed what they had heard.”
John Chrysostom. (1889). Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Acts of the Apostles. In P. Schaff (Ed.), J. Walker, J. Sheppard, H. Browne, & G. B. Stevens (Trans.), Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistle to the Romans (Vol. 11, p. 47). New York: Christian Literature Company. 400AD
Sermon: Giving to others as Christ has given to us
Sermon: Giving to others as Christ has given to us
Pray
Read Acts 2:36-47
Thought of the day: What would it look like if you gave others as Christ has given you?
Context
Jesus had been crucified and ascended into heaven. The people who called for his crucifixion just heard peter preach and were “cut to the heart”.
Read 36-41
Repent and be baptized
Save yourselves from this generation
“When they withdrew from the vile generation they didn’t become hermits but became intimate with one another and took every occasion to meet. Where you saw one disciple, you would see more, like birds of a feather.”
Read 42
3 devotions
Teaching
43; Jesus did not just command the disciples to make converts Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you”
Fellowship/breaking of bread - It may have been more than sharing a meal, maybe they were doing communion, either way it was at least meeting together to share a meal.
44; 3000 people instantly began living in a family community, why? how? Generosity compared to hospitality. Vulnerability.
1. Partly a consequence of their Jewish heritage. Community focused religion that made every aspect of life a matter of divine concern.
2. The church as a united body was paramount to the apostle’s message. Hospitality, inviting the church to fellowship in your home, was how that happened.
a. read 1 Timothy 3:1-5 Hospitality
3. Moved beyond inviting people over for Sunday dinner, although again it is at least that. They Had all things in common. How did that happen?
45; They sold their possessions and belongings and distributed the proceeds to all.
One commentary, “They had all things in common, according to the law of friendship; one wanted not what another had; for he might have it for the asking.”
Another, “Their worldly goods, their possessions and estates; no man called anything his own’ and whatever he had, his brother was welcome to and might freely take and use it as if it was his own.”
By the 4th century Christians had the largest social care network in the entire Roman empire.
^You might want to say, “Yeah but that was a different time.” “they thought Christ was coming back any day” “They figured they were going to lose everything anyway”
That’s not what the scripture says
46-47; they gave out of glad generous hearts. They gave because they were one.
^One might also say, well this is a story about what happened. It isn’t a command.
Why do you think Luke recorded this but to acknowledge how great it was.
But that was Luke. He was very concerned with the way Christians spent their material things.
Luke was the only writer to record the parable of...
the good samaritan
the rich fool
the great banquet
the dishonest manager
and the rich man an lazarus
Do we have to provide for one another and meet daily to break bread and worship God? No! (Acts 5:4) But wouldn’t it be awesome if we did?
46 this is not just temple worship. This is inviting people into their homes. Not just cookout/block party/3rd Sunday.
^ you might also say, my home is too small, my home is to messy, I can’t cook. That’s ok, that is the exact reason inviting people into your home is so important. It’s easy to put on a face. Be vulnerable with your dirty house let people in.
Peter offered forgiveness to the men who crucified Christ. Then he taught them to be a family. They devoted themselves to being together every day. They were of one purpose, one accord, one soul. This supernatural unity is what Christ prayed for His church all you have to do is invite someone into your home as God has invited you into His.
End with a quote from John Chrysostom, a early church father
“This was an angelic common wealth, not to call anything of their their own. By this the root of all types of evils were cut out. By what they did, they showed what they had heard”