Two Keys of True Belief

June 26th 2022

Series: The Book of Acts

Sermon Title: Two Keys of True Belief

Topic: Journey through the book of Acts.

Key Passages: Acts 4: 32 - 37

Sermon Blurb: Today we will look at a passage of Scripture that shows two keys of TRUE belief in Jesus. This message will help you evaluate how close you are really walking with Jesus.

Holy Spirit truth nugget:

Sermon:

BEFORE worship…..

Church Camping Trip Recap & Pics

Teen Mission Trip Recap & Pics

Well, hello everyone!

Church-wide speech…

Our staff has been looking forward to this day for a while!

Last year we decided to do a “One Family” celebration where we brought our Grace Campus and Ebenezer Campus church families all together and celebrated under one tent.

And it was an AMAZING event!

We were blown away when over 1,000 people attended that Sunday One Family event because for our church back then that was not normal and a LOT of people!

To keep it in perspective before that even only 3 times that year we got to 1,000 people.

Well…fast forward to the rest of 2021 and we just exploded with growth and normal became 1000+

And so as we thought about this year and this event….we said let’s dream big!

Let’s plan and prepare for double last year.

So Pastor Bob worked out us being here today at the Field House at Hope College….which makes me look around and say……

WOW….God is SOO GOOD!

WOW….God can do more than we could ever think as or imagine!

Can we take a second and just praise God!!!!!

PAUSE

If this is your first time coming to a Family Church service or event….

We are SO glad you are here!

I hope you enjoyed a great meal on us already.

I hope you enjoyed some fun games already!

I hope you met some new friends already!

We want to take some time today to not only have fun.

Not only share a meal.

Not only make new friends.

But to more importantly worship Jesus our Lord and Savior.

So, Pastor Matt and the team is going to lead us in worship and then I will come back up and share a brief message today.

WORSHIP SET

Thank you worship team!

Now I know some of you are already dreaming about second lunch.

I know some of you kids REALLY want to get back to the bounce houses and mechanical bull.

So I promise….I won’t preach a long message.

PAUSE

Now if you are new or newer to Family Church let me explain how we approach messages.

We are a church that really believes in the word of God, the Bible.

What we do as a church, week in and week out, is we bring our Bibles to church.

We open our Bibles.

We read our Bibles.

We study our Bibles.

And we ask God….how can we apply this to our lives today.

And so we will simply do that today.

PAUSE

We are in the book of Acts as a church so if you brought you Bible today open it up Acts chapter 4.

If you do not have your Bible with you I would encourage you to download our FamilyChurch.App.

There you can find the sermon notes, a free Bible and so much more.

PAUSE

Today, we pick back up where we left off in the Book of Acts.

If you are new, or newer, to Family Church we are on a journey walking through the book of Acts…

Let me share a few things to catch you up if you are new or newer today.

The book of Acts is all about the early church that was born right after Jesus’ resurrection and his return back to heaven.

Before where we pick up in the Bible today.

Two of the church leaders, Peter and John were preaching and 2,000 people heard their message and choose to change their lives and follow Jesus.

The leaders of the Jewish faith did NOT like that all these Jewish people were becoming followers of Jesus.

So, they had Peter and John arrested.

They tried to discredit Peter and John but could not.

They told Peter and John to stop talking about Jesus and they said NOPE not going to happen.

And then they release them.

Then we wrapped things up last week with Peter and John going back to their friends SUPER excited that they were being persecuted for their faith AND told everyone…..

KEEP speaking about Jesus boldly!

Don’t worry about being arrested!

Don’t worry about being persecuted!

KEEP going!!!

And we know God was directing that sentiment because in verse 31 it says then God filled them ALL with His Spirit.

PAUSE

Family Church there are times when we need to stand up for what is right and speak the truth even when our culture vilifies us.

And we need to seek God’s will when that is.

But we cannot be afraid to speak the truth.

But in the midst of speaking truth, we CAN NOT forget the goal of speaking truth…..

It is NOT to condemn people!

It is NOT to make people think our way!

It is NOT to get people to politically agree with us!

It IS to get people to come to Jesus.

We cannot get so wrapped up in our side of the fight that we FIGHT instead of using the issue to try to lead people to Jesus….like we see them doing in the Bible….

PAUSE

Let’s read this passage and then I will circle back and break it down and show you how it applies to our lives today.

So, let’s pick up in verse 32….

32 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. 33 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

34 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 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

You can stop reading there for today.

These verses shake up a lot of people and confuse people.

But I love these verses…because this passage describes our church and I will explain why as we walk through it.

PAUSE

If you are taking notes today….in this passage, we really see two effects of TRUE belief in Jesus.

Let me show you…go back to verse 32….

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind.

Notice the third word.

Believers.

Not followers.

Not Christians.

Not church attenders.

BELIEVERS.

This is a key!

Believing in Jesus as Savior and Lord, trusting him for all you need, being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus….that is a key!!!

That is the root of what's happening in this story.

Everything good comes from that root….belief in Jesus!

Without belief in Jesus….all the rest of what we are going to read today will sound JUST CRAZY!!!!

PAUSE

Now this authentic belief in Jesus has two effects.. let’s keep reading…

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind.

Stop there again….

Do you see the first effect???

Write this down.

True belief in Jesus aligns our heart's relationship with other believers!

Repeat

When you become united to Jesus by faith then you become united to other believers by Jesus!

Let me share how our church lives this out!

I cannot tell you how many people have come to Family Church and said…..

Family Church is the most welcoming church I have ever been to.

It is like from the first time I walked through the doors I felt like I was at home.

So many people have told me that they have never been involved in a church like they are now.

And they find SO MUCH JOY in serving!

Their teenagers are finally wanting to serve!

And it is because of this!

When TRUE believers come together…..something special happens!

All of a sudden, we notice we have one heart!

All of a sudden, we notice we have one mind!

All of a sudden, we are all striving for the same thing….which is to build Jesus Kingdom NOT ours!

This is why we as a church CHOOSE not to fight about things like worship style!

Yes…we all have our preference…but that takes a back seat to winning people for Jesus!

This is why there is SO MUCH JOY at our church!

Because we are all on the same page….

Jesus page!

Which is why we LOVE to go to church weekly!

Which is why we LOVE to get to church early!

Which is why we LOVE to stay after service and talk!

Which is why we LOVE events like this!

Which is why we have the highest volunteerism numbers of any church in West Michigan!

Because we are living our Scripture!!!!

Which is why I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!

PAUSE

And this leads to the second effect….let’s keep reading….

No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Do you see the second effect of trusting in Jesus church?

1st True belief in Jesus aligns our heart's relationship with other believers!

2nd….write this down….

True belief in Jesus leads to radical generosity.

Repeat

The heart is loosened in its relationship to things.

Faith in Jesus creates a bond of love to people, and cuts the bond of love to things.

And I know that is so OPPOSITE of what we learn in culture.

PAUSE

But see look at culture…… where there is a lack of unity it leads to the opposite place….a place where everyone is looking out for #1

A place where you only care about yourself.

A place where everyone is struggling for power.

A place where everyone is vying for a position….

A place that so many of us in this room know all too well…. And we don’t know how to get out of that trap…..

PAUSE

Does anyone want to know how to get out of the trap of always wanting MORE????

Anyone???

You get out by stepping out of the contest….

You overcome it by being radically generous…..

PAUSE

I can tell you today….if you go into work this week.

If you go back to school this week…..and you are RADICALLY generous….

I promise you it will change you…..

It will change your relationships

It will change how people approach you

It will change everything…..

And how do I know that? Because we are about to see it in our Bibles, and I have seen it happen in my personal life and our church….

I mean look at our church!

Our church demonstrates RADICAL generosity ALL the time!

That is why we give away the BEST study Bible money can buy to ANYONE who wants one EVERY week!

We invest tens of thousands of dollars in Bibles we give away to adults, teens, and kids!

That is why we give away fresh baked cookies, donuts, coffee, lattes, espresso, tea, lemonade, pizza and SO MUCH more EVERY week!

That is why we put on events like this and charge NOTHING!

That is why we provide amazing meals like you just had and don’t even ask for a donation!

How many of you have ever experienced a church that does all that?

PAUSE

Why???? Because we are a church that LIVES out the Word of God!

Because we are a church that wants to help visibly show you how to live out the Word of God!!!

And the ONLY reason we can do that is because so many of you also do what we are about to read!

Again….why I LOVE you all so much!!!!!

Verse 33

33 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 34 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

35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

I love the Bible!

I love how all of you live out the Bible today and because of you so many lives are being transformed for Jesus!

Because you all are living out verse 33 and testifying about Jesus!

Because all of you are inviting your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to church with you!

Because all of you are sharing the EXTRA you have!

Let me be clear this is not talking about Socialism!

This is not TAKE everything from everyone and equally distribute.

NO!!!!!

NO….look at verse 34….they were NO needy because from TIME TO TIME…those who had MORE than enough….sold some of their EXTRA to HELP those in need!

That is NOT socialism that is radical generosity!

That makes NO sense to anyone who does NOT believe in Jesus.

Why would I sell something I have….

Why would I give away part of my wealth for someone else?

Because our world is all about us having more!

PAUSE

But Jesus is all about us using the resources Jesus gave us to lead MORE people to Jesus!

SO it changes how we view everything we have!

Now it is NOT ours….it is Jesus!

And we are just a steward for some number of years and use those things God trusts us with to help as many people as possible come to know Jesus!!!!

Do you see the difference church????

PAUSE

We gave away almost ¾ of a million dollars as a church last year alone because all of us live this out together here at Family Church.

I love you guys!!!!

I love how we live our scripture together!

PAUSE

I love the fact that I can come to God with any problem I have and dive into the Bible and find peace, freedom, and help.

And today that is what some of you need.

You need peace.

You need freedom.

You need help.

And if that is what you need today…..it comes from one place and one place alone…..

A REAL relationship with Jesus Christ.

It does not come from religion.

It does not come from Church.

It does not come from giving.

It does not come from serving.

It comes from a REAL relationship with Jesus….and if you need that we are going to pray in just a moment and ask Jesus to come into your life…..

Life Application: Examine your life this week. Do you feel aligned with other believers? Would anyone call you radically generous? Discuss with someone you can be open with.

Let’s pray and then go have so more fun!!!!

Let’s Pray…..