DEVELOPING A GENEROUS SPIRIT: SHARING!
ACTS 4:32-5:14
SEPTEMBER 28, 2003
INTRODUCTION: The Twenty and The One:
There was this $50 dollar bill and a $1 dollar bill on the conveyor belt at the downtown Federal Reserve Building. As they were lying there side by side the $1 dollar bill said
to the $50 dollar bill, "Hey mannnn, where have you been. I haven’t seen you in a long time ?" The $50 dollar bill replied, "Man I have been having a ball! I been traveling to distant countries, going to the finest restaurants, to the biggest and best casinos, numerous
boutiques, the mall uptown, the mall downtown, the mall across town and even a mall that I just newly built. "In fact, just this week I’ve been to Europe, a professional NBA game, Rodeo Drive, the all-day retreat spa, the top-notch hair salon and the new casino! I have done it all!" After describing his great travels, the $50 dollar bill asked the $1 dollar bill, "What about you? Where have you been?" The $1 dollar replied, "Well, I’ve been to the Baptist church, the Methodist church, the Presbyterian church, the Episcopalian church, the Church of God in Christ, the Catholic church, the church of the Latter Day Saints, the A.M.E. church, the Disciple of Christ church, the..." "WAIT A MINUTE! WAIT A MINUTE!!" shouted the $50 dollar bill to the $1 dollarbill.======== "What’s a church?"
STORY OF MAN COMPLIANING AND SON SAYING GREAT SHOW FOR A $1!
An old time evangelist passed the hat for an offering, and when it came back it was embarrassingly empty. He shook the hat to make clear it was empty, and then lifted his eyes to heaven and said, "I thank thee Lord that I got my hat back from this congregation." Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Today I want to talk to us about building God¡¦s Kingdom. I want to ask a question we all know the answer to: Do you want to see God¡¦s Kingdom grow here at CHWC? I know you say you do, but let us just think about this for a minute. What are WE doing to make this happen? The district sends us great information each month about building the Kingdom of our God. Just this week they sent an article that showed the difference between a small church mindset and a large church mindset. Let me share a little of this information with you:
„« A LARGE CHURCH HAS MULTIPLE GROUPS/ CONGREGATIONS
„« A LARGE CHURCH MUST HAVE STAFF: ONE PASTOR CAN ONLY MINISTER TO ABOUT 100 PEOPLE
„« A LARGE CHURCH IS ALWAYS STARTING NEW GROUPS/CLASSES/ CELLS/UNITS
„« A LARGE CHURCH EMPOWERS ITS¡¦ PEOPLE TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER
„« A LARGE CHURCH MOBLILIZES THE LAITY/LETS THE CONGREGATION DO MINISTRY
„« A LARGE CHURCH BUILDS TO ACCOMIDATE A LARGER CROWD
„« A LARGE CHURCH IS NOT FOCUSED ON SIMPLE MAINTENANCE BUT ON MINISTRY
Our text for today speaks of building the Kingdom of our God. Let¡¦s look together and see what Luke the writer of ACTS is trying to teach us.
THESIS SENTENCE: A KINGDOM BUILDING MINDSET IS SHARING!
SO, WHAT DOES SHARING LOOK LIKE?
I. SHARING IS THE RESPONSE OF A WILLING HEART (4:32-37)
A. A willing heart is at one in heart and mind with all believers (v. 32)
1. ¡§No one claimed¡K¡¨ There was a spirit of humility.
2. No one needed to claim any possessions as his or her own? What on earth does that mean?
3. There was such a since of trust and love among all those that had excepted Christ, that each treated the other and deeply loved family and the ¡§Me Cassia, Su cassia¡¨ became reality.
4. This must be, within certain bounds, the relationship between parent and child. The child enjoys all the possessions of the parent without the parent with holding any good thing. It must be like the relationship of a husband and wife, though one may work or, both work, either way, all possessions are shared in common!
5. There was no sense of selfishness, only SELFLESSNESS!
B. A willing heart shares the Gospel with power (v. 33)!
1. What enabled the Apostles to ¡§Testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus¡¨ with great power?
2. When the Church acts like the church, when the body of Christ functions like it really is the ¡§BODY OF CHRIST,¡¨ when we live out before others, what we say we believe, OTHERS WILL GET IT!!
3. If those around you see a difference in you, A GOD Thing in you, do you suppose they will want it TOO?
C. A willing heart is filled with GRACE (v. 33)!
1. The Apostles ¡§Testified,¡¨ but ALL where filled with Grace!
2. What was the quantity of Grace the people experienced? MUCH!
3. Do you want MUCH Grace?
D. A willing heart gives away money (vv. 34-35)!
1. No one had need!
2. Why? People sold stuff and gave the money to the Apostles!
3. The Apostles gave the money to those who had need!
E. A willing heart has a name (vv. 36-37)!
1. This may have all looked like pie in the sky by and by, but the details increase! 2. We are given a specific example of one who did as the Spirit lead!
3. Joseph, called Barnabas, sold and gave!
4. His name means Son of Encouragement!
5. What might our names mean in actuality?
ILLUSTRATION: MATTHEW 19: 16-22
TRUTH: A WILLING HEART BUILDS GOD¡¦S KINGDOM!
II. HORDING IS THE RESPONSE OF A DECEIVING HEART (5: 1-11)
A. A deceiving heart may appear pure (v.1)
1. The story starts out great!
2. There is another Barnabas on the scene. God was truly blessing and others caught the fire?
3. Surely Barnabas and all that served God with obedience received honor as Persons of God. Now Ananias and Sapphira will receive honor?
4. Do you remember the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)?
5. Two offering given, one pleasing, the other not!
B. A deceiving heart schemes a plan (v.2)
1. Deceivers like company.
2. ¡§With full knowledge,¡¨ two plan act.
3. Is the sin of two, worse than the sin of one? Genesis 3 tells the story. 4. ¡§Kept some back¡K¡¨ Have you ever ¡§Kept some back¡¨?
5. About how much does the Lord require of you?
C. A deceiving heart is one yielding to Satan (v. 3)!
1. Who is the master deceptor?
2. Who opposes the work of the Holy Spirit and the Church?
D. A deceiving heart does not go unnoticed (vv. 3-4, 8-9)!
1. Peter knew! How did Peter know? Do preachers get special mailers that other Christians don¡¦t? Do those led of the Spirit see things differently? Do those led of the Spirit see the works of Satan?
2. Peter knew and Peter confronts!
3. Do you remember 2 Samuel 12 and the Story of Nathan and David?
4. Why would God want a deceiving heart to be known? REPENTANCE?
E. A deceiving heart lies to the Holy Spirit/ God (vv. 3-4)
1. Did Ananias and Sapphira lie to Peter?
2. When we refuse to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, what are we doing really doing? Better Stated: When we choose our own agenda over that of the Holy Spirit, Who loses?
3. When we loose integrity with others, what have we really done?
4. When I lie to you, to whom am I really lying?
5. Does God know everything?
6. Where did the lie begin? Did Ananias and Sapphira both lie?
F. A deceiving heart loses life (vv. 5-11)!
1. What is the outcome of lying to God?
2. Does gender matter to God?
3. What is the end of Sin (Romans 6:23a)?
G. A deceiving heart has a name.
1. Ananias and Sapphira are forever recorded as those that opposed the leading of the Holy Spirit.
2.This information is included in their eulogy. Do you think they wanted this as the final word on their life?
3. What do we want the last word on our lives to be?
ILLUSTRATION: Famous American Fibs
- The check is in the mail.
- I’ll start my diet tomorrow.
- We service what we sell.
- Give me your number and the doctor will call you right back.
- Money cheerfully refunded.
- One size fits all.
- This offer limited to the first 100 people who call in.
- Your luggage isn’t lost, it’s only misplaced.
- Leave your resume and we’ll keep it on file.
- This hurts me more than it hurts you.
- I just need five minutes of your time.
- Your table will be ready in a few minutes.
- Open wide, it won’t hurt a bit.
- Let’s have lunch sometime.
- It’s not the money, it’s the principle.
Bits & Pieces, December 9, 1993, pp. 12-13
TRUTH: A DECEIVING HEART TEARS DOWN GOD¡¦S KINGDOM!
ONE LAST TRUTH MUST BE SHARED HERE¡K
III. SHARING IS A HOLY SPIRIT RESPONSE (vv. 5b, 11-14)
A. The Holy Spirit brings fear (vv.5b & 11)!
1. Verse 5 tells us that all that heard about Ananias were afraid, ¡§seized with great fear.¡¨ 2. Verse 11 adds to the ¡§all who heard,¡¨ the church.
3. Why would fear be a response?
4. Do you think God will punish your sin?
5. Just when do you think God will punish your sin?
6. If we have lied to God, should we be afraid?
B. The Holy Spirit brings ¡§Miraculous signs and Wonders.¡¨
1. Verse 12 tells us that the work of the Church continued unhindered.
2. The Apostles were able to continue to ¡§Testify¡¨ about Jesus.
3. God¡¦s power was revealed!
4. Read Hebrews 2:1-4: ¡§We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."
C. The Holy Spirit brings Salvation (v. 14)
1. What is the ultimate role of the Holy Spirit?
2. Verse 14 tells us His work continued!
3. How many were added?
4. Why were they added?
D. The Holy Spirit brings Unity (4:32)
1. Where did we start (¡§All the believers were one in heart and mind.¡¨)?
2. Why THE CONTRAST?
3. What does God want us to know from this passage?
4. There is a difference and only those that follow the leading of the Spirit will SHARE!
ILLUSTRATION: From the Vista: Journal for Holy Living D. L. Moody¡¦s Zeal for Christ
Read High lighted Material!
TRUTH: A HEART LEAD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
CONCLUSION: Let¡¦s finish where we started, the church together having one heart and mind. Do you want to build the Kingdom of our God? What are we willing to do to build HIS KINGDOM? Are we willing to give of our resources/money? Are we willing to give of our time? Are we willing to give of our unique abilities (Barnabus encouraged!!!)? Are we willing to give our all to the Kingdom¡¦s work and to the KING of the Kingdom? OR ARE WE GOING TO BE AN ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (COVERS BOTH AND ALL GENDERS!)? ARE YOU SHARING TODAY? WILL YOU START? ISN¡¦T THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD WORTH IT?
