High Expectations: Giving
This week is the final week in our sermon series called High Expectations. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the early followers of Jesus practiced a number of characteristics that were reflective of their new faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. These practices are found in Acts chapter 2, verses 42-47.
Acts 2:42-27 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had a need. Every day they continued to meet in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” NIV
The devoted themselves to God’s Word, they worshipped, they prayed, they served, and they shared their faith. The one remaining thing they did is that they “gave to anyone who had need.” That is a powerful statement. It was a powerful belief they had about where was the source of the things that they possessed. They did not see their possessions as their own, they saw their possessions as being from God. That also enabled them to live with the concept of having “everything in common.”
What would happen to our world if we could live as they lived? Would people be drawn to the cross, compelled by our action? Apparently, how the early church lived caused them to enjoy the favor of all the people and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Join us Sunday as we examine what it means to give as follower of Jesus!
-Pastor Ken