Thankful Giving Message on Acts 2:42-27

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The expression of thanks of our dependence upon God and gratitude to Him in our giving

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Introduction

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Thanksgiving - expressing thankfulness to one another
The importance of being on one accord and meeting the needs of others. Realizing that we have to be of one, God’s, heart and soul.

Unredeemed Treasures

Unredeemed Treasures

Some years ago, a ninety-four-year-old widow died in her home in Chicago. She was known as a collector of antiques. The administrator of her estate found an astonishing collection to things. There was a fifty-year-old collection of chinaware, paintings, and unopened trunks. It was reported that altogether there were twenty rooms packed with rare and expensive furnishings. A fortune in diamonds was found in the false bottom of an old trunk. A desk revealed five thousand dollars in cash, as well as many uncashed checks and money orders. Some of the checks were so old they were worthless, and many of the money orders were sent to Washington for redemption. What would you have done with such a vast fortune? Do you think the poor, rich woman knew what life was all about?

Like the eccentric lady in Chicago, we, too, are connoisseurs of what we term valuables, yet fail to use them properly, leaving the gifts and promises of God unclaimed.

Observation

The first church and first fellowship. Their devotion to was to the Apostles teaching, the fellowship (breaking of bread), and the prayers
As a result, awe came upon every soul, the Apostles were doing many wonders and signs, and all who believed were together and had all things in common.
They had in common to sell their possessions and belongs and to distribute the proceeds to all who as their was a need
As a result, they were attending the temple daily, together, and breaking bread in their homes.
They received their food with glad and generous hearts, meaning at they were praising God and having favor with all the people
As a result, the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved

Background

This passages represents the early church’s response to Peter’s evangelism. They followed through with exemplary discipleship and fellowship (after their Pentecost experience).
They were "enthusiastic" in the truest sense of the word, that of "having god within"
They devoted themselves to what Jesus had taught the apostles
Members of the church sold and distributed property from time to time as other members experienced need. The early Jerusalem church clearly valued people over possessions and, at least for a time, modeled the ideal community as envisaged in the Mosaic command, "there shall be no poor among you" ().
The early church had faithfully continued this tradition of benevolence.
God provided for the Jerusalem church’s needs through voluntary gifts, which from time to time were brought to the apostles. They, in turn, distributed aid to those members in need.

Expressions of Dependence upon to God

When they were devoting themselves to the teaching, they were dependent on the instructions they were provided and it was expressed in their fellowship and the breaking of the bread and prayers.
Their dependence on the teachings of Christ and living and fellowship within their community caused fear, reverence their hearts
Their behavior expressed their dependence upon God, His teaching, the instruction of the apostles, which led them to believe together, have all things in common, and working to meet each other’s needs.
Their behavior was motivated in part by their expectation of the imminent return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom, and a heart to take care of one another.
Their dependence on Him was expressed in their need to care for one another, to pray, and in their fear of Him. Things were happening in front of their eyes:
signs and wonders” as marks of the miraculous actions of God within the history of the world (; ; ; ; ) Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Sign,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1961.:
Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Sign,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1961.:

Expressions of Gratitude to God

Expressions of Gratitude to God

They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes
Receiving their food with glad and generous hearts
Praising God and having favor with all the people
The offerings they were providing were their thanks, especially gifts that were given and received. This example emphasizes the importance of giving thanks to God for all His gifts and works, both as an expression of our dependence on and gratitude to Him.
How do we express thankful giving to God
Through our offerings - a sacrifice;
Christian gatherings - the cup that we bless is a participation of the blood of Christ l;
Song and prayer - let us come into His presence with Thanksgiving; ; an urging for us to be in prayer for all people, interceding; 1 Ti 2:1
Giving - we will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way which produces thanksgiving to God, and thankful giving to others;
Giving generously blooms from a thankful heart.
Conversation (Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving) .

“Thanksgetting” - Ananias and Sapphira

1st recorded internal threat the church faced and, as such, would stand as an example that no sin is ever truly concealed from the eyes of God.
Unlike Barnabas, this couple grossly misrepresented their gift, holding back a portion of the proceeds for themselves.
As with the infamous sin of Achan, who had also kept back wealth for himself and consequently was sentenced to death (), Unnecessary sin because he didn't have to sell his land or give anything to the church
"be sure your sin will find you out" ().

“Thanksgetting to Thanksgive”

“Thanksgetting to Thanksgive”

God was adding daily to their number because of the change of heart that had taken place

Telling people to be thankful is a bit like requesting a kiss. If you have to ask for it, it usually isn’t worth getting. Gratitude—and affection—lose something unless they’re freely given.

But thanks to a bit of creativity and whimsy, Pastor Dean Ryder of First Baptist Church in Newfane, New York, was able to encourage people to be thankful—freely, voluntarily, and spontaneously.

The method was a reverse offering. One Sunday the offering plates were loaded with envelopes, and as the ushers passed them, everyone was told to take one. Each envelope contained a dollar bill and an index card. The instructions:

1. Decide on an individual, not part of your family, for whom you are especially thankful.

2. Express your thankfulness to God for this person.

3. Do something for this individual with the dollar and let him or her know of your thankfulness.

4. Report on what you did, using the index card in the envelope.

“We passed out $80 that morning,” says Ryder. “And we collected the cards over the next few weeks. More than 85 percent of those taking an envelope turned in the card telling what they had done. I compiled the responses and read them the Sunday morning before Thanksgiving. It was a real celebration of joy.”

One lady, a wood carver, spent the dollar on a block of wood and crafted a miniature dog as a gift.

Someone else made a fruit basket and delivered it, while others gave plants, cards, or carnations.

“Someone gave one woman four pieces of candy with the instructions to share three of them with people she was thankful for,” says Ryder. “And personally I received a crock of cookies, two cards, and a sack of peanuts. I was a little embarrassed, because I hadn’t done this project with the intention of being on the receiving end. But I guess we must learn to be good receivers as well as good givers.”

Examples

Telling people to be thankful is a bit like requesting a kiss. If you have to ask for it, it usually isn’t worth getting. Gratitude—and affection—lose something unless they’re freely given.

But thanks to a bit of creativity and whimsy, Pastor Dean Ryder of First Baptist Church in Newfane, New York, was able to encourage people to be thankful—freely, voluntarily, and spontaneously.

The method was a reverse offering. One Sunday the offering plates were loaded with envelopes, and as the ushers passed them, everyone was told to take one. Each envelope contained a dollar bill and an index card. The instructions:

1. Decide on an individual, not part of your family, for whom you are especially thankful.

2. Express your thankfulness to God for this person.

3. Do something for this individual with the dollar and let him or her know of your thankfulness.

4. Report on what you did, using the index card in the envelope.

“We passed out $80 that morning,” says Ryder. “And we collected the cards over the next few weeks. More than 85 percent of those taking an envelope turned in the card telling what they had done. I compiled the responses and read them the Sunday morning before Thanksgiving. It was a real celebration of joy.”

One lady, a wood carver, spent the dollar on a block of wood and crafted a miniature dog as a gift.

Someone else made a fruit basket and delivered it, while others gave plants, cards, or carnations.

“Someone gave one woman four pieces of candy with the instructions to share three of them with people she was thankful for,” says Ryder. “And personally I received a crock of cookies, two cards, and a sack of peanuts. I was a little embarrassed, because I hadn’t done this project with the intention of being on the receiving end. But I guess we must learn to be good receivers as well as good givers.”

Giving Money

Christian giving is always a response. The motivation for our giving is that we have received. This doesn’t mean we try to pay God back, for that is an impossibility. It does mean that our giving begins in gratitude

My personal example
I must remember to honor the Father more than my flesh.
What are some specific ways we can apply this passage and express our gratitude?

Freely, Freely Hymn (2 minutes)

Freely, Freely Hymn

A simple gift to serve as a reminder of a child of Jesus.
By us showing Jesus love in our giving, that means that children, strangers, those in foreign countries, can be witnessed to and become part of the number added to the Kingdom of God.

Conclusion

The Teacher’s Commentary 118: Acts 1–4—The Adventure Begins

The church, the new community Christ formed, is here today. We are the church. And God, the Spirit, is able to take our 11s, and our 120s and our 3,000s and, as we joyfully focus our shared life on Jesus, to orchestrate our lives to His wondrous “one accord.”

Thank offering - an offering made out of thanksgiving to God
Thankful giving begins when we.....
Be thankful to God and others
Be full of joy
Be sharing and giving
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