Acts: The Gospel Unleashed Part 8
Acts: The Gospel Unleashed • Sermon • Submitted
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You need to understand the grace of God.
You need to understand the grace of God.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 4:32-37
When God’s Grace is on this place:
When God’s Grace is on this place:
We will be marked by unity.
We will be marked by unity.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
32
We will be marked by generosity.
We will be marked by generosity.
Please notice how they cared for each other. This was the love of Christ expressed in very real ways.
You need to know the gravity of sin.
You need to know the gravity of sin.
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
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1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 5:1-16
Sin can ruin the witness of the church.
Sin can ruin the witness of the church.
Sin can destroy the life of the believer.
Sin can destroy the life of the believer.
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Nothing is more destructive than sin. Sin fascinates, and then it assassinates. Sin thrills, and then it kills.
Adrian Rogers
Be killing sin or it will be killing you.
John Owen
You need to recognize the glory of the gospel.
You need to recognize the glory of the gospel.
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts
Family Worship
RBC Family Worship Guide
Acts 4:32-37
Read Acts 4:32-37 divide the reading between family members.
Pray
Pray for the members of your family and church family to grow in Christ during this time of crisis.
Pray for God’s protection for your family/church family.
Pray that God would provide for your needs during this time of economic uncertainty.
Pray that God would give you boldness to share with others the reason for the hope that is in you.
Pray
Acts 4:32-37
Acts 4:32-37
Acts 4:32 tells us that the believers were “of one heart and soul”. God’s grace brought the church into loving unity.
Question: Why is ‘unity’ so important within the body of Christ?
Acts 4:32-37 teaches us that when the people of God love each other they take care of each other. These believers generously sacrificed so that the needs of their brothers & sisters might be met.
Question: What sacrifices can you make to ensure your church family and community have what they need during these difficult days.
Acts 5
Read Acts 5 divide the reading between family members.
Acts 5:1-11 teaches us how serious sin is. It has the power to ruin the witness of the church and destroy the life of the believer. Make no mistake about it, God takes sin seriously.
Question: Why is sin trivialized by many even within the church? What should our response to personal/corporate sin be? (1 John 1:9; James 5:16; Galatians 6:1)
Read Acts 5:12-16 divide the reading between family members.
Acts 5:12-16 teaches us that a pure church is a powerful force for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Question: How did God’s act of judgment against sin within the church affect her witness?
Sing: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!...