SPIRITUAL AUTHENTICITY (5 OF 16)
Scripture: Acts 4:32, Acts 5:1-11
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Spiritual Authenticity (5 of 16)
Series: Acts
Dave Gustavsen
Acts 4:32 - 5:11
Open to Acts chapter four.
Okay-we're taking a few months to go through the book of Acts, which is the historical record of the early church just after Jesus left the earth. And we're doing this in three mini-series; the first one is called ''Identity''; the second one is called ''Power''; and the last one is called ''Mission.'' So today is number five in the ''Identity'' series. And we're calling it ''Identity'' because when you choose to trust and follow Jesus Christ, it's not just a new religious affiliation; it's not just a new set of beliefs; it radically changes your identity. And by God's power, you become the person you were always intended to be. Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, once said, ''Now, with God's help, I shall become myself.'' And, collectively, we become the people that we were intended to be, as the church.
So today we're in Acts chapter four, beginning in verse 32. And I'm going to start by reading verses 32 through 35: [32] All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
[33] With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. [34] There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales [35] and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
This is a beautiful picture of the way a church family should function. There was unity. There was a high level of trust. And there was generosity. So much generosity that there were no needy people among them. John Piper says that when a group of people is really trusting in Jesus Christ, two things happen. It strengthens their attachment with people, and it loosens their attachment to things. And both those things were happeni ...
Series: Acts
Dave Gustavsen
Acts 4:32 - 5:11
Open to Acts chapter four.
Okay-we're taking a few months to go through the book of Acts, which is the historical record of the early church just after Jesus left the earth. And we're doing this in three mini-series; the first one is called ''Identity''; the second one is called ''Power''; and the last one is called ''Mission.'' So today is number five in the ''Identity'' series. And we're calling it ''Identity'' because when you choose to trust and follow Jesus Christ, it's not just a new religious affiliation; it's not just a new set of beliefs; it radically changes your identity. And by God's power, you become the person you were always intended to be. Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, once said, ''Now, with God's help, I shall become myself.'' And, collectively, we become the people that we were intended to be, as the church.
So today we're in Acts chapter four, beginning in verse 32. And I'm going to start by reading verses 32 through 35: [32] All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
[33] With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. [34] There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales [35] and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
This is a beautiful picture of the way a church family should function. There was unity. There was a high level of trust. And there was generosity. So much generosity that there were no needy people among them. John Piper says that when a group of people is really trusting in Jesus Christ, two things happen. It strengthens their attachment with people, and it loosens their attachment to things. And both those things were happeni ...
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