Bill Acton :: Acts 4:32 - 5:11 - Great Unity, Power, Grace, and Fear

Sermon Outline for Acts 4:32-5:11

Great Unity, Power, Grace, and Fear

1. The Jerusalem Church
   1. It was characterized by great unity – Act 4:32
      1. They were of one heart (spirit level)
      2. They were of one soul (experience level)
         1. Cannot be organized
         2. Cannot be programmed
         3. It is the gift of God
      3. They belonged to each other
      4. They belonged to the same family
      5. They had everything in common
         1. Same depravity
         2. Same Saviour
         3. Same indwelling Spirit
         4. Same church (body)
   2. It was characterized by great generosity – Act 4:34-36
      1. Everything belongs to God
      2. Everything is available to those who need it
      3. Nothing is mine exclusively
      4. They shared their possessions generously
      5. Instead of clinging - they were giving
      6. Christian living is not just to stop doing wrong - but to love one another
      7. This is not communism
         1. The Government was not involved
         2. This is voluntary love
            1. It is during a time of persecution
            2. It is evidently restricted to the Jerusalem Church
   3. It was characterized by great power – Act 4:33
      1. Christ was made visible through the Body
      2. The witnessing power
         1. Through the Apostles
         2. About the resurrection
   4. It was characterized by great Grace
      1. The grace produced generous sharing
      2. The grace produced the exercise of gifts
         1. The Apostles
         2. Barnabas
            1. A man of some wealth
            2. Became poor for Christ
            3. The gift of giving
2. The Danger of Spiritual Hypocrisy – Act 5:1-11
   1. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira
      1. They wanted to give
      2. They wanted recognition
      3. They lied
      4. They pretended
      5. The mutual agreement
      6. The one should have restrained the other