1. ACTS 4:32-35 A summary of the early church Transcript available at www.nathankeen.id.au

2. 3 interpretations 1. The Hutterites (like the Amish) We should separate from the world 2. Communists and Socialists We should pool our resources 3. Barnabas We should proclaim Jesus We should demonstrate Jesus, through sacrificial love

3. Home life: making own clothes

4. Work life: farming; manufacturing

5. A Hutterite commune

6. Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16

7. The believers separate? and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts Acts 2:46

8. Separation – from Christians I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

9. Separation – from Christians But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

10. Separate, yet evangelising Matthew 5:14-15

11. Sacrificial giving points to The sacrifice of Jesus

12. Good works point to Jesus For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-33

13. Good works point to Jesus a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate … every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. … But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” Acts 3-4

14. Good works point to Jesus The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. Acts 4:33

15. Good works point to Jesus You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Matthew 5:14-15

16. The church is a blessing to all You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘ And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your [wicked ways - NIV].” Acts 3:25-26

17. The church is a blessing to all With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. Acts 4:33

18. The church is a blessing to all Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

19. Before pointing at Hutterites, pluck the log out of your eye

20. 1. How many non-Christians do you know? 2. How many of them do you regularly catch up with? 3. Do you know what they’re talking about and interested in? 4. Can you relate their world to the Christian worldview, or the Gospel?

21. Practically…

22. Government sharing is different

23. New law: in the interests of fairness and the community, no one can have more than 5 pairs of shoes. Penalty: $100/day

24. Government sharing is different New law: Christians should not own anything, because wealth is evil Penalty: Rejection, excommunication

25. Selling everything is not the point So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36-37

26. Selling everything is not the point Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 5:1

27. Selling everything is not the point But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!” Acts 5:4

28. Selling everything is not the point Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46

29. Selling everything is not the point The believers had a healthy view of possessions: your possessions are not yours, they are given to you by God to do as He wants. Our motive for giving? To love God and love others.

30. Barnabas: sacrificial love Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite church leader, a native of Cyprus Kangaroo Island, sold a field farm that belonged to him and brought the money cheque for $300,000 and placed it at the apostles’ feet gave it to the church relief fund. Acts 4:36-37 (NAV)

31. Practically…

32. 3 interpretations 1. The Hutterites (like the Amish) We should separate from the world Result: not proclaiming Jesus Result: not demonstrating Jesus 2. Communists and Socialists We should pool our resources Result: not proclaiming Jesus Result: not demonstrating Jesus 3. Barnabas We should proclaim Jesus We should demonstrate Jesus, through sacrificial love