Acts 4:32-37
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This is the fifth week in our series on Acts and the Early Church. This sermon is called "Cared for the Least"
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
Connect As you use your time for God, which of these should be your focus: (a) Rejoicing more in God’s presence; (b) Responding more regularly to God’s purposes; or (c) Resting with confidence that God is in control?
Warm-Up
- When do you remember first giving to a charity? What is your favourite charity to support?
- What did charities look like in the Greco-Roman world?
Read Acts 4:32-37
- How are all the believers described in verse 32?
- What does being one in heart and mind mean? Who should you love and care about?
- Read 1 Corinthians 12:24-26. What is the reason Christians should consider themselves as one?
- How should being one in Christ change our concern for each other?
- When have you experienced the love and compassion from a brother or sister in Christ? What have you found helpful in nurturing love and compassion towards your brothers and sisters in Christ?
- What do the early Christians do in response to their unified heart and mind?
- Why do you think people do not share? What are the main barriers for us in sharing what we have?
- What was the source of the early church’s generosity? Do we still have access to this source today?
- What was the process for how the needy were supported? What was the cost, now and in the future, for those who gave up houses and land?
- What would need to happen for there to be no need in our church?
- How is this example in the early church an amazing witness to God’s grace?
- When have you seen God meet the needs of others through his people? When has God met your needs, through the generosity of his people?
- What is your approach to sharing your resources to the needy? How would you like to grow in this?
What do you think gets in the way of our generosity individually and as a community? - How is being one in heart and mind and being reminded of God’s grace transformative for our generosity? What weekly and daily rhythms foster our unity and deepen our understanding of grace?
- Who is someone you are aware of right now, who is in need of help? How can you respond?
- How was the generosity of the early church a compelling witness? How can our generosity still be a compelling witness to God’s grace today?
Apply Review how you are using your money to care for the least. How sacrificially generous would you like your giving to be?
Prayer
Gracious Father, please may your great grace be at work amongst us, that we would be a community one in heart and mind, radically generous with all that you have given us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Frontline this Week
Look for someone on your frontline who is in need of help this week.
For Families
- Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org
Listen, Watch, and Read
- Listen (sermon): “Grace and Money” by Tim Keller:
https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/grace-and-money/ - Listen (sermon): “Reaching Out by Reaching In” by Rico Tice:
https://bit.ly/4lzbya7 - Listen (sermon): “The Church of God United” by Jamie Child:
https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/talk/53918/ - Watch (video): “The Origins of Western Healthcare” by The Centre for Public Christianity:
https://publicchristianity.org/video/the-origins-of-western-healthcare/ - Read (article): “The Founder of the First Hospital: Meet Fabiola” by Andrew Menkis:
https://corechristianity.com/resources/articles/founder-of-the-first-hospital-meet-fabiola - Read (book): “Bullies and Saints” by John Dickson 📚
Series Resources
- Read (book): “Strange Religion” by Nijay Gupta. 📚
- Read (commentary): “The Challenge of Acts” by Tom Wright. 📚
- Read (book): “Why the Gospel” by Matthew Bates.
- Read (advanced commentary): “Acts: Witnesses to Him” by Bruce Milne.
📚 Available to borrow in the Church library
