“Radically Generous” – a message from Acts 4-5

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our new preaching series entitled “Essential Church.” This series is the first of a three-part exploration of the Book of Acts this Fall, including “Ordinary People in God’s Extraordinary Work” and “Jesus, King of the Nations.”

This week in the series I looked at the final verses of Acts 4 and the beginning of Acts 5, exploring how the radical generosity of God in Jesus Christ shapes us to become radically generous people.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32)

The Radical Generosity of the Early Jesus Movement (Acts 4:32-37)

Generosity as the overflow of God’s radical generosity to us in Jesus

A movement devoted to one another that gets real with radical generosity

Examples of radical generosity within the early church: Barnabas

A Story to Save Us from Aiming for the Wrong Thing (Acts 5:1-11)

The presence and power of God in the new covenant people

Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit at the divine and human levels

Living radically generous for the right reasons (and not for the wrong)

The Radical Generosity of God in God’s Family (Acts 5:12-16)

The wonders of the apostles

The wonders of the community

The compelling nature of the early family of God

The Radical Generosity of God’s Family Today

Receiving God’s radical generosity in Jesus Christ

Sharing God’s radical generosity in Jesus Christ

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Dig Deeper

Exploring Faith

• What do you wrestle with about generosity and motivations for generosity (especially in the church!)?  Who might you discuss this topic with during this coming week?

Growing in Faith

• Commit Acts 4:32 or 2 Corinthians 8:9 to memory. Reflect on that verse this week. 
• Many times we think of financial generosity for God and God’s kingdom as what we squeeze into what’s left over from our bills and financial commitments. What might it look like to create a budget that starts with a tithe (10%) to support the work of God in the church or ministries of your choice?

Centered in Faith

• What is a specific way you will “ramp up” your generosity this month?  What time or resources will you commit to sacrificially seeing the type of generous community life God desires for His people?
• Consider exploring a further resource, such as The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn.