The Miracle After Easter

“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. ”

~ Acts 4:32

Compare that verse with others…

“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.

They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

~ Acts 4:34-35

• Capitalism: What’s mine is mine, what’s yours is yours

• Communism : There is no ‘mine’ and ‘yours’

• Tyranny: What’s mine is mine, what’s yours is also mine

• Christianity: What’s ours is God’s…therefore what’s mine is yours too

“In a world of limited resources, our wealth is at the expense of the poor. To put it simply, if we have it, others cannot.”

~ Richard Foster

How is Acts 4:32 even possible?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Matthew 6:25-27

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

Matthew 6:28-30

‘Birds of the air’ ‘Grass of the field’

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor [ACTS 4]. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

(Luke 12:31-34)

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

(Luke 12:29-31)

Christian Consumerism

• Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen

• Don’t worry about tomorrow, God will take care of your worldly treasures

• Give and God will bless you

• Bad things will (very likely) happen - but don’t worry

• Make God your only treasure, and you won’t have to worry about losing earthly treasures

• Give, for God has already blessed you

Jesus

Christianity is not about “how to live a worry-free life”…

It’s ULTIMATELY about what our treasure is…where our

heart is

What kind of faith did the early church have?

“With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”

~ Acts 4:33

It’s NOT about…

• How ‘nice’ church people are (other people’s goodness)

• How much God has blessed us (circumstances)

• How strong or ‘coherent’ our theology is (mad-made system)

• How ‘Christian’ (or spiritual) we feel (psychological certainty)

“Our lifestyle is not our private affair. We dare not allow each person to do what is right in his or her own eyes. The Gospel demands more of us…the Church must hammer out the shape of Christian simplicity in the midst of modern affluence.”

~ Richard Foster

Conclusion

• Anchor our faith in the Resurrection of Jesus

• Never anchor our faith on anything else• If the Resurrection is true, then you know you will

ALWAYS have grace in this life (and the next)

• Make giving and generosity a way of life• Refuse to define ourselves by our bank account,

what we own, etc.• Embrace and model the MIRACLE of Christian

simplicity