Marks of a Thriving Genuine Christian Community

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Marks of a ThrivingGenuine Christian Community

• Acts The Unfinished Story of the Church Series
  11
• Acts 432-511
• May 13, 2012
• Pastor Paul K. Kim

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TWO CONTRASTING EXAMPLES ENCOURAGEMENT AND
THREAT

• Contagious Encouragement Barnabas was contagious
  and encouraging as a good example to follow in
  living out a genuine Christian fellowship.
•  
• Subtle Threat Ananias and Sapphiras sins were a
  subtle yet deadly threat to the life of a
  thriving young church.
•  
• Lukes Purpose By showing two contrasting
  examples, Dr. Luke aimed to portray the
  spiritual authenticity vitality of the Early
  Church to the readersincluding us.

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WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF A THRIVING GENUINE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY?

• 1) UNITY LOVE IN ACTION They were of one
  heart and soul, sharing everything in common.
• 32 Now the full number of those who believed were
  of
• one heart and soul, and no one said that any of
  the things
• that belonged to him was his own, but they had
  everything in
• common 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by
  the apostles
• Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a
  Levite, a native
• of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him
  and brought
• the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
  (432, 36-37)
• Their unity was relational oneness and their
  active love.
• This was Jesus prayer and new command (cf. John
  17 13).

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Love in Action and Freedom from Materialism

• We must have hearts that are harder than iron if
  we are not moved by the reading of this
  narrative. In those days the believers gave
  abundantly of what was their own we in our day
  are content not just jealously to retain what we
  possess, but callously to rob others . . . They
  sold their own possessions in those days in our
  day it is the lust to purchase that reigns
  supreme. At that time love made each mans own
  possessions common property for those in need in
  our day such is the inhumanity of many, that they
  begrudge to the poor a common dwelling upon
  earth, the common use of water, air and sky.
• - John Calvin (1509-1564)

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WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF A THRIVING GENUINE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY?

• 1) UNITY LOVE IN ACTION They were of one
  heart and soul, sharing everything in common.
• 32 Now the full number of those who believed were
  of
• one heart and soul, and no one said that any of
  the things
• that belonged to him was his own, but they had
  everything in
• common 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by
  the apostles
• Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a
  Levite, a native
• of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him
  and brought
• the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
  (432, 36-37)
• Their unity was relational oneness and their
  love, active.
• This was Jesus prayer and new command (cf. John
  17 13).
• Following Barnabas and their example, we are
  also to (1) be free from loving things, (2) be
  contagious in loving people, and (3) be generous
  in sharing our possessions for the needy.

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WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF A THRIVING GENUINE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY?

• 2) VITAL LEADERSHIP MINISTRY Great power
  was the mark of the leaders the apostles and
  ministry in the Early Church.
• 33 And with great power the apostles were giving
• their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord
  Jesus brought
• the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at
  the apostles' feet
• and it was distributed to each as any had need.
  (433a, 34b, 35)
• The apostles were filled with the power of the
  Holy Spirit and bold in preaching the risen
  Jesus.
• Moreover, the integrity of their leadership and
  ministry was also fully trusted by the church
  members.
• In our context, the equivalent mark is spiritual
  vitality of the church leaders (pastors elders)
  and ministry of integrity.

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WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF A THRIVING GENUINE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY?

• 3) GODS FAVOR PROVISION Great grace was
  another mark accompanied by Gods provision
  through their radical love.
• . . . and great grace was upon them all. 34 There
  was not a needy
• person among them, for as many as were owners of
  lands
• or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of
  what was
• sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it
  was
• distributed to each as any had need. (433b-35)
• Great grace means Gods favor they were
  experiencing within and withoutGods inside-out
  favor on the church.
• A significant part of Gods favor was the
  provision for the churchi.e., having no needy
  person among them.
• For the 21st century churches, this mark is shown
  by trust and obedience in Gods favor concerning
  the churchs needs.

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• Acts 51-11
• 1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife
  Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with
  his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself
  some of the proceeds and brought only a part of
  it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter
  said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart
  to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for
  yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4
  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your
  own? And after it was sold, was it not at your
  disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this
  deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but
  to God. 5 When Ananias heard these words, he
  fell down and breathed his last. And great fear
  came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men
  rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and
  buried him.

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• Acts 51-11
• 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife
  came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And
  Peter said to her, Tell me whether you sold the
  land for so much. And she said, Yes, for so
  much. 9 But Peter said to her, How is it that
  you have agreed together to test the Spirit of
  the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have
  buried your husband are at the door, and they
  will carry you out. 10 Immediately she fell down
  at his feet and breathed her last. When the young
  men came in they found her dead, and they carried
  her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And
  great fear came upon the whole church and upon
  all who heard of these things.

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WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF A THRIVING GENUINE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY?

• FEAR OF THE LORD PURITY Great fear was the
  mark and need of their thriving young church.
• 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled
  your heart to lie to the
• Holy Spirit. . . 5 When Ananias heard these
  words, he fell down and
• breathed his last. And great fear came upon all
  who heard of it . . .
• 9 But Peter said to her, How is it that you have
  agreed together to
• test the Spirit of the Lord? . . . 10 Immediately
  she fell down at his
• feet and breathed her last . . . 11 And great
  fear came upon the whole
• church and upon all who heard of these things.
  (53,5,9-11)
• This was to purify the church in her beginning
  stage.
• Ananias Sapphiras primary sin was not greed
  but hypocrisyi.e., the deceitful motive for
  recognition/honor.
• In our context, we are to (1) deal with sin
  seriously and early, and (2) rid of any first
  sign of hypocrisy in our church.

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THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. What could be your first step toward practicing
   the radical unity of one heart and soul at
   CrossWay (or at your own home church community)?
2. In what ways can you follow the example of
   Barnabas in radical generosity and love for
   people?
3. What warning do you need to heed in how the Holy
   Spirit dealt with Ananias and Sapphiras sin?

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