Acts 5 :: Are You Kidding Me?

Acts 5 in The Message and TNIV translations

Two things for this morning:

1. What in the world is going on with Ananias and Sapphira? Sounds like a story I would tell my kids to get them to do what I want them to do. You know, like "PooPoo Monster." Once upon a time there was a little boy who refused to give his poop to the PooPoo Monster (toilet) and the monster came and ate him in his sleep. Then the kid poops regularly. I mean David plotted a murder to cover up an affair and he gets serious adulation, but these two yahoos keep back some money from the group and they get dropped on the spot. What is going on?

2. How good is this? "Get your hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it - and you better not be found fighting against God!" (38-39)

What do these two things do for you?

Acts 2 :: We Have Liftoff

Acts 2, The Message and TNIV translations

Acts 2 is one of the pivotal chapters in all of Scripture.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed for the first time (and in dramatic fashion!).  Due to God's strategic timing, representatives of 15 countries (by my count) hear about Jesus and respond. Important side note: at this point, Christianity is still an exclusively Jewish faith.

Then we get the first, and perhaps to this day the most important description of the life and activity of the very first Christian church, the Church at Jerusalem.  The portion of the three thousand new believers who lived in Jerusalem began to live in community with each other in a way no one had ever seen before.  While much is made of the miracles and spiritual authority of the apostles, I strongly believe the first Christians' radical commitment to the life together was the more powerful proof of Christianity.  Jesus said that his disciples would be known by the love they had for each other, and the first believers fulfilled that by embracing each other, growing together, serving one another sacrificially, and enjoying each other's company on a daily basis.  And while they were devoted to each other, the community was not internally focused or closed off.  They lived this life together in a rather public way, in full view.  More and more people wanted to be a part of it and embrace the Savior who had transformed them.

I've read this passage dozens of times, maybe even hundreds (like I said, it's a really important passage), and the same question always seems to pop up for me: how did we start with Acts 2:42-47 and end up with what we experience as "church" today?  When you read this passage, what aspects of early church life do you long for?  What parts are you experiencing today, and what parts do you think are sorely lacking?

Core Practice::Giving Away My Money

We give away our money to fulfill God’s purposes.

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7

"...this grace of giving." What a refreshingly different way to think about giving away our money. What does 'grace' mean? It has several definitions, and I think each of them is one of God's purposes in the core practice:

grace, n. a charm or loveliness. Giving away our money is an act of beauty, both in the sight of God and to those who benefit from it. It is an elegance, something that makes the world look one shade brighter.

grace, n. a mercy or benefaction. Giving away our money is an expression of mercy to those in need. By giving away our money, we debunk the misguided notion that God helps those who help themselves. We know from personal experience that God helps those who can't help themselves. Therefore, we do the same.

grace, n. a prayer or blessing. One of the great privileges of following Christ is the ability He gives us to invoke God's presence and his blessing on the lives of other people. You may not walk around believing you have this ability, but you do have it and you should use it. When we give away our money, God enters the chain of events. Money, this thing the Bible calls "the root of all kinds of evil," can literally be a prayer in the hands of a Christ-follower, and God's answer to someone else's prayer. Give away your money and watch. You might receive some credit, but almost always the beneficiary will thank God. That's the point.

grace, n. unmerited favor; immunity from penalties. For many Americans, money is deeply embedded in our work ethic, which is a good thing in many respects, but can have a dark side. One of my father's favorite movies is an old western called "Shenandoah." In one poignant scene, Charlie Anderson, played by Jimmy Stewart, says 'grace' before a family meal:

Lord, we cleared this land. We plowed it, sowed it, and harvested it. We cooked the harvest. It wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be eating it if we hadn't done it all ourselves. We worked dog-bone hard for every crumb and morsel, but we thank you Lord just the same for the food we're about to eat, amen.

It's very easy for us to come to believe there is a 1:1 correlation between our work, our intelligence, our charm and abilities, and the amount of money and possessions we have. We did this. We built this empire brick by brick. This house, this bank account, these cars, these college funds, we worked dog-bone hard for every crumb and morsel...but God, thanks anyway. And if this formula holds true, why on earth would we give our money to some deadbeat who didn't work a day in his life?

Givers know two things: that money is part of God's unmerited favor; and that work is spiritual--it is about something far more significant than just making money. Giving money away affirms these very significant realities in our lives.

This core practice is connected to the following core beliefs: Stewardship, Compassion, Identity in Christ, Eternity.

Parenting this practice:
Just yesterday, on May 14, one of my sons gave me his first 2 items for the 2009 Christmas list. Total cost about $400. Giving Away Our Money is a vitally important core practice to teach our kids in a consumer-driven society.

If you give, make sure your kids see it and know about it. It can be very anonymous to write a check or, as some of you do at the Springs, have funds auto-debited from your account. You are not being humble if your kids don't know about it, you are missing an opportunity for them to learn a vital life lesson. Whenever it's possible for them to participate, encourage it and celebrate it.

Christmas is a great time teach this practice to our kids, not just because it's a season of giving, but because it's such a gaudy season of getting. Make plans as a family to give less to each other and more to people in need. You may develop a habit that carries all year long.

Mark 14

You kind of knew this was coming, right? I mean, everything leading up to our reading today was pointing toward a showdown of sorts with the religious establishment. This man, Jesus, just didn't do what he was "supposed" to do. Today's chapter begins with a woman lavishing Jesus with expensive perfume. The disciples were angry with her because if she didn't want the perfume, she could have sold it and made money to give to the poor. Jesus saw her act very differently. She gave her best, not her left-overs. Are we as diligent with our best? Are we so diligent with our best time? With our best money? With our best gifts/talents? I can't say that I always am.

Jesus then declares that one of the twelve is going to betray him. It's funny that the disciples ask themselves if it is them that will do this. They were not even confident enough in their own thoughts about Jesus to know whether or not he was speaking about them. I can't say I would have been any clearer, though.

What must communion have been like on that night? The last time that communion would be observed as a forward looking event would be that night. Since then, we have all participated in communion as a remembrance of what Jesus went through, not what he would go through. Everything is about to change.

Falling asleep while praying? C'mon guys. What were you thinking? How familiar these three guys had become with Jesus. He was not "God in a Bod" to these guys, he was Jesus. Sure there was something different about him, something special, but that much consistent contact with some breeds familiarity. Whether Jesus wanted them to experience the sorrow he was feeling, or he wanted them to keep watch for the one who would betray him is not clear, but it doesn't really matter. They fell asleep on the job. Is there any correlation to our lives today?

Then they come. They come to take Jesus. They are accompanied by Judas, one of the twelve. I've read this story before, I've read Mark before and I've even seen The Passion of the Christ, but today this part of the story sucker-punched me in the gut. In the past twelve months, I've lost two grandparents and walked with friends as they've lost parents. I don't know if it's because I am closer to pain right now or just spending the past 14 days with Jesus, reading his story. Either way, I wasn't quite ready for what I felt this morning. I am actually not ready to move to Chapter 15.

Great Series...Or Was It?

Well, today, we finished up the series "Life in the Margins."  As a way of review, post your comments about the series or about today particularly.  How have you been impacted?

Cameron capped off the series with a message that was more about positioning ourselves to be able to give.  Money Margin :: How to Have More, Whether You Make More or Not, was the title of his message.  Here are the key texts that he used today:

Ephesians 5 TNIV

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

 

Galatians 6 TNIV

⁷ Do not be d

eceived: God cannot be mocked. People reap what they sow. ⁸ Those who sow to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; those who sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The competency for today was GIVING AWAY MY MONEY

Creed: I give away my money to fulfill God's purposes.

Verses:  2 Corinthians 8:7 -"But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

Here are the announcements from today ::

Mother's Day

In light of the Margins series, we are giving the moms time for Mother's Day.

Family Picnic at Countryside Park (Bay Area Blvd at the bridge over Clear Creek)

11:00am

Dads take care of everything! Here is your list:

1. Ask your wife what needs to be done.
2. Write it all down
3. Do everything on the list!

Picnic lunch from 11:00-12:30

Featuring the "How Well Do You Know Your Mom" game

Dads then take the kids at 12:30 and moms leave for Mom's afternoon out.

PowerPlus Student Camp

July 14-18

Cost $185

$85 deposit and registration due by next Sunday, May 11th.

Registration can be downloaded here.

Neighborhood Kidsplash!

June 9-13

6:30-8:00pm

We are taking Kidsplash! to the neighborhood this year.  You have an opportunity to make an incredible investment in your neighborhood.

We provide:

• Curriculum
• Crafts and instructions
• Recreation and instructions
• Promotional Materials

You provide:

• Location (your house, neighbor's house, park or green space in your neighborhood)
• Kids who finished Kindergarten through 4th grades this year.
• Team (members do NOT have to be from The Springs.  Recruit parents in your neighborhood to partner with you!)
• Rec Team (jr high and high school students)
• Snack providers
• Craft Leader

We will help you form your team, once the locations are settled.  If you would be willing to serve by helping us pull this off in any capacity, email us at church@the-springs.org.

Team Luncheon at Brad's house on May 18 after the services at the Y.