“The Strength Of A Unified Church”
Acts 4:32-37

99.9% of your DNA is shared with all other humans.
At the core of who we are created to be, we have a lot in common.
Yet we are so unique and different. In the .1%, there is what makes you, YOU.
In the church we have this same beautiful situation: Commonality—not Congruence. Unity, but
not uniformity.

The strength of the Church is found in 4 different ways in Acts 4:32-37.
1. The Church Of One Heart & Mind (32)
THE GREAT SHIFT: A Shift From Seeing Possessions As “Mine,” to seeing them as
“God’s” to be stewarded.
**PEOPLE OVER POSSESSIONS.
How can I steward my possessions to bless others?

1. Giving away -> I can bless someone else with this permanently.
2. Sharing -> I can let someone borrow this until they don’t need it anymore.
3. Leveraging -> I can use this tool/possession to serve others. What is the heart?: Everything In Common

**Different interests, personalities, gifts, talents, and belongings→ but the SAME
LOVE for God & Others.

2. The Church Of Great Power & Grace (33)
A. Great Power

• Promised from Acts 1:8
• Boldness
• Truth has intrinsic power-> as it flows from Christ Himself.

B. Great Grace

• “Grace” = Unmerited Favor (Charis) -> GIFT
• God’s favor looks like a branch full of fruit. -> EVIDENCE.
• God’s smile/approval.
• Evidence of a healthy body (church).

3. The Church Of Meeting Each Other’s Needs (34-35)
-The church is an organism, not merely an organization.
-There are organizational components to a church (systems, processes, culture,
marketing, etc.) BUT...It is an organism because the membership is spiritually alive. The
church is the body of Christ. Jesus lives, and He has sent the Spirit into our hearts, and
we pour out the grace and truth of Jesus to our world as we live our lives on mission.
-Key Doctrine: Ecclesiology-> Permanence of the Church
*Don’t miss→ They took such good care of each other, there wasn’t a needy
person among them.

-Cultural/Historical Context: -> Unique Situation. Many from different lands after
the Pentecost event didn’t have permanent homes or access to many needed
resources (some of them very basic needs for survival).
- Not a one-time event, and not all at the same time. “From time to time” this would
happen.
- Even though the situation was unique in this context, the heart is still central to all
believers: Generosity.
- Every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17a).
- Biblical Generosity Must Be Voluntary

4. The Church Of Encouragers (Sold Out To Sacrifice)---(36-37)

• Joseph-> Levite from Cyprus (priestly family).
• Nickname stuck with him→ Son of Encouragement.
• Not only in his words (which we’ll see in Acts) but in his ACTIONS.
• Sacrificed → Gave
• Servant Minded

GOSPEL PRESENTATION/INVITATION: Barnabas→ Jesus
A. sold a field he owned-> Gave up what was his
B. brought the money-> Brought his righteousness.
C. and laid it at the apostles’ feet. -> Laid it all down for those who didn’t earn it.
(Encouragement––Selflessness—Generosity—Sacrifice)