The Church: Inspired by Radical Giving!

^{“And selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as he had need.”  Acts 2:45}

 ^{“What shall we do?” Acts 2:37}

^{God is the greatest, radical giver.}

^{Radical giving begins with God!} 

^{“With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  There were no needy persons among them.  For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles, feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”  Acts 4:33-35}

^{“They (Christians) share their table with all, but not their bed with all. They are poor and make many rich; they are short of everything and yet have plenty of things. (Letter to Diognetus, c.100-150 A.D.)} 

^{“Contributions are voluntary and proportionate to each one’s income. They are used to support and bury poor people, to supply the wants of boys and girls who are destitute of means and parents, and of old people, now confined to the house, and such as have suffered shipwreck, or any who are in the mines, or banished to the islands, or shut up in prison for their fidelity to God’s church.” - Tertullian}

 ^{Radical giving is demonstrated individually and together as the church.} 

^{What prevents us from growing in radical giving?}

• ^{False Sense of Security}
• ^{False Sense of Significance}

 ^{So what shall we do?}

• ^{If you have a need, share it.}
• ^{Respond individually.}
• ^{Respond as the church.}

^{John Piper, “Churches are dying today because they are not doing anything which the world should look at and say: ‘There is evidence that God is real and that He is glorious.’”}

^{“And selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”  Acts 2:45}