Generosity & Greed: The Battle for Our Hearts |07.28.24|Actions Speak Louder! pt.7

Acts 4:32-5:11 Morgan Folgers my name is Morgan Folgers, and I am on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.(...) InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a ministry that is bringing the gospel to college campuses. My full-time job is helping students say yes to Jesus with their whole lives, and helping students who don't know Jesus seek Jesus out for the first time. And it is a joy to be in God's kingdom work, and I am so blessed by New Life. New Life has been a faithful prayer partner and supporter in my mission work, so I also just want to extend gratitude to you all for being on the journey with me. (...) So, this summer, we have been on a journey through the Book of Acts, which focuses on the faithfulness of the early church in going and making disciples of all nations. We have also been focusing on this dark theme, that the good news of Jesus is that we are offered grace and invited to participate in the kingdom of God here and now. (...) Today, we will be diving into Acts chapter four, verses 32 through chapter five, verse 11, together. And we are going to further investigate what it means to be faithful participants in the kingdom of God. So, let's read the passage together and prepare our hearts to receive from God's word. (...) Acts chapter four, 32 through chapter five, 11. (...) "All the believers were in one heart and mind.(...) "No one claims that any of their possessions was their own, "but they shared everything they had.(...) "With great power, the apostles continued to testify "to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.(...) "And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all "that there were no needy persons among them.(...) "For from time to time, those who owned land "or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales "and put it at the apostles' feet. "And it was distributed to anyone who had need. (...) "Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called "Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, "sold a field he owned and brought the money "and put it at the apostles' feet. (...) "Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife, Saphira, "also sold a piece of property.(...) "With his wife's full knowledge, "he kept back part of the money for himself. "But brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. "Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan "has so filled your heart that you have lied "to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself "some of the money you received for the land?(...) "Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? "And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?(...) "What made you think of doing such a thing? "You have not lied just to human beings, but to God. (...) "When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.(...) "In great fear seized all who had heard what had happened. "Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, "and carried him out and buried him.(...) "About three hours later, his wife came in, "not knowing what had happened.(...) "Peter asked her, tell me, is this the pr