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“Shock and Awe in the Early Church” (Acts 5:1-16)
You may recall that last week we learned about a man who showed tremendous generosity by selling some property he owned and donating the proceeds of that property to the church. That man’s name was Barnabas.
Well, today, were going to learn about a man (and his wife) who sold some property and donated part of the proceeds to the church, and they ended up dropping dead. Well, what happened? What’s the difference between Barnabas and the other two?
That’s what we’re going to learn in today’s passage in a sermon entitled “Shock and Awe in the Early Church.”
Before we go any further, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us.
(prayer)
Today’s passage is taken from Acts 5:1-16. Let’s look at the passage together and then learn what God has to say to us.
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” 5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. 11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Well, obviously this is a fascinating story from the Bible; a true story, by the way.
In the weeks, months, and years that the church first began, we see a lot of shocking and awesome events take place, and we are learning about one of those today.
So, what’s going on? Well, I want to walk through this story by pointing out two foundational truths about the relationship between God and His church.
First, . . .
I. God expects purity in His church.
Plain and simple, the Lord doesn’t mess around when it comes to how much He loves His church.
The church is called the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ, the Temple of God, and so much more.
Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” Jesus gave Himself for the church. Jesus loves the church.
The church is utterly important to God, and He wants the church to be pure. He doesn’t want the church to be tainted by sin, deceived by false teachers, lied to by liars, or taken advantage of by scoundrels.
So, we see in this passage that when someone seeks
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By First Baptist Church Bartow
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You may recall that last week we learned about a man who showed tremendous generosity by selling some property he owned and donating the proceeds of that property to the church. That man’s name was Barnabas.
Well, today, were going to learn about a man (and his wife) who sold some property and donated part of the proceeds to the church, and they ended up dropping dead. Well, what happened? What’s the difference between Barnabas and the other two?
That’s what we’re going to learn in today’s passage in a sermon entitled “Shock and Awe in the Early Church.”
Before we go any further, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us.
(prayer)
Today’s passage is taken from Acts 5:1-16. Let’s look at the passage together and then learn what God has to say to us.
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” 5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. 11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Well, obviously this is a fascinating story from the Bible; a true story, by the way.
In the weeks, months, and years that the church first began, we see a lot of shocking and awesome events take place, and we are learning about one of those today.
So, what’s going on? Well, I want to walk through this story by pointing out two foundational truths about the relationship between God and His church.
First, . . .
I. God expects purity in His church.
Plain and simple, the Lord doesn’t mess around when it comes to how much He loves His church.
The church is called the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ, the Temple of God, and so much more.
Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” Jesus gave Himself for the church. Jesus loves the church.
The church is utterly important to God, and He wants the church to be pure. He doesn’t want the church to be tainted by sin, deceived by false teachers, lied to by liars, or taken advantage of by scoundrels.
So, we see in this passage that when someone seeks