Ananias & Sapphira. Acts 5. What a crazy incident. So many questions get raised through this text — about the severity of lying, the harshness of their judgment, the unredemptive nature of it all, and whether bizarre stories like these need to be more commonplace if they are to be taken seriously. But really, one crucial element that can easily get lost in all this is the inner motive behind what Ananias & Sapphira did, and why they can sometimes resemble us so much.

The disciples witness to Jesus. Many believe and are swept into the grand move of God. And then many others react with fierce opposition. Do we get these responses today? Or does it tend to be a tepid, squeamish equivalent of a polite no. And if so, is there something wrong with our witness?

What are you asking for? What do you have to give? And what do you make of all this? These are all questions to consider as we witness the first recorded healing story in the book of Acts. It all happens right at the doorstep of the temple, by the way, and that’s loaded with undercurrent.

They’re not mutually exclusive. But as we keep barrelling into the future and accumulate our futuristic things, it’s easy to lose sight of what made the early church the history-making powerhouse that it was. And really, it came down to some very humble, unsexy things, and doing them faithfully, over and over — doing them well. Do you want to be like the early church?

Jesus’ death and resurrection — these were the main things the early church preached about when they wanted to share about God’s salvation. They saw these events as being major pivot points in an already ongoing story that they themselves were part of. How can we recapture this in our engagement with God’s salvation today?

Acts 2. The Holy Spirit falls on and fills the disciples. This is pivotal because now, the disciples become the new temple. “On earth as it is in heaven” shifts away from the brick and mortar in Jerusalem to the moving human host. Soon, the era of the church begins, and the world is about to be turned upside down forever.

Acts 1. The disciples are hopeful, right until Jesus ascends to heaven, that he will restore Israel as an earthly kingdom. They are about to get much more than they are asking for. Because God instead gives them the power of the Holy Spirit and a charge to witness Jesus’ death and resurrection to the ends of the earth. This kingdom is a glimpse into what life is like when God is in charge. And ‘normal’ has turned on its head. Our Acts of the Apostles pulpit series begins last Sunday.

When asked why we pray, a Rabbi once answered “Why do we pray? Why do we breathe? Why do we live?” He’s not overstating it. Prayer — that open channel between us and God — is the one thing that sustains our spiritual life and animates us toward Godly living. Without it, our actions — even the churchy ones — are lifeless and dry. This week, we are casting vision for prayer in our church. This week, we close out our New Year New Things series with Pray Things.

It seemed a bit out of sync at first that we speak on missions during CNY. But if you think about it, they aren’t so dissimilar after all. In both, you leave your home to visit another’s. You arrive bearing gifts, greetings and blessings. While you’re there, you make their lives sweeter. And to host an Open House is like reaching the nations at your doorstep. So yes, God’s call to missions is very adjacent to bai nian-ing someone during CNY. This week, we’re talking about Go Things.

As maturing believers, we make the step up from being consumers to contributors. Jesus has invited us to join Him in the building of His kingdom. The precise expression will be stunning and varied, and we are committed to discovering it together. But it’s not a question of whether, but where. This week, we spotlight God’s call for us to Sow Things.