Session 9: The Commons

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

We prize the family as a bedrock of faith formation,
we cherish marriage as a most holy and most sacred union,
we value parents as frontline shepherds to disciple their children,
we treasure friends as our own souls,
we engage society as godly citizens with redemptive purpose, and
we embrace our lifework with a God-centered focus.

We confess the church as Christ’s family, a family called to:
treat other members with genuine care,
steward our possessions for the common good,
honor appointed leaders and participate in Christ’s worldwide body,
engage the domains of the world with the truth of the gospel, and
represent Christ to all those who are far and near.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Acts 4:32–6:7
• Scripture Memory - Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:1–3
• Catechism - Q: How should the common life of the church be? A: Unified.

Introduction

I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

You cannot heal all the sick, relieve all the poor; you cannot comfort all in distress, nor be a father to all the fatherless; you cannot, it may be, deliver many from their misfortunes, or teach them to find comfort in God …. But if there is a love and tenderness in your heart, that delights in these good works, and excites you to do all that you can: if your love has no bounds, but continually wishes and prays for the relief and happiness of all that are in distress; you will be received by God as a benefactor to those, who have had nothing from you but your good will, and tender affections.

The Christian life is meant to be a collective experience of sharing new life in Christ together with other believers. More than a loose association or a casual circle of friends, the church is a unified body that enjoys a common life. This common life provides support for the journey of faith, encouragement during times of trial, and provision in the face of pressing needs. Because the church is Christ’s family—a real family indeed—believers are meant to care for one another as kin. While the surrounding world suffers the fragmentation of the family structure in general, the family life of the church community becomes an even more powerful testimony to society as it cares for other believers as a family of faith.

As a faith family, the church builds its collective life through the practice of community virtues toward one another, along with concrete acts of service and stewardship. God’s people exist as a diverse body of believers who share a common life in Christ. This shared life is experienced and expressed in the mutual care provided for members. Unlike attempts at community outside of Christ, the church is built upon humble, selfless, and others-focused attitudes. When loving care and service are expressed in the community life of the church in this way, the community of faith becomes a powerful witness of the gospel to the surrounding world. That is not to say that the common life of the church is easy. It requires great courage (and understanding) to chart a course to meaningful Christian community. Toward this end, we can only succeed if we share God’s vision for his community of faith.

We see a picture of the common life of the early church in Acts 4:32–6:7. At a time when the church was facing opposition, the gospel continued to spread. One of the elements that contributed to the powerful spread of the gospel in the early years of the church was the way the early Christians approached their life together. These first believers shared possessions with one another in acts of sacrificial generosity. Members of the church who sought their own selfish interests in greed and deceit were seen as a threat to the community life of the church. The strength of their common life did not cause the church to disengage from society. Rather, their community life became a witness to the surrounding culture. Because of this missional orientation to their community life, the church faced opposition. The church grew in the face of this opposition and needed to appoint additional leaders to make sure that all members of the diverse body of believers were cared for while the church maintained its mission.

The picture of the common life of the early Christians is inspiring. Their belief in Christ truly transformed their life priorities. The Christian faith was not an individual journey to eternal paradise. Instead, Christians viewed themselves as belonging to one another and bearing a serious responsibility to care for each other’s needs. The church did not focus on its common life at the expense of the mission, nor did it focus on the global mission at the expense of its common life. This well-balanced approach to community life and world mission is not only beneficial for our consideration, it is also worthy of our emulation.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

The church community enjoys a common life of mutual care that maintains a focus on global mission.

Passage Overview

The community life shared by believers is meant to be a common life in which members care for the needs of others while maintaining focus on God’s mission. As the early church met the needs of its members, so Christians today should use their resources to meet the needs of fellow believers. We should heed the warning of Ananias and Sapphira and guard ourselves from greed, deceit, and self-interest. The Christian community makes an impact in society through its common life. The way Christians care for one another should offer an appealing picture of loving relationships while communicating the self-sacrificing cost of being a part of such a community. Being a dynamic community, Christians should expect to face opposition. As the church expands, it is important to wisely discern means to care for all members of the church community while maintaining focus on the ongoing mission. The following commentary helps to explain this key biblical passage and highlight important characteristics of the common life of Christians. Read it with a heart willing to understand the text and embrace God’s vision for Christian community.

Passage Outline

Life Together

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Let us stop and once more ask why and when it is more blessed to give than to receive. Getting without giving is absolutely disastrous; even getting with giving is dangerous. And the only way to prevent the disaster and avert the danger is to give, constantly, systematically, abundantly, cheerfully, self-denyingly … He who hoards and withholds, cramps and crushes and cripples his own better nature.

Introduction

In God’s design, believers enjoy the deep bond of Christian fellowship with one another. This fellowship is built upon the foundation that shared faith in Christ has united disciples into one faith family. The community life of this spiritual family is cultivated as Christians practice community virtues of genuine concern toward one another and as each member stewards their God-given resources for the mutual care of the body. This mutual care and genuine concern are expressed as Christians meet pressing needs in the community. To be a family of faith, Christians need to act like a real family: sacrificing personal possessions to come to the aid of those in need. In the fallen world in which we live, it is difficult to practice such a radical community of mutual care. Materialism, individualism, and self-interest all threaten to rip apart the fabric of an interwoven and united community of faith. While a meaningful community cannot be realized without the Holy Spirit, we do well to follow the example of Christians who have faithfully modeled common life together. In his word, God has also given us examples of this radical type of Christian community.

In Acts 4:32–6:7, we observe the first believers care for their other members of the church community. In a display of sacrificial generosity, the early disciples sold their possessions to care for needy members. When the church heard about the death of Ananias and Sapphira, it was warned about the threatening danger of personal interest and incomplete devotion. As the church practiced its life together, its community life became a witness to the surrounding society. When the apostles were arrested (and eventually released), the early Christians expected opposition and embraced suffering with joy. Because the growing church needed to care for its members while maintaining commitment to the mission, they structured and appointed leadership for stability and expansion, spreading the burden of ministry care.

The prospect of a loving and caring community in which members meet the needs of other members is a glorious promise. In Christ, this promise can become a reality. No human formula or leadership strategy can bring about this depth of community. It is of divine origin. It derives from the transformed hearts of Christ’s followers who dedicate themselves to one another in radical care because they share fidelity to a common Savior, Jesus. We depend upon God to create this community. As faithful servants of Christ, we can steward this God-ordained community with vigilance and wisdom. By gaining God’s perspective of community life—a picture given in Acts 4:32–6:7—we can enjoy a common life together in which needs are met, greed and self-interest are dethroned, society is impacted, and the gospel of Christ continues to spread.

No Need Among Them: Practicing Sacrificial Generosity as a Part of the Church’s Common Life

Biblical Narrative (Acts 4:32–37)

During the early days of the church, the gospel rapidly spread throughout Jerusalem. According to Luke’s faithful account, “the multitude of believers was one in heart and soul” (4:32). The unity of the early Christians with one another was quite spectacular. One way these believers expressed their unity was by tangibly meeting needs in the community. Because the believers had a common faith in the same Jesus Christ, their perspective of personal possessions had radically changed: “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own” (4:32). Instead, the believers “shared everything they owned” (4:32). The way the believers shared possessions and met needs resembled the support network of a family or kinship group. Believers would “sell their property” (4:34) to help “anyone as he had need” (4:35). As a form of accountability, organization, and oversight, these believers would “bring the proceeds from the sales” (4:34) and then “lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution” (4:35). This radical reorientation of personal possessions and sacrificial generosity would have been in stark contrast to the rest of society. So effective was their care of community members that “there were no needy ones among them” (4:34).

One example of this sacrificial generosity was performed by a man named Joseph. He was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which meant “Son of Encouragement” (4:36). An exemplar of such selfless provision for the community, Barnabas “sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (4:37). Eventually, Barnabas would become an important leader in the early church. At this point in the narrative, we meet him as a faithful disciple who puts the needs of the community above his own. He put his faith into vivid and tangible practice. His example provided a picture of what it looked like for the early Christian community to care for others by using their possessions. Importantly, at this time, the gospel continued to be preached: “With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (4:33). The faithful proclamation of the gospel and the loving care of community members were pleasing to the Lord. As a result, “abundant grace was upon them all” (4:33). The gospel message had changed the lives of these early Christians and united them together as a group. Their selfless care for one another blossomed out of their belief in the life-transforming gospel truth.

Biblical Principles

Gospel Unity. God’s vision for the community life of the church is clearly depicted in this opening summary. The early Christians experienced an incredible unity: “The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul” (4:32). This description highlights the large number of disciples and their strong interconnectedness. Their common life was made possible because the believers functioned as one entity. At the core of their unity was their faith in Christ. They were, in fact, “believers” (4:32). This gospel message—a “testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (4:33)—was good news of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life. Belief in the gospel defined the lives of the early Christians, prompting them to continue proclaiming it to the world. The common life of the church is always built upon a supernatural unity formed by common faith in Jesus Christ. A diverse and multitudinous group of believers becomes members of one body. The common confession and bold proclamation of Christ is a necessary foundation to bring about unity to such a widely diverse group of people. In fact, although there are many expressions of the church throughout the world, there is only one church of Jesus Christ. The gospel-centered unity of the church is the basis upon which the common life of Christians is experienced and enjoyed.

Radical Change in Mindset. Christ-centered unity transformed the way the early believers valued their personal belongings. Before there was an external change in how they used their possessions, there was first an internal change in how believers viewed their possessions. At this time, a radical attitude prevailed among the first Christians: “no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own” (4:32). Their common faith in Christ changed their mindset toward their possessions. Membership in the community of faith meant that believers belonged to each other. What each person owned was a potential tool to help out a needy fellow believer. Therefore, the needs of another member became a more important concern than personal accumulation or wealth. This did not mean that Christians dispossessed themselves of all personal possessions. Clearly, early Christians owned material possessions, and some owned personal property (4:32, 34, 36–37). Rather, the Christians understood that what God had given them was a means of serving the larger community of faith. Personal possessions were an instrument for the common good.

Sharing Possessions. This radical change in perspective toward one’s possessions freed believers to use their possessions to meet needs in the community. The believers met these needs sacrificially. They sold their possessions and used the proceeds to help the needy (4:34, 37). By offering the profits from their sales to the church, the early Christians displayed incredible generosity (4:34). They gave the profits without restriction. They wanted to help “anyone as he had need” (4:35). They established accountability, leadership, and oversight in the care of members. By bringing the money to the apostles’ feet, the benefactors ensured that the resources were stewarded responsibly (4:35, 37). The funds were distributed according to the needs of the people (4:34–35). The common life of the early church expressed mutual care with focused compassion, offering appropriate care to specific needs as they arose. This care was also effective. So committed were members to one another that they were able to eliminate the needs in the church community (4:34). Their example is commended to us. Christians share their common life in Christ by tangibly meeting needs, sharing possessions, and caring for other members.

A major test of the genuineness of a person’s faith is their mindset toward and use of material possessions. When believers truly place their faith in Christ, they experience a reorientation of values. No longer are personal possessions or material wealth the locus of joy or security. Instead, we view our possessions as God-given tools to care for that which is much more valuable. We are willing to decrease earthly treasure for the good of other believers and the strength of the church community. In Christ, believers are motivated by compassion rather than by greed for gain. Sacrificing possessions to meet the needs of others deepens trust in God, tests the genuineness of faith, galvanizes the unity of the church, gives concrete expression of love for one another, and beautifies the gospel message preached around the world. The common life of the Christian community is expressed and experienced through sharing possessions, growing the church into a unified, generous, and caring family of faith. Many enemies lurk who seek to destroy the unity of the church. The church must be prepared for and resilient against these foes that threaten the common life of the church community.

Fear Upon the Whole Church: Warning Against Fatal Threats to Christian Community

Biblical Narrative (Acts 5:1–11)

Although the church expressed its love toward one another in sacrificial generosity, not every member walked faithfully in this way. One greedy couple, named Ananias and Sapphira (5:1), was a stark contrast to the generous Barnabas (4:36). Like others in the church community, Ananias and his wife “sold a piece of property” (5:1). Rather than being transparent and generous with their resources, this couple acted in faithlessness and selfishness. In an act untruthful to God and insincere to the church community, Ananias “kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (5:2). Sapphira was complicit in this act. Ananias only gave a portion of his proceeds “with his wife’s full knowledge” (5:2).

Peter confronted Ananias over his devious act. The apostle called his act evil and satanic: “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land” (5:3). Ananias could have done what he wanted with his possession (5:4). Apparently, he was not forced to sell his possession. But after he sold his property, it was no longer “at [his] disposal” (5:4). To have sold a possession with an intent to meet the needs of the church meant that it belonged to God’s people. To feign generosity and lie about the amount of the proceeds was to betray the trust of the church community as well as to lie to God. A serious and egregious sin, Ananias’ faithlessness put the rest of the Christian community at risk. Impure in his motives, Ananias conceived “such a deed in [his] heart” and “not lied to men, but to God” (5:4). Hearing the words of Peter’s rebuke, Ananias “fell down and died” (5:5), and they took his body out to be buried (5:6). As a result of this, “great fear came over all who heard what had happened” (5:5).

After about three hours, Ananias’ wife came. She did not know what had taken place (5:7). Peter asked her whether she and her husband had sold the field for the amount Ananias claimed. Sapphira lied and said that the amount Ananias gave was the full amount gained when they sold the property. Peter also rebuked her, condemning a devious scheme to “agree to test the Spirit of the Lord” (5:9). He told her that she, too, would die (5:9), and at that moment, she fell down and died (5:10). Her body was carried out and buried next to her husband’s. When this happened, “great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events” (5:11).

Biblical Principles

Dangers to Common Life. The church must be watchful and alert for threats to its community life. While the early church experienced unity around sacrificial generosity and selfless care, the poison of greed, deceit, and self-interest threatened their community. In this narrative, Ananias and Sapphira performed an act of deceit that was evil, satanic, and greedy (5:3). The great offense was not the amount given, but that they had lied about what had been given. Ananias and Sapphira valued their personal wealth more than the integrity of the church community. They were willing to lie and deceive in order to fake generosity and protect financial security. Even though they sold a property (5:1) and gave some proceeds to the church (5:2), they were a threat to the church community. The scheming collusion of Ananias and Sapphira was an evil pact (5:3) and a sinful agreement (5:9) in stark contrast to the God-honoring unity and one-mindedness of the church community (4:32). What Ananias and Sapphira agreed to do together (5:2, 7, 9) became a threat to the unity of the church. As the church strives to preserve its unity, enemies will conspire together to break apart the fabric of the church’s common life. With vigilance and fortitude, the church must stand sentry against the dangers—enemies both embodied and internalized—that oppose the Christian community.

Heart Motivation. The quality of church unity is related to the integrity of heart motivation. The well-being of the whole church community is impacted by the purity of heart among its individual members. The Christian community cannot be built upon impure or selfish motives. What we do with our possessions reflects what is in our hearts. Many in the early church were faithful Christians who practiced generosity because they had a whole new perspective on their possessions (cf. 4:32). Their inner transformation resulted in a change in how they used their possessions. Ananias and Sapphira did not experience this dramatic change of heart. To Ananias, Peter specifically mentioned that the couple’s sinful act was a deed conceived “in your heart” (5:4). In fact, Peter’s stern rebukes (5:3–4, 9) and the immediacy of the deaths (5:5, 10) highlight the severity of the sin and the importance of a right heart motivation. The common life of Christians is nurtured by purity of heart; it is threatened by selfishness, comparison, covetousness, jealousy, or apathy.

Fear of God. Notably, the death of Ananias and Sapphira brought fear in the church community (5:5, 11). The couple’s death was a warning that threats to the church community lurk. If we are not careful, we can fall into unhealthy practices and superficial expressions of community care. To act deceitfully in the church community is a lie (5:3) and a test (5:9) against the Holy Spirit, who unites God’s people into a unified community of faith. We cannot approach our care of other members with a casual or nonchalant attitude. We need a healthy fear of God to shape the way we treat others in the church. False care and inauthentic concern are major issues because they are acts against God as much as they are mistreatments of believers. Ultimately, the quality of our care for others in the church community reflects our relationship with God. As it did in the early church, the death of this couple highlights to us the radical commitment and godly fear involved in being a member of Christ’s faith family.

Held in High Esteem: Becoming a Compelling Witness in the Public Sector

Biblical Narrative (Acts 5:12–16)

At this time, “the apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people” (5:12). They healed the sick and drove out unclean spirits (5:15–16). So powerful was their work that people carried the sick into the streets in hopes that Peter’s shadow would fall on the sick and heal them (5:15). The ministry was effective and impactful. People gathered from the various towns around Jerusalem and were healed (5:16). The preaching of the gospel (cf. 5:32) was often accompanied by miraculous healing (5:12, 15–16). These healings were not a replacement for the gospel message. Rather, the miracles were “signs and wonders” (5:12) that gave credence and credibility to the gospel message.

During this time of intense ministry, the believers continued to experience unity as a community of faithful Christ followers. The Christians gathered together around the temple area. They were a unified solidarity: “With one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade” (5:12). Whatever the appeal of the Christian community, becoming a member of the church community was challenging. At this time, “the people regarded them highly,” but “no one else dared to join them” (5:13). This evaluation represented the great esteem and respect toward Christians that was mixed with a hesitation to join the faith. The miraculous deeds publicly performed, the gospel message boldly proclaimed, and the recent deaths of Ananias and Sapphira probably all contributed to the people being attracted and reluctant toward the Christian community. This was a sincere community of serious faith that worshiped a powerful and holy God. Despite the hesitation and resistance of some, many did come to faith: “more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women” (5:14). As the church lived a faithful community life, it bore a powerful and definitive witness in the public sector.

Biblical Principles

Witness in Word, Deed, and Unity. The early Christian community meaningfully engaged with surrounding society. In this short summary of the early church, we learn that many miracles were being performed (5:12, 15–16). The sick and the possessed were being healed. People traveled from various regions to experience God’s transforming power (5:16). Through the apostles, the Christian community maintained an active and powerful ministry in the world around them. The ultimate aim of this healing ministry was to bring people to faith in Christ (5:14). In word and deed, the early Christian community bore witness to the gospel. Importantly, the church was viewed as a unified and interconnected group: “With one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade” (5:12). In addition to gospel proclamation and miraculous deeds, the unified and gathered church community was a profound witness to its society. As happened in the early church, when the church embraces its common life together—serious, sacrificial, and sincere unity—its attractiveness and appeal to the world becomes difficult to dismiss.

Missional and Covenantal Threshold for Membership. Indeed, the people could not easily ignore the Christian community. By this time, society knew of the growing group of Christ followers. People had varying responses to the church. Some “regarded them highly” but did not dare “to join them” (5:13). Many others became followers of Christ. This growth was expansive: “More and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women” (5:14). Miraculous healings, bold gospel proclamation, genuine care for other believers, the unity of the church, and the fearful events surrounding the death of Ananias and Sapphira all likely contributed to the church community being both esteemed and resisted. Inherent in these mixed responses was an overwhelming appeal and respect for the Christian faith, but a hesitation to cross the threshold into the church community. To believe in Jesus meant joining the church. Commitment to follow Christ meant joining the Christian community and participating in the Christian mission. In this way, the church was both missional in its impact and covenantal in its community devotion.

Not all people will respond favorably to the gospel or the Christian community. Faithfulness in witness is reflected in the missional and covenantal commitment of its members. A church without commitment to one another offers little benefit to those who are exploring the faith. A church without missional objectives can easily become insular and stagnant. The covenantal and missional commitment of Christians offers a clear threshold for membership. This threshold can help people know their relationship to Jesus by means of their relationship to God’s people. Certainly, official membership on the church registry does not make a person a Christian. But faith in Christ is meant to be expressed by joining the church community. The gospel clearly proclaimed and a clear threshold of church membership both provide a pathway to enter into the faith. The church community should be covenantal in the sense that belonging to the church involves a commitment to other members as much as to Christ. The church should be missional: to follow Christ and belong to the church is to embrace the mission of spreading the gospel to nonmembers. By being a distinctive, alternative, and committed community, the church offers the world a place of belonging and a community of purpose that cannot be found elsewhere. Because such a community cuts against the grain of the culture, the church should expect opposition.

It Is of God: Expecting Opposition From Surrounding Society

Biblical Narrative (Acts 5:17–42)

In response to the church’s healing and gospel ministry, religious leaders rose up in opposition to the Christian faith. The high priest and other religious leaders were “filled with jealousy” (5:17) and “arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail” (5:18). God did not abandon his faithful servants. At night, “an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out” (5:19). The angel told the apostles to preach the message of life in the temple (5:20). The freed apostles obeyed this word, and “at daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people” (5:21). Undeterred by their imprisonment, these early church leaders continued to boldly instruct people in the faith.

The religious leaders called together the council and sent for the apostles to be brought to them (5:21). However, because the angel had released the apostles, the officers did not find them in prison (5:22). They reported that the prison doors were locked, the guards were at the doors, but no one was inside (5:23). The temple captain and chief priests were perplexed about it and wondered what had happened (5:24). At that time, someone said that the apostles who were in prison were now teaching in the temple (5:25). God had supernaturally rescued them from prison and (re)deployed them to the ministry of preaching and teaching. The Christian community enjoyed the favor of the people (cf. 5:13). Consequently, when the captain and his officers brought the apostles to the council they did not use force (5:26). The high priest questioned the apostles (5:27). Though, they had previously been told to no longer preach in Jesus’ name (cf. 4:18), the apostles clearly had not listened to this reprimand and responded, “We must obey God rather than men” (5:29). This was a God-ordained opportunity to share the gospel: Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, Jesus’ ascencion into heaven, and the offer of forgiveness of sins to any who repent (5:31). The apostles concluded that they were “witnesses of these things” (5:32). Their continued bold witness in the face of persecution was empowered by the Holy Spirit given to “those who obey” (5:32). Their witness was a Spirit-empowered act of faith and obedience to God.

Hearing this bold attestation, the religious leaders “were enraged” and “they resolved to put the apostles to death” (5:33). This emotional recoil was calmed when a respected Pharisee named Gamaliel had the apostles sent outside for a brief time (5:34). He reasoned with the council. He gave two examples of previous movement leaders—Theudas and Judas the Galilean—whose movements died after they died (5:35–38). He told the council to steer clear of these apostles because “if the purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail” (5:38), but if their movement was “from God, you will not be able to stop them” (5:39). The council took his advice, called the disciples back in, beat them, told them to no longer preach in Jesus’ name, and let them go (5:39–40). The apostles left the council “rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (5:41). This opposition did not deter the early Christians from gathering, teaching, and preaching: “Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (5:42).

Biblical Principles

Persecution and Hostility. While an authentic Christian community is appealing to some, it can also be abrasive to others. Those who recognize their need for Christ and long for an authentic community of mutual care and support will find the Christian community a welcome treasure in this broken world. Those who wield power, seek their own advantage, cherish wealth, and maintain worldly influence find it a challenge (just like the religious leaders of this story) to humbly receive Christ and enter into the life of the Christian community (5:17, 21, 24, 26–28, 33–40). The gospel and church community challenge the loyalties of those well-situated in the broader society. It did this to the religious leaders in this narrative, and it does the same to many today. Those whose priorities do not line up with the Christian faith (often those who are seeking earthly pleasure, prestige, and power) will often become hostile and antagonistic to the Christian faith. In this narrative, the leaders’ jealousy (5:17) and rage (5:33) led to the mistreatment of the apostles and animosity toward the Christian message.

To trust Christ is to put oneself in subservience to God above all else—to “obey God rather than men” (5:29; cf. 5:28, 32, 40). Although Christians are to be respectful to human authorities, believers are called to listen to God’s command above human law when the two come into collision. This complete fidelity to God necessarily results in conflict and hostility with the surrounding world. At the end of this scene, the apostles counted it a joy to suffer for the sake of Christ (5:41). Christian community exists under the pressure and difficulty of mistreatment and suffering. The common life of believers is a shared experience of suffering. Affliction proves the church’s fidelity to her Lord. The church community shares in the trials and tribulations of its members. God has given his Spirit to his people to help them endure hardship and boldly bear witness to Christ. Faith in Christ, the solidarity of the believing community, and the presence of the Holy Spirit enable the church to endure persecution and trial.

Unstoppable Movement. In the face of persecution, opposition, and violent hostility, the church will prevail. Being a part of the church brings great confidence. The church is an unstoppable movement that is “from God” and no human entity will be able “to stop them” (5:39). Those who oppose Christians, the church, and the gospel are actually fighting against God (5:39). Ironically, the leaders were more afraid of the people (5:26) than of God (5:39–41). In the end, all other movements eventually die under hardship and opposition (5:35–38). This is not the case for the Christian movement. She will progress and bear fruit even through suffering, death, and violent mistreatment. The apostles’ miraculous deliverance from prison (5:18–23) and relentless preaching of the gospel (5:20–21, 25, 28, 32, 42) are narrative details that highlight the gospel’s unstoppable progress. God’s purposes will certainly prevail, and believers in Christ will share in this victory. Current suffering and persecution are not signs of defeat but will be a retrospective testimony of God’s unconquerable power. The church cares for its members while it maintains an undivided focus on God’s continued, unstoppable mission. Certainty of final success is an enormous motivation and hope-giving impetus for believers to care for each other in the midst of hardship and persecution.

Not Giving Up: Maintaining Community Care and Missional Focus

Biblical Narrative (Acts 6:1–7)

Despite (and perhaps because of) opposition to the faith, the gospel continued to spread. In those days, “the disciples were increasing in number” (6:1). Community needs grew along with an increase in Christian disciples. As the gospel spread, it was attracting people from various ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. This made the care of the church community even more complex and challenging. At this time, “the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food” (6:1). The Greek-speaking widows (i.e., Hellensists) were not being taken care of the same as the Hebrew-speaking (i.e., Jewish) widows.

The apostles gathered the Christian community (6:2) and explained that “it is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables” (6:2). It would be inappropriate for the apostles to neglect preaching the gospel to care for widows. However, it would be equally wrong for the care of the widows to be neglected. Both the progress of the gospel and the care of the church community members needed to take place. Therefore, the apostles told the community to “select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (6:3). These seven men would provide specific care for the needs of the community while the apostles devoted themselves to “prayer and to the ministry of the word” (6:4).

The community was pleased with this idea, and they chose the following leaders: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (6:5). These men were godly, faithful, and full of the Holy Spirit. Further, as these men may well have been Greek-speaking Hellenists (as their names suggest), they would be able to provide helpful care for the needs of the Hellenist widows (cf. 6:1). The community placed these men before the apostles, who prayed for and laid hands on them (6:6). Caring for the community in this way allowed the gospel to spread. At this time, “the word of God continued to spread,” “the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly,” and “a great number of priests became obedient to the faith” (6:7). By God’s design and through the wisdom of the early church leaders, gospel progress and community care simultaneously occurred.

Biblical Principles

Community Care and Gospel Mission. The care of the community and the progress of the gospel need not be opposed to each other. In fact, community care and missional expansion are symbiotically connected. The progress of the gospel caused the needs of the church community to increase (6:1). As the community met the needs of the community, the gospel continued to advance (6:7). The apostles’ focus on gospel expansion (6:2, 4) created a need for more leaders to get involved in leadership and ministry (6:3, 5–6). By appointing the seven qualified leaders to care for the Hellenist widows, the church was able to care for the vulnerable and needy in the community while advancing the gospel. The church is meant to be a faith family of mutual care and belonging and an expanding community of Christ followers. Strong churches with a common life of mutual care are integral to mobilizing gospel proclamation, strengthening believers’ faith, and maturing future leaders in the ministry.

Developing Emerging Leaders. The early church became a community of mutual care and gospel proclamation by the appointment of seven qualified leaders (6:3, 5–7) who were specifically chosen and entrusted with the care of the widows (6:3). They were able to relate to the needs of the Hellenist widows, as they were all likely Hellenists themselves (6:1, 5). They were chosen by the community members (6:3, 5). Also, the selected leaders needed to exhibit godly character, wisdom, Spirit-empowerment, and faith (6:3, 5). Although the community chose these leaders, the apostles affirmed and appointed them (6:6). When the church is structured in a healthy way, it can meaningfully care for internal needs while it simultaneously focuses on the progress of the gospel. A church with a healthy common life develops emerging leaders and maintains godly standards for ministry leadership. For the church community to care for its members and maintain missional engagement, godly and faithful leadership needs to be established and multiplied.

Conclusion

The faith of the early Christians united disciples into a deep and meaningful community life. These early believers sold possessions to meet the needs of other members. Church leaders confronted and disciplined greed, deceit, and self-interest. The society was simultaneously intrigued by the church community and hesitant to join such a committed group of Christ followers. Faithful to bear witness to Christ, this early church faced opposition from the unbelieving society. As the church grew, the early church appointed key leaders so that the mission could continue with all the members of the body having their needs met.

When Jesus calls us to follow him, we are invited into the joy of eternal life. One of the great joys of our new life in Christ is the delight of sharing this life with other believers. While we journey together in faith, Christians are called to tend to the needs of others by meeting needs in concrete ways. One of the greatest testimonies the church offers to the watching world is the way the members of Christ’s family care for one another. The common life of the believing community formed by a shared faith in Christ is a vital aspect of faith formation and Christian maturity. We should not merely be passive witnesses of this story of the early church; we should be compelled to consider how this story might become a reality in our own church experience.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 9 SYNOPSIS
Common Life	In this passage, we learn key aspects of the common life of the Christian community. The early Christians practiced sacrificial generosity, meeting community needs by selling their possessions. The death of Ananias and Sapphira served as a warning against greed, insincerity, and deceit. The early Christians bore witness in word (gospel proclamation), deed (miraculous healings), and Christian unity (being unified as one church). The apostles were eventually imprisoned for preaching the gospel. This did not deter them from continuing to teach the truth. As the church grew in numbers, the needs of the community increased. This led the church to appoint qualified leaders. These additional leaders allowed all members to receive appropriate care and enabled the apostles to focus on the continued spread of the gospel. This narrative highlights key characteristics of a Christian community that enjoys a common life in Christ. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Gospel Unity and Sharing Possessions	The church is bound to a common life by shared faith in and confession of Christ (4:32–33). The gospel makes believers one in Christ (4:32). Genuine faith in Christ results in a radical change in our perspective toward our possessions (4:32). This results in a change in how we use our possessions (4:34–37): seeking to meet the needs of all members in the community (4:34–35). Sharing possessions should be done with generosity (4:34, 36) and accountability (4:35, 37).
Dangers to Christian Community	The Christian community is threatened by evil desires of the heart, such as greed (5:3–4). Such passions are serious dangers to the common life of God’s people (5:3–5, 9–10) and should evoke a sense of healthy fear of God (5:5, 11). How we treat the church community reflects our relationship with God (5:3, 9).
Public Witness	The church is a public witness to the surrounding world. Believers can bear witness to Christ in word (5:14), deed (5:12, 15–16), and unity (5:12). The gospel and the church community should appeal to the world, evoking various reactions of respect, hesitation, and faith (5:13–14). The church is both a missional and covenantal community.
Joy in the Face of Persecution	The church will face persecution and suffering (5:17–23), becoming the object of the world’s jealousy and anger (5:17, 33). When believers have an exclusive allegiance to Christ (5:28–29, 32, 40), they can expect to experience hostility. Believers can experience joy in suffering (5:41). Confidence in the ultimate success of the mission can encourage believers in the faith and motivate continued mission.
Community Care and Gospel Mission	The church should care for both the spread of the gospel (5:20–21, 25, 28, 32, 42; 6:1–2, 4, 7) and the strength of the church community (6:1, 3). The church is part of an unstoppable movement that God will cause to succeed (5:18–23, 35–41).
Godly Leadership	Qualified emerging leaders (6:3, 5–7) enable the church to care for its members (6:1, 3) and continue to expand the gospel (6:1–2, 4, 7). Qualified ministry leaders should exhibit godly character, wisdom, Spirit-empowerment, and genuine faith (6:3, 5).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Sacrificial Generosity

Consider how the early church practiced sacrificial generosity in using personal resources to care for members of the community in need. Make a list of possessions you have that can be used to meet the concrete needs of other members.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.