SNAPSHOTS OF THE EARLY CHURCH
Message Date: 5/21/23
Speaker: Pastor Rod Hidalgo

What are some moments in life that you savor?

In Acts, we find some

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of the Early Church.

Snapshot #1: Acts 2:42-47

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to

, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and

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everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in

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. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

This is a beautiful

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of what the Church can be.

Snapshot #2: Acts 4:32-37

32 All the believers were

in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they

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everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Barnabas was

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!

How would people describe you?

Snapshot #3: Acts 5:1-11

1 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles,

it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You

to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”
“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”

9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to

the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

All of us have some snapshots that are not our brightest moments.

The problem is not that they

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some of the money; the problem is that the

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to give it all.

Character is what you do when nobody is watching.

Character is also what you do when

is watching.

What do you do when everybody is watching?

They wanted to appear

while living

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.

“Pressure brings it all to the surface.” —–John Eldrege

Humility… not pretending to be something you are not.

Are there areas in your life where you are

?

Would you read the 5 day Bible Plan, Being Generous: With and Without Money, with us?

https://bible.com/p/58575373/548d5ebbc93d912a258a286aee2e7dfb