Date: 4/14/2003
Time: 9:18:25 AM
Utopia? ... What a wonderful beginning to the life of the early believers in the post-resurrection time. Oh yeah ... that's us ... or is it?
The world was very much the same after the empty tomb was discovered. However, in the post resurrection, life for believers took on a different direction; for life was not about the times, but about faith.
The message for this week may focus upon where we all begin - one heart/soul in the risen Christ, and from the same point of center, Christ transforms us to live in light of what God gives to all, what God provides for us all.
Speaking of provisions ... The reality is that we recently may have poured a few extra jugs of water for ourselves, bought some extra food for our "safe room" as we were preparing to take care of ourselves. How much are we willing to share as people of the risen Lord? How willing are we to lay it all before the apostles feet, and distrubute it as needed? Would the key be in the pronouncement of testimony, and the great grace that IS upon us all?
May the good news of Christ be the testimony of every heart. Deuts
Date: 4/22/2003
Time: 6:44:44 AM
The church in the United States thinks this passage is a load of hogwash. We don't think it applies to us. We think these people were probably pretty stupid to do this. Or, at the very best, we think they were doing what was logical under bad information (that Jesus would be back in a few days).
We believe security is found in money in the bank. We prefer wealth and power to serving others. We think choosing to share with brothers and sisters in Christ is wasting our money in a bad investment.
Date: 4/22/2003
Time: 12:49:43 PM
This is truly a passage of Stewardship. How do we see our personal possessions? OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY? Or that all that we have has been given to us by God? Obviously, we in the church of the US today are far from this idea of Communal living. We give for needs, out of our abundance, but we consider our property and possessions as "ours." I laughed this morning when I first read this, because of those in the church who get upset if someone else sits in "their pew!" or complain that the church is always asking for money.
An interesting topic to pursue would be giving from our abundance or being totally dependent on the Lord to provide for our every need, through our brothers and sisters. The whole idea of spiritual vulnerability.
Susan in Wa.
Date: 4/23/2003
Time: 10:03:32 AM
I was about to say that this is way too soon after tax day in the USA. Then again, maybe this is precisely the time to be thinking about that sort of thing! How would this style of "voluntary communism" (for lack of a better term) work in our world? I think Jesus People USA in Chicago, IL has something like that going on, but can Joe & Jane PewSitter realistically apply this concept? Man, do I struggle with that tension!
I think Susan in Wa has hit the major theme here, though. None of them considered anything as their own alone! It all comes from God, after all, right? Or, do we fall into the Bart Simpson prayer category: "Dear God, we bought all this stuff ourselves, so thanks for nothing"? A few reflections from
Rabbi in IL
Date: 4/23/2003
Time: 9:12:38 PM
I found the lectionary passage very familiar. Then I looked at Acts 2:44-47. I plan to use that passage. It has basically the same elements but adds some of interesting results. “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” I also had a bit of discomfort with the context of the original lectionary passage leading directly into the Ananias and Sapphira story.
I’m thinking of delving into the concepts of fellowship, and the commitment to the fellowship. I serve two small membership churches where commitment to the fellowship could make a difference in the very survival of the churches.
Rich in Bama
Date: 4/24/2003
Time: 8:41:03 AM
Thank you, all of you who are "risking" not preaching from the gospel this week.
I'm going to be preaching from this Acts passage on Sunday, it's Heritage Sunday in the UMC and it seems these words go along very well with that theme.
Doubting Thomas is over used... in my opinion...
Did everyone see that the "coalition forces" found millions of dollars in the walls of I think one of Sadam's palaces, not to mention the millions if not BILLIONS he's place in banks all around the world.
Yep, some good "food for thought" in this passage in my humble opinion.
Preach it, if we don't, who will?
pulpitt in ND
Date: 4/24/2003
Time: 2:41:02 PM
I'm looking at what preceeds this. A healing, a powerful testimony, persecution and prayer. Can you imagine Peter and John happily displaying their stripes from the beating? "Hey look! We got the living tar beat out of us for Jesus!" Then... they pray. They pray until the building shakes.
Is such spirituality the foundation of these verses? Can a community of beleivers actually accept that their possessions are really not their own unless they first have the power to rejoice in suffering?
Yes, I know it's Thursday, but these are my early thoughts.
JG in WI
Date: 4/24/2003
Time: 5:44:48 PM
I have no idea of where I am. We decided to do a benefit dinner for a strikers hardship fund. Based not on the issue of right or wrong but on the issues of matt. 25. But I see a corolation here too. Using the gifts of God to gift others. Blessing them with not just our love but the love of God. Nancy-Wi
Date: 4/24/2003
Time: 5:46:55 PM
I just reall read the last line. They laid it at the apostles' feet, what an image, conjures up the image of Jesus washing the feet. Both gifts serve God by their humble beginning, from the ground up. Sorry about two posts. Tired tonight. God Bless you all. nancy-Wi
Date: 4/25/2003
Time: 3:01:46 AM
JG in WI Though I'm not sure how to apply it, I like your thought about the connection of suffering and freedom from possessions. I don't think there is a causal relationship as much a sense of what can happen once we commit to God with "heart and soul." I sense a chicken/egg problem here: Does commiting ourselves to God with heart and soul lead to tremendous acts of faith, or is the other way round? "Yes"
The other thought I had was that this early community was expecting the imminent return of Jesus and the inauguration of God's Realm or Kingdom. They were living as such a community, both as a witness and as preparation for that day. It leads me to the question: "If we got news that this was going to happen in our lifetime, what would you do differently?" Then ask yourself, "Is there anything really preventing me from living this way?"
Tim in NY