Acts 4:32—5:16: Oneness of Heart
IT WAS WITH a heavy feeling of dread and pain that I read name after name engraved on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. Then I saw that next to the memorial was a statue of three men—a black, a Hispanic and a white soldier. They were standing very close together. The tour guide, a former soldier who fought in Nam, explained the significance of the statue. He said that there were more minorities fighting for the U.S. than ever before. And the reason that they were standing so close together was that in Vietnam they learned, like never before, how very much they needed each other. In this study we will see that when the battle is spiritual, our need for each other is even more critical.
Warming Up to God
Who has God given you that meets a need in your life? Thank God for giving you such a valuable and loving gift.
Read Acts 4:32—5:16. »
Discovering the Word
- How is oneness of heart and mind demonstrated in 4:32-37?
- What have Ananias and Sapphira done that is not consistent with Christian community (5:1-2)?
- Pretend you are watching the interaction between Peter and Ananias and Sapphira (5:3-9). How would you report this incident?
- Verse 11 states that "great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events." How do you think the church was affected by this fear?
- What are the tangible evidences of the power of the Holy Spirit in this community in 5:12-16?
Applying the Word
- How does this story demonstrate the high value that God places on truth and unity within the body of Christ?
- In what ways do we lie to each other today within our Christian communities?
- How could you begin to help others in your church or fellowship understand what Christian community is about?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to uphold truth in his church and to help you speak the truth before others.
For Further Study
Christian Community by Rob Suggs