96th Annual Harding University Bible Lectureship
October 2, 2019
Generosity In The Book of Acts
Steve W. Reeves, Preaching Minister
West Side Church of Christ, Searcy, Arkansas
INTRODUCTION:
A. Do
you recall Mr. Grinch, the fictional character created by Dr. Seuss? Mr. Grinch
was mean, nasty, hard-hearted and stingy. He did not want to share anything with
anyone. Would you agree that there are many Grinch’s in today’s world?
B. The antidote for stinginess and selfishness is generosity.
1. The word “believe” occurs 272 times.
2. The word “pray” is found 371 times in the Bible.
3. “Love” appears 714 times in Scripture.
4. The word “Give” occurs 2,152 times in the Bible.
C. When we hear the word, “give” with reference to church we instinctively think about
money. I have found through the years that sermons I have preached about giving
are the most controversial lessons I have preached.
1. Nothing is as personal to us as our money.
2. The context of “giving,” however is much broader than money. It involves time,
effort, ability, and activity.
3. The word, “stewardship” applies to all of life’s resources.
D. How are Americans doing when it comes to generosity?
1. According to research done by “The Barna Group,” there is great disparity among
generational groups about the meaning of generosity.
2. Millennials tend to view generosity from the perspective of emotional and
physical support. They are more apt to be “hands on” as opposed to giving money
or belonging to a service organization.
a. 84% of millennials give less than $50 per year to charitable organizations.
b. Few millennials attend functions of organized groups (this includes churches,
civic clubs and other service organizations).
3. Older generations tend to view generosity as “service” and “financially” oriented.
a. 74% report giving more than $50 per year to charitable causes.
b. Older generations practice generosity through organizations such as churches,
civic clubs and financial giving.
4. Barna points out that part of this disparity lies in the fact that older people tend to
have gre ater resources of time and money than busy millennials.
E. Other statistics regarding Americans and their religious financial offerings:
(Source: https://nonprofitssource.com/online-giving-statistics)
1. Americans gave 410 Billion dollars to charities in 2017.
2. The average American gives approximately 2.5% of their income to religious
organizations. During the Great Depression of the 1930’s Americans gave 3.3% of
their income to religious organizations.
3. 17% of Americans state that they regularly donate to a church.
4. 3 out of 4 people who don’t go to church make donations to nonprofit
organizations.
5. The average giving by adults who attend US Protestant churches is about $17 a
week.
6. 17% of American families have reduced the amount that they give to their local
church.
F. Barna has also released a survey of the most generous cities in America. In each of
these cities the majority of charitable donations went to churches.
1.El Paso, TX / Las Cruces, NM: 92%
2.Lexington, KY: 91%
3.Memphis, TN: 90%
4. Charleston-Huntington, WV: 90%
5. Milwaukee, WI: 89%
* The bottom five were Rochester, NY; Charlotte, N.C.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN:
Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA; and Washington, D.C.
E. In view of the statistics and from my own experience in preaching over the past forty
years I can only draw this conclusion. We do not have a money problem in our
churches. We have a heart problem. We have misplaced priorities and confused
values. Nowhere is this more evident than in studying the generosity of the early
church in the book of Acts.
I. GENEROSITY IN ACTS: SURVEY
A. Generosity is the thread by which the fabric of Acts is woven. From the beginning
of the church in Acts 2 through Paul’s voyage to Rome in Acts 28 the early
Christians shared their lives, possessions, time, resources and talents with others.
1. Acts 2:44-47 – “And all those who had believed were together and had all things
in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were
sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with
one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were
taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God
and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number
day by day those who were being saved.”
2. Acts 3:6 - “But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I
give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”
3. Acts 4:32-37 – “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart
and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his
own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the
apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and
abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among
them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the
proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be
distributed to each as any had need. 36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth,
who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of
Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the
money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
4. Acts 6:1-7 - Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a
complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews,
because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So
the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not
desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Therefore,
brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit
and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote
ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The statement found
approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of
faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas
and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 And these they brought before the
apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God
kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly
in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the
faith.
5. Acts 9:37-43: Dorcas – “Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha
(which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with
deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at
that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they
laid it in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having
heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in
coming to us.” 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they
brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping
and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she
was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and
turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and
when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up;
and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 It became known all
over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed many days in
Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
6. Acts 10:1-2 - Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of
what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with
all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God
continually.
7. Acts 11:27-30 –Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to
Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by he
Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this
took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And in the proportion that any of the
disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the
relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of
Barnabas and Saul to the elders
8. As Paul concluded his farewell to the Ephesian elders he said, “It is more
blessed to give than to receive.”
B. David Young recently told of an old church in Tennessee. The historical record of
the church revealed how a slave once sold his only mule to give the proceeds to
the church. The church elders, knowing his dire condition, sought to return the
money to him. He replied, “I didn’t give it to you. I gave it to God.” This was the
attitude expressed by the early church who saw their generosity as a means of
praise, worship and obedience to God.
II. GENEROSITY IN ACTS: SOURCE
A. What was behind such generosity?
1. Were these wealthy people?
2. Did they have better paying jobs than we do?
B. Why did they give so generously and eagerly while many church members today
view giving with such negative connotations?
1. Genuine Repentance
a. When Peter preached in Acts 2 and 3 he called for people to repent (Acts
2:38; 3:17).
b. Paul told the Athenians that God commands repentance (Acts 17:31).
c. The Spirit led church understood what Jesus meant when he said, “If anyone
wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily
and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” (Luke 9:23-24; cf.
Matthew 16:24).
d. Americans are so stuck on ourselves that we spend over $1.25 for every
dollar we earn leading to trillions of dollars of consumer debt. Thirty-seven
percent of Americans who attend church at least once a month give nothing.
Among those who do give the average is 2.5%. Does this sound like people
who have repented and been “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20)?
2. Grateful Recognition.
a. Why were they so eager to part with their belongings? They understood that
everything they had was from God.
b. In Acts 17:24-25, Paul told the Athenians, “The God who made the
world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell
in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though
He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and
all things.”
c. Rick Warren told about a father and 5-year-old son who were in the car one
afternoon when the son said he was hungry. The father stopped at
McDonalds and picked up an order of fries. After giving them to his son he
said, “Can I have one. The son said, “No, these are mine.” The father thought
to himself:
1.) “You would not have those fries if I had not given them to you. I am the
source of all fries.”
2.) “I could take those fries away from you anytime I wanted.”
3.) “I do not need your fries but you need to learn to share.”
c. In Acts 4:32 Luke records that the early Christians recognized that the things
they possessed, “were not their own.”
d. What would you have without the generosity of God? Would you have a
home, food, water, air, material possessions? More importantly would you
have grace, mercy, forgiveness and love? Would you know salvation or
eternal life? All of these are precious gifts from God.
3. Glorious Realization.
a. The Acts 2 church had a corporate rather than an individual identity. The
modern church often has an individual rather than a corporate identity.
b. In Acts 2:45 Luke records, “They began selling their property and possessions
and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. “Five times in the
first four chapters of Acts Luke mentions that the Christians “were together
(Acts 1:15, 2:1, 44, 47, 4:31).
c. If we want to restore the generosity of the early church we must restore the
glorious reality that, “we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5).
III. GENEROSITY IN ACTS: SIGNIFICANCE
A. Here are seven significant truths about generosity as revealed in Acts.
1. Generosity is a matter of the heart more than the wallet. When I look at the cars
in our parking lot, the houses many of us live in and the possessions we
accumulate and look at our financial giving I am keenly aware of this. When we
can find money for entertainment and trips but continue to give the same
amount year after year we have a heart problem, now a wallet problem.
2. Generosity is the result of love. Our love for God (Matthew 22:37-39).
3. Generosity makes us more like Jesus (Acts 20:35). Jesus gave his life for us.
4. Generosity is the cure for selfishness. What did Jesus ask the “Rich Young
Ruler” to do in Matthew 19:21?
5. Generosity demonstrates faith. Someone may object to giving away their
possessions by saying, “What’s going to happen to me?” Do you believe what
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33?
6. Generosity multiplies your efforts. By pooling our resources, we can do more for
the Lord than would be possible individually.
7. Generosity will be rewarded. Do you believe you can out give God? Jesus said,
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure
pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of
measure it will be measured to you in return.”
B. A woman told her preacher, “All I ever hear is ‘give, give, give, give, give!’” The
preacher responded, “Sister, thank you for the most beautiful definition I’ve ever
heard.” “For God so loved the world that He . . . gave” (John 3:16).
CONCLUSION:
A. A one-dollar bill and a one-hundred-dollar bill met at the bank. The one-dollar bill
asked the one-hundred-dollar bill, “Where have you been?” The one-hundred-dollar
bill said, “I’ve been on a cruise, I’ve been to an NFL game and college basketball
game. I’ve been to expensive restaurants and to Disney World.” Then the one
hundred-dollar bill asked the one-dollar bill, “How about you?” The one-dollar bill
replied, “Same old, same old. Church… Church… Church.”
B. May God help us restore the spirit of generosity pictured by the early church in the
book of Acts.
