January 22, 2023 - Caring Encounters Conversations – Money – A Culture of Generosity

Scripture Passage:  Acts 4:32-37

Slide 1

Caring Encounters:
Talking about money

Slide 2

Acts
(of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles)

Slide 3

The Spirit's work among us
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind.

Slide 4

Stewardship #1 (again)
No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own,

Slide 5

Mi casa es su casa
 but they shared everything they had.

Slide 6

Gospel proclaimed
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Slide 7

Gospel lived out in community
And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them.

Slide 8

From ruled to radical, tithe to total
For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet,

Slide 9

Who were these people expressing need?
and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Slide 10

Quite a label
 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”)

Slide 11

Remember the rich young ruler?
 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Slide 12

What is your Barnabas story?
Orientation:
Lifetime achievement award: growing in the great commandment

Slide 2

Present Project:
Caring Encounters
"real conversations and holding on"

Slide 3

This Act:
Practicing the conversations
Today's Scene:
Money

Slide 4

Malachi 3:6-12
God in honest conversation and holding on

Slide 5

God does not change, but we probably should
6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

Slide 6

Relationships are a 2-way street
 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

Slide 7

Are we asking?
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

Slide 8

Challenging Conversation with God
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

Slide 9

Stew #1  It all belongs to God
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.

Slide 10

Participating in God's economic system
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

Slide 11

Remember the rich young ruler?
 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Slide 12

What is your Barnabas story?