Before We Get Started

For our discussion today, we will be using the sermon series discussion guides. If you would like to follow along you can access this discussion guide on the website at mosaicchurchaustin.com and then select “community group resources” in the menu options.

Prayer

Because the primary goal of our time together is to establish relationships and learn how to walk with one another in all that God has called us to be and do, we’d like to begin by praying for one another. So, does anyone have anything you’d like us to pray for or anything to share regarding how you’ve seen God moving in your life that we can celebrate together?

This Week’s Topic

Today’s Topic

A Severe Mercy

Discussion Questions

Acts 4: 32-37, 5:1-13

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.  And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you^[a] sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

Great Generosity

Acts 4:34-35

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

 

Amy Carmichael 

You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.

 

What do you imagine inspired the generosity in the early church?

What inspires you to be generous? 

Is there anything you feel God is asking you to give away or be more generous with?

Great Hypocrisy

Brennan Manning

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

 

Rebecca Manley Pippert, Out of the Saltshaker

We tend to be taken aback by the thought that God could be angry. How can a deity who is perfect and loving ever be angry? We take pride in our tolerance of the excesses of others. So what is God’s problem? But love detests what destroys the beloved. Real love stands against the deception, the lie, the sin that destroys. 

Anger isn’t the opposite of love. Hate is, and the final form of hate is indifference… How can a good God forgive bad people without compromising himself? Does he just play fast and loose with the facts? ‘Oh, never mind…boys will be boys’. Try telling that to a survivor of the Cambodian ‘killing fields’ or to someone who lost an entire family in the Holocaust. No. To be truly good one has to be outraged by evil and implacably hostile to injustice.

 

Why do we struggle to embrace the idea of God’s anger? 

How do self-centered ideas about sin and forgiveness inhibit our ability to understand the importance of God’s judgment?

What does the story of Ananias and Saphira show us about how much our personal choices matter to God?

The Great Church

Acts 5:11-12

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.

 

Andrew Murray

The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?’

How can our generosity with physical wealth strengthen us spiritually?

How does your generosity toward your friends, family, and strangers contribute to the Church as a whole?

Is there a miracle you are believing for in this current season?

Closing Thought

Bob Pierce, Founder of World Vision

So many suffer so much while so few sacrifice so little.

 

As a group, pray about a way you can be generous together this month. Consider serving or giving to a ministry in mosaic or in our city. For example, you could host a garage sale and donate the proceeds to a family in need, collect non-perishable food to donate to a food pantry, make dinner for your neighbors, or deliver grocery gift cards to a shelter.