The document summarizes Acts 4:32-35 which describes how the early Christian church shared all their possessions communally and had no needy persons among them. It contrasts this with capitalism, communism, and tyranny, noting that Christianity teaches that what belongs to God ultimately belongs to others as well. The document argues that the early church must have had great faith grounded in the resurrection of Jesus to live in such a way and calls Christians to similarly anchor their faith primarily in the resurrection rather than material possessions or circumstances.

1. The Miracle After Easter

2. “Now the whole group of those
who believed were of one heart
and soul, and no one claimed
private ownership of any
possessions, but everything they
owned was held in common. ”
~ Acts 4:32

3. Compare that verse with others…

6. “There was not a needy person among
them, for as many as owned lands or
houses sold them and brought the
proceeds of what was sold.
They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it
was distributed to each as any had
need.”
~ Acts 4:34-35

8. • Capitalism: What’s mine is mine, what’s
yours is yours
• Communism : There is no ‘mine’ and
‘yours’
• Tyranny: What’s mine is mine, what’s
yours is also mine
• Christianity: What’s ours is God’s…
therefore what’s mine is yours too

9. “In a world of limited resources,
our wealth is at the expense of
the poor. To put it simply, if we
have it, others cannot.”
~ Richard Foster

10. How is Acts 4:32
even possible?

11. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your
life, what you will eat or drink; or about your
body, what you will wear. Is not life more than
food, and the body more than clothes? Look at
the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap
or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not
much more valuable than they? Can any one
of you by worrying add a single hour to your
life?”
Matthew 6:25-27

12. “And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the flowers of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you
that not even Solomon in all his
splendor was dressed like one of
these. If that is how God clothes the
grass of the field, which is here today
and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you—you
of little faith?”
Matthew 6:28-30

13. ‘Birds of the air’ ‘Grass of the field’

14. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your
Father has been pleased to give you
the kingdom. Sell your possessions
and give to the poor [ACTS 4]. Provide
purses for yourselves that will not wear
out, a treasure in heaven that will never
fail, where no thief comes near and no
moth destroys. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.”
(Luke 12:31-34)

15. “And do not set your heart on what
you will eat or drink; do not worry about
it. For the pagan world runs after all
such things, and your Father knows
that you need them. But seek his
kingdom, and these things will be given
to you as well.”
(Luke 12:29-31)

16. Christian
Consumerism
• Don’t worry, nothing
bad will happen
• Don’t worry about
tomorrow, God will
take care of your
worldly treasures
• Give and God will
bless you
• Bad things will (very
likely) happen - but don’t
worry
• Make God your only
treasure, and you won’t
have to worry about
losing earthly treasures
• Give, for God has
already blessed you
Jesus

17. Christianity is not about “how to
live a worry-free life”…
It’s ULTIMATELY about what
our treasure is…where our
heart is

20. What kind of faith did the early
church have?

21. “With great power the
apostles gave their testimony
to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus, and great grace was
upon them all.”
~ Acts 4:33

24. It’s NOT about…
• How ‘nice’ church people are (other
people’s goodness)
• How much God has blessed us
(circumstances)
• How strong or ‘coherent’ our theology is
(mad-made system)
• How ‘Christian’ (or spiritual) we feel
(psychological certainty)

25. “Our lifestyle is not our private
affair. We dare not allow each
person to do what is right in his or
her own eyes. The Gospel
demands more of us…the Church
must hammer out the shape of
Christian simplicity in the midst of
modern affluence.”
~ Richard Foster

26. Conclusion
• Anchor our faith in the Resurrection of
Jesus
• Never anchor our faith on anything else
• If the Resurrection is true, then you know you will
ALWAYS have grace in this life (and the next)
• Make giving and generosity a way of life
• Refuse to define ourselves by our bank account,
what we own, etc.
• Embrace and model the MIRACLE of Christian
simplicity