Pastor Podcast - Acts 4:32 - 5:11 - Healthy Fear & Commitment

Each week Pastor Mark takes time to go deeper and talk about the week's message!  If you have questions you'd like him to answer or hear more about please send those in by texting us at the link in the show notes!

You can also view video of this podcast and our Sunday sermons by visiting our YouTube channel!

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Casual faith falls apart the moment it costs you something, so we’re asking a harder question: what does a healthy fear of the Lord actually look like? As we keep walking through Acts 4:32 to 5:11, we talk about why the early church was marked not only by great commitment, great power, and great grace, but also by great fear and why that’s a gift, not a problem to solve. We want the kind of reverence that deepens joy, strengthens worship, and makes room for real transformation. 

We also tackle the tension many of us feel. God invites intimacy: bold prayer, honest questions, and daily fellowship. Yet reverence matters because God is holy, sees the posture of our hearts, and hates sin. That reality should shape how we gather on Sunday and how we live on Monday, from focus in worship to integrity in private choices. We discuss why fearing people’s opinions can quietly replace fearing God, and how that shift drains courage, obedience, and spiritual vitality. 

Acts 5 brings a sobering case study through Ananias and Sapphira. Their story is not about God demanding a certain dollar amount; it’s about performative spirituality, self-promotion, and trying to look devoted without being surrendered. We connect that warning to other biblical themes like Isaiah’s call for sincere repentance and Jesus’ critique of religion done for attention. Then we move into generosity, stewardship, and tithing as practical training for open-handed living, along with wise discernment for meeting real needs in the church community. 

If you want a clearer, stronger, more grounded Christian life, this conversation will press on your motives while also giving you hope. Listen, share it with a friend who’s hungry for deeper worship and real discipleship, and then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one area where you need to recover reverence this week?

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Intro music by Joey Blair

Transcript

Welcome And Why We Gather

SPEAKER_03 0:15

Well, hey, Lifehouse family, welcome back to our weekly time with Pastor Mark. We take uh just 20-30 minutes to go deeper, dig into the sermon, the scripture that we're going through, and hopefully give you some uh just something through your week to take away. And hopefully, as always, we don't walk out of church and just leave everything behind. We continue to carry it forward into our week. God's word should change us and how we can look forward. And I think, especially in the book of Acts, as we're going through understanding more of the early church, God's plan for believers. I mean, a lot we can get into this week, but any kind of general reflections as we're looking at.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

The early church was a great church. It was a model church. And I often say that I'm burdened in some ways. I mean, I think our church is a great church in many regards. I'm so thankful. And so I want to, I don't want to like, you know, disparage the beautiful work that God has brought forth here. But I am burdened to a degree when I see what's described, you know, the description of the early church and and, you know, the instructions to the early church. I just feel that we can do more, we can be more, you know, and so I'm burdened to be all that we can be, not settle for less. And so, yeah, the early church is a great church, and what we see in the passage, so it was Acts chapter 4, verse uh 32 through 511, you know, that that church was marked by great commitment, by great power, by great grace, and by great fear. And really, what I want to focus on and wanted to focus on yesterday, but even today in our conversation is great fear and how that's such a good thing. That's a glorious thing, right? Proverbs 1-7 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, of wisdom. It's a good thing. It's appropriate to fear the Lord. So I'll stop there. What are your thoughts on it?

Marks Of A Great Church

SPEAKER_03 2:05

Yeah, I think, man, a lot we can take and all those points, and yes, starting, you know, kind of with the fear, you know, the last perspective, but you know, truly our faith should be something that is unique in that way. Like a lot of faith, people trying to work their way, you know, there's not as much fear other than your own failure. Whereas for us, when we have a relationship with the one true God, I think that brings a healthy relationship of who we are coming to faith and who God is and what it took to save us. So I think that also brings healthier fear rather than God's gonna strike us down with thunderbolts. And I know we can talk about Ananias and Sapphira and what we can learn from that, because certainly there's serious implications. And should we be walking around in that kind of fear or what kind of fear should we have?

SPEAKER_01 2:52

I mean, so I want to say, so I guess I want to start with like there is, I mean, it's all about relationship. Yes. You know, I mean, he's Abba, Father, and you know, Hebrews 4 talks about how we can come boldly before his throne of grace. You know, like we can just barge in, you know, and anywhere, anytime, like fall to our knees and pray and have a conversation with the Lord and seek his face. And so there is that familiarity that is encouraged, you know, we are told to ask, to seek, and to knock, like no matter when. And so, like that familiarity, that fellowship. I mean, John in 1 John talked about how his fellowship was with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And so there is this intimacy that I don't want to downplay or discourage, you know. I mean, but at the same time, it's appropriate to fear the Lord. And trying to try to break this down and what this means, because that doesn't sound appealing. Like, who wants to fear something, you know? And you know, we even hear about exhortations like, you know, God doesn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. But we're talking about something different, like not this terror, like like we would be afraid of the boogeyman, or but an appropriate respect and reverence, you know, and and one of the things I I often talk about my grandchildren, Elliot and Sutton, who are Elliot just turned four, Sutton is two years old. And I'm a little bit concerned because they have no fear of anything or anyone. And so they'll they'll literally just run out into the street. There's not a proper respect for the danger, right? For the cars and what could potentially happen if they were to run out into the street. I want them to have a little bit of fear. They're not afraid of anybody, they'll run up to anyone and start having a conversation. Well, there are some people that I don't necessarily want them to have conversation with. I want them to stay close, you know, to me and to their parents. And in the same way, like, you know, people, we just need to have an appropriate respect and reverence for the power and the holiness of God and the reverence of God. And so I think that there's a balance with that familiar familiarity and that intimacy that we want to foster, but it should be coupled with reverence and fear. And I'm burdened because I think this in particular is something that is lost on us here at Lifehouse Church, even, but just Americans in general. I don't necessarily think other cultures around the world it's lost on to the degree that it's lost on Americans. I mean, but and I think that plays out in our services, you know, with just the moving around. You know, there are obviously non-believers who probably don't necessarily want to be there. Maybe their mom dragged them or dad drug drugged them to church, or maybe a spouse that doesn't want to be there. And there's just a lot of movement. And what I want to be careful of in the service, right? In the sanctuary, right? It's not an auditorium, it's a sanctuary. And we are the body of Christ, and we're there to worship the Lord who is holy. You know, he's not our homeboy, he is the friend that sits closer than our brother, but he is too respected and be revered. And that's the attitude and the posture that our heart should have as we come in. I don't know. Before I go any further, any thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_03 6:12

A lot, a lot to say. And I think as you're talking to something when as we study who God is, the relationship you mention, it's a

Intimacy With God And Reverence

SPEAKER_03 6:20

multidimensional relationship. Too many times we want to make God one-dimensional of what we just fear and we make him king. And, you know, like again, that's the you know, in improper picture of God as just this, you know, sitting there waiting to. But some people view one-dimensionally, ah, he's just the friend, he's just the buddy, you know. Like, no, it's both. And there's so many dimensions to a relationship, you know, just like Jesus, prophet, priest, king, warrior, you know, all of those pictures we see. And if we just take one, it will be the wrong kind of fear. I think it takes all of the full picture of who Christ is, who God is, for us to fully relate to him, where it brings the reverence, but also the comfort of coming before him that we can't approach, but we approach in a way that is respectful and reverent.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

Respectful, yeah. And so we just want that to play out in how we worship, not even just really how we worship on Sunday mornings, but you know, we we really want to promote worship as a lifestyle here. Worship is all of us responding to him all the time, not just on Sunday mornings, but we should have that appropriate fear of the Lord every day of our lives, you know, and how we live out our lives, how we lead our families, how we give, how we serve, how we live. Like it should all be in light of a holy, righteous God, you know, who hates sin and who is righteous in all his ways, who sees all and who knows all, right? And he sees the posture of our hearts. And so, in particular, in regards to Sunday mornings, you know, and and what we see in this passage, I mean, we see this couple, you know. First, we see this wonderful great church, and they're all like they have one heart, and the the apostles are preaching with great power, and we're told that there's great grace, you know, that's upon everyone, and it's so amazing. And and Barnabas, who's also known as the son of encouragement, has a piece of property, he sells it and he he lays the proceeds at the apostles' feet, and it's such a glorious thing. Like, who would lead someone to do that? Like someone who has been encountered by the great grace of God, Barnabas had, and then comes in Ananias and Sapphira, who had a piece of property and who they sold it, and they gave part of the proceeds, and what ends up happening is God strikes them dead, like right then and there. So, what's that about? Like, was God mad because they only gave a part of it and not the full amount? I don't think that was their sin. It was really what was going on was that their worship was a farce, and that really what they're giving was about was them elevating themselves and not really having a heart to honor God and to bless the Lord and his kingdom and to to invest in the kingdom in that way. They gave so that people could say, Oh, wow, look at Ananias and Sapphira. And man, they gave, they sold land and they gave it all, you know, laid it at the apostles' feet, you know, and it was all about them. And so God saw that and it stank to him. And really, when you think about the beauty of what was taking place within the church at that time, all these people living and fellowshipping with great commitment with one another, and it was just so wonderful. And then this stain, you know, the stinky act tries to get into play, and God's like, not gonna have it, you know. And it reminds me of Isaiah chapter one when the people of God were doing all the right things. Like Isaiah chapter one, it talks about them. I mean, they were in the right place at the right time, singing the right songs, and they were giving offerings and they were praying prayers, but God saw their hearts and they were just going

What Sunday Worship Communicates

SPEAKER_01 9:55

through the motions, right? And they were there not to honor him, to acknowledge him, to worship him, but really probably to get something from him, or or to be seen by their their friends, and they were just going through the motions, and God says, please stop. Your, in essence, your worship, quote unquote, is making me sick. I think what Ananias and Sapphira did really displeased the heart of God. It stank to him. And he was like, and what's beautiful is in Isaiah chapter one, we see the heart of God is to even show grace and in saying, like, stop what you're doing in the way you're doing it. He says in Isaiah chapter one, come, reason, let us reason together. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow. Like, we'll make it right, but you gotta repent. Stop doing what you're doing and come. But yeah, we don't want to be like Ananias and Sapphira. We want to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. John 4 says he's seeking those kind of people. Joshua chapter 24, the exhortation from Joshua is to fear the Lord and to as such serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness, right? Don't don't try to you know serve God in money, right? In Joshua 24, it's choose this day whom you will serve. Put away the gods your sir your fathers served in Egypt. And yeah, in Matthew chapter 5, 6, and 7, the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus talks about the Pharisees who were giving, who were praying, who were even fasting, but they were doing so not for the glory of God, in the same way. Ananias and Sapphira, they were doing it to get attention from people. When they fast, they disfigured their faces. When they prayed, they did it on the street corner so people could say, Oh, what an eloquent prayer. And when they gave, they would literally sound a trumpet to say, hey, everybody, like let's laud and applaud the person who gave the money. And so they were giving to be seen by others, not to worship God and to truly sincerely invest in the kingdom. And God doesn't want that. We don't want that. We want sincere worship.

SPEAKER_03 11:58

Who we are is important before what we do. Right. I think a lot of times we've talked about that a little bit in the spring as we've gone through is God wants your heart first and then what you do. And in this case, their God doesn't have their heart. Their heart is towards a prideful perception, wanting to look good or compete, maybe. Oh yeah, Barnabas did that. We we got to do that too, rather than praying, like, Lord, what would you have us do? Because we're submitted to that and whatever that looks like. But in this case, we want to look good, but still have something for ourselves. And I think that who and be is important. But we talk about a lot on Sunday morning. How can that carry through the week? How should a fear of the Lord look as going into

Ananias And Sapphira And Motives

SPEAKER_03 12:40

the workplace, being at home throughout the week? What do you think are some ways we can really apply that kind of fear of the Lord principle?

SPEAKER_01 12:48

And again, it's so hard using the word fear, but reverence, respect. I think it's more it's not a terror, it's not a horror, it's not a you know, cowering you know, away, but it's the respect that Yeah, and I think not to diminish what it means, but literally to just consider what it might look like in applying it to our lives every day beyond Sunday mornings, is to be think is to really, I think, utilize the word respect and revere, you know, the Lord. So how can we do that every day of our lives? I th I think it's just, you know, I think starting our day with prayer in the Word of God, like acknowledging God, like, you know, expressing our dependence, you know, upon the Lord, our need for the Lord and and His and our faith in Him. So so just even starting by you know, with that discipline, I think it would mean truly assessing why we do what we do. I think an appropriate prayer is that Psalm is it 139, search me, O God, and know my heart. Like, why am I doing this? You know, and lead me in the way of righteousness, like and have an awareness of needs that are, you know, around us, and and making sure that we're not giving to be seen by others, but really seeking to honor the Lord and to bless the Lord and sacrificing and giving and doing things, leading our families well, knowing that God sees all and knows all. He knows the posture of our hearts. So the things that we may think no one else sees, you know, in the dark sin, you know, habits, pornography, like, you know, what we're doing online behind closed doors or with the lights turned off, like God sees it all and know and that. And so just kind of being aware and not doing those things, like because we respect the Lord and we don't want to invite sin into our lives because God hates sin. So God sees it all. And so not being necessarily afraid of the fact that God sees all and knows all, but kind of resting in the fact that God sees all and knows all. And like, no, I'm not gonna do that because I know God sees and I want to honor Him. So what would I do this or that if I knew God saw me, you know, and and knowing God sees me, and so I'm not gonna do this or that because I don't want to dishonor him or displease him.

SPEAKER_03 15:02

Yeah, exactly. And I think Ananias and Sapphira, that's what Peter says. Like, you're not gonna lie to the Holy Spirit. And so I think that's that fear in a healthy way when we understand that we have the Holy Spirit and God is with us, well, that should impact what we do when nobody's looking, or when we're just home with our family. Are we lazy and in how we should be serving our family, or when we go into our workplace? You know, are we, you know, kind of slack and not trustworthy? You know, so I think that should really shape then how we live it out. And when we live that different way from that standpoint, that's where we can make an impact. You know, that's when the grace, that's when being able to testify to the resurrection, all of those things will start to have a real change in our environment.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

Aaron Ross Powell I mean, it's really not rocket science, it's just living out your life faithfully, right? You could say living out your life fearfully, right? You know, before the Lord. Just be faithful to the Lord, like like live out, walk in step with the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit, like run from the flesh with its passions and desires. Honor the Lord in in the way you live your life. And that in essence is living in the fear of the Lord, you know. Being obedient, being obedient to scripture. Yeah. Being men and women of integrity of character, and even in the dark, you know, when you think no one else is looking around. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:26

So and that's what Jesus says. Fear the one who has the all-powerful, almighty, eternal view, versus too often we get fearful of man. Man, right the wrong kind of fear of just fearing that perception that, uh, you know, we're we're not this, you know, living up or being holy then, or competing, even in a worldly sense. Yeah. Making putting our identity, making it something where we're chasing things that aren't of the Lord. So I think those are important things that, not just on Sunday morning, but how we live that out is pretty critical. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

Yeah. And there's two places in the gospels. I can't remember either reference right now. I should. This is what happens when you get old. But Jesus very, it's recorded about Jesus very explicitly saying, in essence, don't fear man. Right even though man can kill your body, like, you know, don't fear man. Because that's the thing. One of the things that, you know, we make excuses, we're not obedient because we're afraid of what might happen or how this or that person, that man might respond. But but what Jesus says, truly, I tell you, my friends, like, don't fear man, fear God, right? Who after he kills the body can throw your soul into hell. Like Jesus says it very explicitly. It is appropriate, it is good, and he encourages and exhorts. Again, Jesus never made suggestions, he gives commands, and so it's not a suggestion, like fear the Lord, fear God. And that's a good thing. You want to teach your kids to fear the Lord. I think that, you know, I talked on Sunday mornings about, you know, children even being in the worship service. And I think that that's one, that's fertile ground for a place where you as an adult can teach and disciple your child to fear the Lord. How you, I mean, if you're on your phone looking social media while the sermon's being preached, if you're falling asleep, like you're not teaching your kids to fear the Lord. But if you put your phone away, you show your kids, no, we're gonna focus on the word of God being preached. Like we're gonna put our phones away and we're gonna worship the Lord and we're gonna gather every Sunday morning, like, you know, when we can, while we can. Like that is teaching and discipling your children to have appropriate respect for the Lord, allowing them to just wander, you know, oh, you you can go to the bathroom in the middle of the sermon. They don't really have to go to the bathroom, usually, you know, that's not really helping them, you know. And and really, that's what we see oftentimes and what struggle, what I struggle with on Sunday mornings, is, you know, some maybe some teens or even adults just kind of sauntering in and out like it's a free-for-all and not a worship service. And that's what I'm burdened by, that's what I want to change and really help integrate within our congregation a pro an appropriate respect and fear for the Lord.

SPEAKER_03 19:11

Very important topic. And I think another in this passage that would be worth you know spending some time on contextually, right? We talk about we see the believers selling and having everything in common. How should we think about that, you know, in 2026? You know, we're in a different culture. Should we be selling everything and living in a commune?

SPEAKER_01 19:30

Or no, and I don't think that this was you know, trying to push that kind of political agenda. But I do think, I mean, Jesus was very clear about laying up treasures in heaven, you know, where moth, rust cannot destroy. And I think that we should seek to, when we can and while we can, invest in the kingdom in very generous ways and even do crazy things. I mean, I do know, in thinking about the beginning of this church and even just this building, you know, that we're in right now, and and the level of investments, you know, that people went through and the things that they sold. It might not have been land, it might have been just a lot of stock. But there are some people who gave, you know, I'm just gonna say

Fear Of The Lord All Week

SPEAKER_01 20:10

it, hundreds of thousands of dollars because they saw and see this as a worthy investment. They know, they knew, and and hopefully, you know, they'll they're blessed by what they see. They see that that was a good kingdom investment, but they relinquished that. They didn't give that money so that they could be on the elder board or so that they could, you know, have control and make sure that I only preach what they want me to preach. But no, they wanted to to provide a kingdom resource where they knew that the kingdom of God would be advanced and the cause of Christ would be advanced and the word of God would be proclaimed here. And so they invested and relinquished those funds, significant amount of funds, to do that. And so I think we do that when we tithe, you know, when when we really look about, you know, so many people when they consider it may not, you know, consider feel like a lot the week that you give it, but when you add up, you know, over the course of a year what you invest, it's significant. And I don't want people to feel like burdened by that. I I I know when I look back, I think, man, what a joy it is to be able to invest in the kingdom a significant amount, knowing that God uses it. You know, but I I I think that I know the people that gave that as described in Acts chapter four, leading into chapter five, Barnabas as an example, had encountered the grace of God and they saw it, and and it was joyful and an opportunity for them to invest in the kingdom and lay up, therefore, treasures in heavens, just like Jesus talked about in his Sermon on the Mount.

SPEAKER_03 21:42

Exactly. And I think sacrificially is the point. You know, are we giving everything? Again, contextually here is a little different, but are we invested? You know, like you said, or is it just when it's convenient, or you know, how do we view that? I think it ties very much to fear, you know, when we understand it's all God's anyway. We're not taking any of it. Ecclesiastes, it's why it's one of my favorite books in the Bible, because it reminds you you can't take it with you. None of it's going to satisfy you. So when we have the right perspective, we see that this is laying up the treasure in heaven. This is being part of the work in that. And I think that's a lot of times what can hold the church back when we don't have that fear and we don't have that commitment, you know, kind of the bookends of what we talk, because the fear and the commitment who we are then invoke and bring the power and the grace.

SPEAKER_01 22:29

Trevor Burrus, Jr. And you just at in principle, truly, when you're giving in the right way, you cannot outgive God. And I think that's true. Yeah, and that's the thing. Yeah, when you look at you know Malachi three and the exhortation that God gives to his people to tithe and to bring the full tithe into the storehouse. And he promises, see if I will not thereby open the windows of heaven and bless you until you have no more need.

SPEAKER_03 22:54

And I just not want, but need, right? Important. I think important people, prosperity. Well, I get what I want, Name McClint, though, like God will supply your needs.

SPEAKER_01 23:02

But I see that. How God, like in my own life, I am passionate. I've talked about it on this podcast before, passionate about tithing, because I think that really is such a good discipline to engage in because it really does posture your heart and strengthen those muscles so that if God were to ever lead you do something crazy, like sell your car or like sell your land, even or your house. And I know people that have done that and not regretted it. They have felt blessed to be able, God gave them the ability to do that. And it didn't then make them destitute. They're not living on the streets. No, I mean, he gave them and blessed them in such a way that they were able to do that and still live and the abundant life that he promised to give them. And so it's just, yeah, it's such a blessing to be able to give in that way. And when people are faithful in the little, they'll be faithful in the much. And God really, so I would say that one way to kind of exercise and even do something crazy, like sell a house or land or a car or something else, stock even that could buy a house or land, you know, start with giving on a regular basis and make the goal to actually tithe and give 10% on a regular weekly or monthly basis. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:19

I think it's important. It says those who are believed were one heart and soul. So even before the giving, it came from that heart and soul, you know, that commitment level. And then that's what leads to and it's not just your money. You know, we talk about that, we see possessions, but being one heart and soul, like they were caring for each other. You know, we'll see when we get into like deacons, widows, orphans, things as we move along in Acts, but there was a serving, you know, that was part of it. So I know there's been times in my life where I would be financially, but it's like, don't bother me, you know, to give any time or, you know, whatever. So we have to always, you know, that investment and commitment I think is

Generosity That Lays Up Treasure

SPEAKER_03 24:55

important to make sure we're, you know, not just thinking it's all financial, because we are blessed, you know, some people in in our country, but maybe that's easy, but I don't want to give time or talents or energy or take time to pray with people. You know, that can be stepping out, different things that we can do to be one heart and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 25:14

Amen. And I don't want to think about in a legalistic way, but I think one of the pro like we see it, there's so many promises in scripture. I mean, I it's in 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 7 and 8, but it's here, like where it says, like we see these people giving in this way so generously. However, on the back side of that it says, and no one had any need, or more literally translated, no one was lacking anything. Like, even though they gave so generously, selling houses and lands, like no one in the church was lacking anything. Everyone was still able to thrive, and there was joy, and great grace was upon everyone. And so that's what God promises in scripture in Malachi 3, 2 Corinthians 9 7, and even here, that when even when people step out in faith and give sacrificially in this way, no one was lacking anything. And I've seen that in my own life. How stepping out in faith and giving and sacrificially giving, even how like the righteous never go begging for bread. Like, you know, I I may not get the brand new pair of shoes that I wanted like next week, but I still have shoes that have souls and gas in the car and food on the table, and God no one lacked because great grace was upon them all. And that's what our God does. He is such a good provider and blesses those who are committed and devoted to him in that way.

SPEAKER_03 26:35

Aaron Powell And how we're set apart as a church, how we really show our testimony to the world is that, hey, this is a different kind of people. They're not just pushing people off on, you know, the government or those kind of things, but truly we care about the people within the body. There is a true concern, and kind of just rapping into the Ananias and Sapphira being about themselves, but a great church is about one another and the community of faith.

SPEAKER_01 27:00

I will say that. Now, I will I I know we're probably running out of time, but I do want to one thing to kind of point on because that there was contextually, it was different. So they did not have the systems, the welfare, Medicare, Social Security that we have in our country, in our context. You know, no one had any need. You know, the widows, we actually see a need, you know, something come up as Acts continues because the the Hellenist uh Jew Jews or whatever the Christians who who became Christ were like kind of being overlooked or neglected and not taken care of. Sometimes people can come to church and they can read these scriptures and they're be regardless of how they live their life, and they're like, Well, I have a need. You know, I'm struggling to make my mortgage payment, you know. So, Nate, you should give me some money because I know you're not struggling to make your mortgage payment, or you get I got gas, you got gas in your car, I need gas in my car. So I actually had someone text me this weekend who hasn't been to church for like years, and really with kind of a sense of entitlement, saying, like, I need gas in my car, you know, I need you to send me some money. And I'm not gonna tell you whether I did or I didn't, you know, but I what you know, there's in I think it's 1 Timothy chapter 5, where Timothy was the pastor of the church in Ephesus, and there were a lot of widows in that time who didn't have the Social Security or benefits or or anything. And in that context, women could not work and they didn't have the opportunities that women in our context did. So Paul gave Timothy some instructions and basically said, No, Timothy, like you don't need to feel like you're obligated to meet the need of every single person that comes to you with their handout. He says, Listen, if the widow has a family that can take care of her, that's their responsibility, first and foremost. He goes on to say, if there's a widow who's self-indulgent, let her be self-indulgent. Like you don't you don't need to feel responsible to to take care of that person. He says, if a widow is young enough to get

Meeting Needs With Discernment

SPEAKER_01 28:55

married again, he said, encourage her to do that. And I I kind of interpret that if someone can help themselves, if they're in a position where they can help themselves, encourage them to do that. But only if a widow is truly a widow, as a part of the church, a faithful member of the church, like and and contributing and and relating to people, that's when the church should absolutely feel responsible and obligated to help. And so there's a little bit of a const contextual nuance. I think some people can read like this Acts 4 and say, Well, at that time no one had any needs. Well, I have some needs. Well, if we really kind of break down, there are some people that can help themselves but aren't. There are some people that have other options, but they're not taking advantage of those options. And so it's a little bit complicated, but at the same time, grace, great grace can be upon all of us. We just don't need to necessarily or feel the burden or obligation that anytime someone comes with their hand out, that we are obligated to help them in that way. Even though we have a heart to show compassion and love.

SPEAKER_03 29:56

Well, and in the example you gave of somebody you haven't heard from in a long time, honestly, if we are committed and in community, we're gonna know. You know, like I'm gonna know, like, yeah, you've been great and something has come up, you know, death in the family, or I'm gonna know what's going on in your life and that that is a true need versus like you say, you just show up and I haven't seen you for years and with hands out. So, you know, I think that's important where we should be discerning, you know, and a lot of times how we can support people that may not bring about that entitlement. Right. So we are to be generous, we are to, especially within the household of faith. But I think that's where understanding what that looks like. And here it was pretty obvious, right? Who's in, who's out because of the persecution we talked about last week, pressure versus persecution. You know, when there's not the persecution, like who's the false teachers, who's trying to take advantage? When there's persecution, nobody's hanging hanging around. So we are in, like you say, our cultural context can bring where that can be more difficult to discern. But through lots of prayer, we should be a great church, and a great church will be a generous church. Absolutely. Well, man, as always, so much to unpack. Lifehouse Family, we hope this helps you. Thinking about a lot of things. We do encourage if you have questions you want us to tackle on a weekly basis in the sermon, please send them in. Please send to Mark, myself, any of the church email addresses. We'd

Closing And Send Your Questions

SPEAKER_03 31:20

love to hear from you.

SPEAKER_01 31:20

You might even give some shout-outs to that.

SPEAKER_03 31:22

That's right. You know, bring the good ones, and we would love to tackle things that really matter, help you like this week. How through your week you can continue to live out the fear of the Lord, how we can truly understand what being a great and generous church, these are the things we want to help you in your faith. So reach out anytime. Thank you again for taking the time to listen, and we'll look forward to seeing you next time.