A Church Like Jesus (pt. 2)

In Session 4, Jim Dalrymple explores Acts 4:32-6:7, emphasizing the church's dual role in Christian Community and Christian Mission. Threats to both aspects emerge, with external challenges like silencing and suffering, and internal issues such as selfishness and neglect of service. Ananias and Sapphira's story illustrates the danger of selfishness, while Acts 5 portrays the church's resilience in the face of external threats, choosing obedience to God. Internal threats in Acts 6:1-7 highlight potential division and neglect, addressed through a comprehensive solution that includes service of the Word and the tables. The session concludes with a positive narrative summary in Acts 6:7, underscoring the continued growth of the word of God and the conversion of many priests in Jerusalem.

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**Backstory: A Church Like Jesus (pt. 2)**

**Acts 4:32-6:7 | Session 4**

Jim Dalrymple | Ozark Christian College

_Review_

**_When we look like Jesus we are called to live in:_**

● Christian Community

● Christian Mission (JerusalemRome)

_Threats to the community & mission of the church_

**_Notice how both external and internal threats weave back and forth in Acts 4-6:_**

● Acts 4:1-41 External Threat 

● Acts 4:32-5:16 Internal Threat 

● Acts 5:17-42 External Threat 

● Acts 6:1-7 Internal Threat 

**_External Threats_**

1. Silencing

2. Suffering

3. Scattering

**_Internal Threats_**

1. Selfishness

2. Service (failing to meet needs)

**_Notice how these threats are to both:_**

1. Christian Community

2. Christian Mission

_Internal Threat: Selfishness (Acts 4:32-5:16)_

**Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)**

● Ancient benefaction & sharing of property. 

● “Keep back” – same word meaning “embezzled” (cf. Titus 2:10).

● Similar to Achan’s sin (Joshua 7:1) The church is the new temple.

● Notice phrase “filled” (5:3) – this time it is Satan, not the Holy Spirit.

_External Threat: Silence & Suffering (Acts 5:17-42)_

**Acts 5:27–29**

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

**Acts 5:41-42**

“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

_Internal Threat: Service Needs (Acts 6:1-7)_

**_A Threat of Division & Neglect:_**

● Disciples were increasing in number.

● Complaint by the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

● God’s concern for widows has a rich OT background.

● Notice the threat of division is cultural here (Hebrew/Hellenistic).

_A Holistic Solution:_

● Service of the Word

● Service of the Tables

_Conclusion_

**Narrative summary in Acts 6:7**

“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”





Lesson 04

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