Sacrificial Generosity
Part 4

Sacrificial Generosity - Part 4

Daniel Knutson

June 27

Sacrificial Generosity

Radical Hospitality

Uncommon Humility

Undeniable Kingdom Impact

Acts 6:1-7

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the HellenisticJewsamong them complained against theHebraic Jews because their widowswere being overlookedin the daily distribution of food.

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priestsbecame obedient to the faith.

James 1: 27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

We can’t live the same way the world lives. And in the next chapter James warns against favoritism. He says…

James 2:8

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

We don’t give to get

We give to unleash God’s goodness