| Glad and Generous Hearts —
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in
their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising
God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being
saved. (Acts 2:46-47) I. How did
their hearts come to be glad? A.
Especially when we remember what their hearts had just experienced
(Acts 2:37). B. They believed
that:” 1. The ______________ had come (Acts
2:36) 2. By his sacrifice their _______ could be
forgiven (Acts 2:38) 3. Have been
reconciled, they were added to God’s _____________ people (Acts 2:39-41) 4.
The reasonable response to God’s intervention was __________________
(Acts 2:42-43) C. The words of Jude 24-25 perfectly capture
the “”great joy”” that filled their hearts. II.
How does this gladness of heart produce a spirit of generosity toward
others? A. Acts 2:46 is the only time aphelotes is
used in the New Testament. 1. While it is translated
“”generous”” in the ESV, it can also be translated “sincerity,”
“simplicyit,” or “singleness,” the opposite of the
“double-mindedness” James
recently warned us about (1:5-8; 4:4-8).
2. With “singleness of
heart,” these disciples of Jesus were__________ and __________ 3. Their satisfaction in God and
thankfulness to God produced a spirit of _______ ” handedness and ___________ toward others (Acts
2:44-47). Ill. What about my own heart? A.
Is my heart “”glad””? Do I believe
that:” 1. The Savior has come? (Luke
2:10-11)” 2. By his sacrifice my sins can be forgiven?
(Psa 51:10) 3. Having been reconciled, I have been added
to God’s redeemed people? (Heb 10:21-22)
4. The reasonable response to
God’s intervention is complete devotion? (Rom 12:1) B.
Am I satisfied in God? Am I thankful to God? (Psa 73:23-26) C.
Will my satisfaction in God and thankfulness to God produce a spirit
of open-handedness and liberality toward others this week? (1 Tim 6:17-19) MY NEXT STEP to developing and nurturing a
glad and generous heart is… |
