The Early Christians Shared Everything
Acts 4:32-37
Our story comes from a book of the Bible called Acts. That name is short for “the Acts of the Apostles.” The word "Apostle" is another word to describe a helper of Jesus.
Our Bible story tells us about some people who loved Jesus. The people were gathered together in a room. Buzz, buzz, buzz. The room filled with talking and laughter. The people called themselves Christians because they did what Jesus Christ said to do (Christian means "follower of Christ"). The Christians knew that Jesus was God’s Son. They wanted others to know about Jesus, too.
Grandmas, grandpas, moms, dads, and children met together in homes. They would pray, sing, and learn about Jesus together. All these people loved Jesus. They were like one big, happy family.
Because they loved Jesus, the Christians happily shared what they had more than others. Everything a person had was happily shared with the rest of the Bible-time Christians.
They shared food so everyone had enough to eat. They shared clothes so everyone had something to wear. And they shared money so people could buy what they needed. The Bible-time Christians were happy to share because it was one way they could share Jesus’ love.
One of the Christians was called Barnabas. His real name was Joseph. But he was so helpful and encouraging to others that people gave him the nickname Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement."
Barnabas wanted to show his love for Jesus. So, one day, he sold some of his land. He happily took the money to his Christian friends. He wanted to share his money with his friends so they could buy what they needed.
Like Barnabas, many people shared to show their love for Jesus. All the people in the Bible-time church family had the things they needed. If someone needed food, the Christians shared with them. If someone needed money, the Christians shared with them, too.
Sharing made the Bible-time Christians happy. Sharing makes everyone happy.
Bible Paraphrase: Let us do good to all people. (Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. – Galatians 6:10 NIV)
Text Truth: Sharing makes everyone happy.
The early Christians were no strangers to stress. Their belief in Jesus often led to persecution and isolation. Even so, the believers were one in heart and mind. They shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them.
The love and harmony experienced in the early church were powered by the Holy Spirit. He kept the experience of being with Jesus real. He is the same Spirit which dwells in today’s believers. That means that the sharing, caring relationships of Acts can be a reality for us today.
Ask God to reveal to you ways to foster the spirit of sharing within your own relationships with believers.
Our story comes from a book of the Bible called Acts. That name is short for “the Acts of the Apostles.” The word "Apostle" is another word to describe a helper of Jesus.
Our Bible story tells us about some people who loved Jesus. The people were gathered together in a room. Buzz, buzz, buzz. The room filled with talking and laughter. The people called themselves Christians because they did what Jesus Christ said to do (Christian means "follower of Christ"). The Christians knew that Jesus was God’s Son. They wanted others to know about Jesus, too.
Grandmas, grandpas, moms, dads, and children met together in homes. They would pray, sing, and learn about Jesus together. All these people loved Jesus. They were like one big, happy family.
Because they loved Jesus, the Christians happily shared what they had more than others. Everything a person had was happily shared with the rest of the Bible-time Christians.
They shared food so everyone had enough to eat. They shared clothes so everyone had something to wear. And they shared money so people could buy what they needed. The Bible-time Christians were happy to share because it was one way they could share Jesus’ love.
One of the Christians was called Barnabas. His real name was Joseph. But he was so helpful and encouraging to others that people gave him the nickname Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement."
Barnabas wanted to show his love for Jesus. So, one day, he sold some of his land. He happily took the money to his Christian friends. He wanted to share his money with his friends so they could buy what they needed.
Like Barnabas, many people shared to show their love for Jesus. All the people in the Bible-time church family had the things they needed. If someone needed food, the Christians shared with them. If someone needed money, the Christians shared with them, too.
Sharing made the Bible-time Christians happy. Sharing makes everyone happy.
Text Truth: Sharing makes everyone happy.
Family Devotional
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. – Acts 4:32
The early Christians were no strangers to stress. Their belief in Jesus often led to persecution and isolation. Even so, the believers were one in heart and mind. They shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them.
The love and harmony experienced in the early church were powered by the Holy Spirit. He kept the experience of being with Jesus real. He is the same Spirit which dwells in today’s believers. That means that the sharing, caring relationships of Acts can be a reality for us today.
Ask God to reveal to you ways to foster the spirit of sharing within your own relationships with believers.
Activities You Can Do at Home
Share and Eat
Encourage sharing by taking two crackers for yourself and sharing with your child. Say, "Sharing makes everyone happy, especially Jesus."
Sing this song to the tune of "London Bridge."
Read children's books about sharing. Ask questions about who shared (or didn't), what was shared (or not), and the outcome.
Gathered some items in your house that the early Christians shared with one another. You might include food, clothing, and play money. Review the Bible story by pretending to share these things, just as the early Christians did. Then relate the Bible story to the present by playing a word game with your child. Name a church member, friends, relative, or neighbor your child knows and have your child suggest something to share with this person. Your child might want to share cookies with a teacher or a toy with another child.
As your child chooses to share, stop and thank God for helping us to share. When your child has difficulty sharing, pray and ask God to help.
Jesus Helps Me Give and Share
Sing this song to the tune of "London Bridge."
Jesus helps me give and share,
(Raise arms, palms up)
Give and share, give and share.
(Pretend to hand something to someone.)
Jesus helps me give and share.
(Raise arms, palms up.)
Sharing makes me happy.
(Clap to rhythm.)
Who Shared? Who Did Not Share?
Read children's books about sharing. Ask questions about who shared (or didn't), what was shared (or not), and the outcome.
Share Like the Early Christians Did
Gathered some items in your house that the early Christians shared with one another. You might include food, clothing, and play money. Review the Bible story by pretending to share these things, just as the early Christians did. Then relate the Bible story to the present by playing a word game with your child. Name a church member, friends, relative, or neighbor your child knows and have your child suggest something to share with this person. Your child might want to share cookies with a teacher or a toy with another child.
Share and Give Thanks
As your child chooses to share, stop and thank God for helping us to share. When your child has difficulty sharing, pray and ask God to help.
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Story illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages (http://freebibleimages.org) for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported licence.
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