The early church was marked by both generosity and integrity. These two traits go hand-in-hand. You see, generosity without integrity is not genuine. When someone gives generously because they want to look good in front of others, their hearts are not in the right place. The early church learned this truth first-hand through a couple who gave but lacked the integrity behind their generosity.
BREAK THE ICE
Who is the most generous person you know?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. Why is integrity and generosity connected?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Acts 4:36-5:2. Why do you think Ananias and Sapphira lied about what they gave?
Acts 4:36-5:2
"For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. 5 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest."
"For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
5 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest."
3. Read Acts 5:3-11. Why was God angry about the actions of Ananias and Sapphira? How do you think this affected the early church?
Acts 5:3-11
"Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened."
"Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”
5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”
“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened."
4. Read Proverbs 10:9. In your own words, what is the message of this verse?
Proverbs 10:9
"People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed."
Application
1. Is there an area of life that is off-limits to God?
2. Is there an area where your integrity is at stake of being compromised? What is it?
3. When you think about your own generosity, what would it look like to give with both generosity and integrity?
MOVING FORWARD
Spend some time thinking about one step you can take this week to be people of integrity. Then, have each group member share how they will take a step towards integrity this week. Then, pray together, asking God for the courage to take these steps of integrity beginning today.
GOING DEEPER
When it comes to generosity, understanding the “why” behind generosity is crucial. In fact, understanding why generosity matters motivates us to even greater generosity. Today we are going to explore several passages of Scripture that help us understand why we should be generous. As we study, we will be encouraged to become the generous people that God has called us to be.
We Give Because God is Generous
The world often tells us that generosity does not matter. It is natural to lean towards selfishness and keep all of our possessions to ourselves. It is not this way with God. You see, He calls us to a lifestyle away from selfishness towards generosity, and He models that generosity each day. He is the one we look to when it comes to being generosity, not the world.
1. Read John 3:16.
2. Describe God’s generosity in this verse.
3. What motivated God’s generosity to humanity?
4. How does this understanding help expand your understanding of what it means to be generous?
We Give Because Everything We Have Belongs to God:
One of the things that holds us back from generosity is the belief that everything we have is ours and we have earned it, so there is no need to give that away. This understanding is simply not true. In fact, Scripture teaches us an entirely differently narrative. You see, everything we have is a gift from God and belongs to Him. Because of this, we can freely generous because God has been generous to us.
1. Read Psalm 24:1.
2. According to this verse, what belongs to God?
3. What does this understanding teach us about our belongings and possessions?
4. How does this teaching challenge you as you think about generosity?
God Does A Lot with the Little We Give:
“I don’t have much to give,” is a mindset that holds many of us back from being generous. We think, I do not have much to be generous with, so my generosity can’t make much of an impact. Scripture debunks this mindset by teaching us that God can do a lot with the little bit that we have.
1. Read John 6:1-9.
2. Compare the amount of food that this boy had with the amount of people in the crowd.
3. How did that boy show generosity in this passage of Scripture?
4. What would the boy hove missed out on if he had chosen to keep his meal to himself?
5. What does God do with what we give when we choose to be generous?
Take some time to think what holds you back from being generous. Share it with your group. After everyone has shared, think of one step you can take towards generosity this week. Share that with your group as well. Make a plan to follow up next week to talk about how you took steps towards generosity and what God did.
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