It is easy to read the story about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and be afraid that God might strike you dead if you aren’t generous enough. That’s not what’s going on here; this was a desire for the appearance of sacrificial giving and deceit to accomplish the look. God was not a passive character in this story; rather, He was an active participant. The Holy Spirit was among them, so the couple lied not only to the church but also to God Himself.
God is good, wise, and just, so His punishments are always right. He cares about injustice. He cares about protecting His church. The church in Acts 5 rightly reacted in “great fear” about this, but “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). This incident is an encouragement to us (1) because we see God’s care for His people and the advancement of His kingdom, and (2) because it shows us the importance of sacrificial giving.
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults
Every week for Volume 4: From Captivity to the Wilderness, Ken Braddy, Lifeway’s director of Sunday School, will offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Adults.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Students
Every week, student ministry leaders offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Students. Listen in as he shares:
- The main point of the session
- Any challenges and opportunities for additional discussion that may arise during this session
- Encouragements for leaders
Podcast (studentsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
A Final Reminder
Don’t forget, you can find tools to help you prepare and lead the discussion in the Additional Resources for this volume. We hope these are a blessing to you as you walk through this session together.
*This week’s leader devotional is written by Brandon D. Smith. It is adapted from the daily devotions for Unit 29, Session 1 from The Gospel Project for Adults’ Daily Discipleship Guide.
