SERMON NOTES

Title: BREATH - "All In"

Scripture: Acts 4:32-37

Main Takeaway: One breath. One heart. Open hands.

Context: The Overflow of Encounter

• Peter and John demonstrated boldness after being with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

• All the believers prayed for great boldness (Acts 4:29), and after prayer, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and the meeting place shook (Acts 4:31).

• The community's actions with their possessions were a direct result of this encounter with God.

I. One Heart, One Mind (v. 32a)

• Unity is a shared center and common allegiance, not uniformity of opinion.

• The Holy Spirit aligns what fear, pride, and self-protection normally keep divided.

II. Open Hands (vv. 32b-35)

• This posture—holding possessions loosely—is a theological statement, rooted in belief in the resurrection.

• It led to an "other-centredness" that resulted in a staggering outcome: "There were no needy people among them" (v. 34).

III. Barnabas (vv. 36-37)

• Barnabas (Joseph), whose nickname means "Son of Encouragement," is the human example of this generosity.

• He sold his land (security/wealth) and gave the money away, defining himself not by what he accumulated but by his encouragement and investment in others.

Closing Challenge

• The Spirit fills so He can be breathed outward into community.

• What would it look like for our community to be known for unity, generosity, and being "Barnabases"?