“Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.” They gave where there was need.” – Acts 2:44-45
Everything we have has been given to us by God. Because of His generosity towards us, we can and should be generous to others. This is His desire for His people, expressed throughout the Old and New Testament. We are able to use our resources in a tangible way to partner with God’s work in the world and in the lives of those around us.
As we continue to look to Acts 2 as a model for the body of Christ, we see that the first Christians did not hold onto their possessions tightly. They were quick to sell or share their possessions and their goods, meeting one another’s needs. They held a right view of their things: They were managers of the blessings God had given them, not owners.
What would happen in our churches if everyone recognized God’s provision, joyfully and willingly embraced a new perspective on stewardship, and took clear steps towards loving God and others with the gifts He’s given?
We’ve seen countless lives transformed and blessed through the rhythm of sacrificial giving. In Rooted, this includes talking through biblical principles for managing money wisely and why it’s important. We challenge the participants to take a look at their finances: Where are they wasting money? Where are they in debt? Are they hoarding God’s resources or giving sacrificially? What do their finances reveal about their trust in God? We also offer tools for the participant to learn how to manage their resources well. We believe that living a life of sacrificial generosity is key to the work of God in and through the local church.
We’d love to hear about your own life-change related to sacrificial giving. How has your life, your church, or your community experienced the blessing of generosity? Email us or tag us in your social media posts. Let’s not only share our gifts—let’s share our stories!
We’d also love to help you lead your church into a deeper understanding and practice of the Seven Rhythms introduced in Rooted. We are here to inspire, equip, and resource you in your disciple-making journey. If you’d like to learn more about Rooted and the seven rhythms, download a free sample and sign up for our next “What Is Rooted?” webinar.
Jessica Ludwig is the Marketing Manager at Rooted Network. She loves people and her favorite activities include cooking for and hosting friends and family, sharing about the redemptive work of Jesus in her life, and encouraging others on their faith journey. She studied the Bible at Calvary Chapel Bible College before stepping into full-time ministry 13 years ago. She is married to Nathan and lives in Southern California.
