6: Ananias) Learning To Live, Cultivating A True Christian Heart (Pt. One thing that stands out with Ananias and Sapphira is that both of them agreed to lie about the amount of money they received from selling their property. So people thought Ananias and Sapphira were sharing but God knew what they were thinking in their hearts. Did she take her husband aside and recounted to him the faithfulness of God in their lives? She Saw It! . Play another round if time permits. First, Peter told Ananias, You have not lied just to human beings but to God (Acts 5:4). It is hard to read the story of Ananias and Sapphira without your eyes becoming wide open with astonishment. Date: a.d. 35 Name: Sapphira [suh-FIGH-ruh: "beautiful"] Main contribution: Her death for lying to the Holy Spirit inspired awe of God in believers and unbelievers alike. Matthew Boffey (MDiv, Trinity International University) is the pastor of worship at Christ Church Bellingham. Click here for visual aids and story-telling methods. Explain that youll share a true statement about yourself as you toss a penny into the bowl. Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?, She answered, perhaps with a straight face, and quite earnestly, too, Yes, that is the price., Then Peter laments her actions, but, alas, there is no reprieve. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold some of their property and then decided to give part of the money to the church. People heard about Jesus and then told other people. So, what does the story teach us. 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It's time to increase giving while saving money. It is possible that the church's well-intentioned sharing of goods led to a considerable amount of subtle pressure on members to make donations, and that the problem of Ananias and Sapphira is that they wanted to receive a reputation for a greater personal sacrifice than they . They gave some of it to the church and kept the rest. Yes, silence is golden. . Second, no one can jump in twice in a row. But God tells us we can say we are sorry and start telling the truth. Acts 5:1-11 NIV - Ananias and Sapphira - Bible Gateway For instance, its true that God is loving. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before. The Bible says Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. Then say:Now its your turn. Dishonesty can destroy marriages, families, churches, relationships and our witnesses. And he knows our hearts. Before kids arrive, draw a line on a poster. His judgments are his, and he only makes some of them known. It hurts others. She, too, will face the same fate as her dishonest husband, whose demise Sapphira is just being made aware of. The disciples and some 500 others saw Jesus alive after His brutal crucifixion, serving as a testimony of His power over death. You start by naming a vacation destination youve gone to that children have likely visited too:Ive been to_____.That way some kids will be able to toss in a penny on the first turn. In a patriarchal society, it is quite likely that Sapphira did not have much say in such decisions. But Ananias and Sapphira didnt want to give ALL the money to the apostles. The whole church was afraid. Then say:To us, one lie may seem worse than another, but to God a lie is a lie. Too many chew bible leaf and wear religion on their sleeves, while dishonouring Christ in word and deed. Ask:People lie all the time. Lets see how well that last one works. As is often the case with difficult texts, there is a temptation to read more than is there. Read the most well-known Bible Stories with Pictures and learn life lessons that will empower you and restore your faith. Thank you. When the Apostle Peter confronted them, they lied and ended up dead at his feet. John Says No., Strange Fire in Leviticus 10, and Why It Earned a Death Sentence. The shocking incident of Ananias and Sapphira we read in the New Testament will bring us new insight, refine us, and make us ready for the return of our Redeemer. 3 Life Lessons From Ananias and Sapphira - The Wise Believer Is this all the money? Sapphira thought everyone still believed the lie so she said, Yes the amount Ananias said is correct. Maybe they werent as well off as the others, but thinking that they should be just as capable pushed them to sell their property tempting them to lie about it. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This reality should humble each of us. Question for Reflection The Sin of Ananias and Sapphira. It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. Greetings, my dear friend in Christ! Quick link to: A:hover {COLOR: #33bcf2; TEXT-DECORATION: none; font-weight: bold} . Undoubtedly, there are words we said, thoughts upon which we dwelled, and actions weve taken that we know do not align with Gods design and desire for us. . If we lie or steal, we lie or steal as Gods children. And so this is not simply a story of greed in the early Church. There are also some life lessons we can learn from Ananias and Sapphira. It would appear, that Ananias was the chief originator of the plan to keep part of the proceeds of the sale. Undoubtedly, there are words we said, thoughts upon which we dwelled, and actions we've taken that we know do not align with God's design and desire for us. Do you think people should ever give some of their money to help other people? Commentators are quick to point out parallels, whether intended by Luke or not, to the story of Achan in Joshua 7. Ask kids to circle up and think of three things theyll share from their own lives: two truths and one lie. .. As Satan sought to ruin Gods original creation through the disobedience of earths first pair, Adam and Eve, so here he is active again seeking to destroy the testimony of Gods new creation, His blood-bought church, through another pair, Ananias and Sapphira., Acts 5 notes: Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 4 Didnt it belong to you before it was sold? Oh, thats three rules. As well as I Sir its amazing how we seek God through His Word and the confirmation of what was given to you would be brought right in your facethese very thoughts were and lessons were given spiritually as I prayed and fasted this week for Ill be sharing this Sunday 30th of October 2022 God bless you Pastor Moses. Ananias and Sapphira owned some property just like Joseph did. This online devotional and bible study tool for women and men discusses life lessons from Sapphira.Sapphira was i. Together, we can do this! Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. In Luke 21:1-4, we find Jesus and the disciples outside the temple treasury. Peters words to the couple tell us. Ananias and Sapphiras problem was found deep in their hearts. Lets pray. On the outside, Ananias and Sapphira look just like another church member named Barnabas (introduced in Acts 4 ). Ask kids to guess. He is contrasted with Ananias and Sapphira and may have been the couples main motivation for selling their property. [I disagree with Bruceverse 1 suggests Ananias took the initiative.] The peoples great fear indicates this was not something they were accustomed to, either. It is better to take this as a unique moment of sudden divine judgment. Thank you, dearest! Sadly, Sapphira chose the latter, and paid the fatal consequence of it. We will not be blindfolded though into ignoring the accountability of Ananias and Herod. Everyone, that is, except a man, Ananias, and his wife, Sapphira. We do not know. They might have thought to themselves that they arent as generous because they werent capable of doing something similar. . But during times where a line is ultimately drawn in the sand, silence turns yellow. We give, not out of an obligation, but as an opportunity to demonstrate our trust in Him and be a part of His mission. He . (Read Acts 4:32-35 .) Some were poor and some were rich. See if you can tell which is the lie. You have lied to God. Likewise, God does not kill those who keep a portion of their paycheck for themselves to pay bills and save for the future. And after it was sold, wasnt the money at your disposal? When I say three I want you to hold up any number of fingers on your handsperhaps three fingers on one hand and two on the other. 9 Verses About Trusting in Gods Provision, How to Prepare Your Church Budget for Expense Increases, 6 Reminders to Communicate at the End of the Year, 6 Biblical Generosity Principles to Communicate for Year-End Giving. Both events concern greed and possession. Satan will attack Gods church from both without and within. He desires a trust in Him with all areas of our lives, including our money, and seeks His praise alone. PDF LESSON 48 Ananias & Sapphira - Clover Sites So dont try to impress others. The text does not speak to these questions, though other passages may help us find answers. Our lesson today begins in Acts 4:32. These dramatic deaths of Ananias and Sapphira resulted in purifying the church and demonstrated that feigning will not be tolerated going forward. We tell lies for several reasons. They were partners in crime and succumbed to the temptation of fabrication of the truth. In this passage from Acts 5:1-10, God demands complete honesty from His followers, or there will be consequences. There He Goes- Jesus on a Donkey Song, Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock Song, (Thai) Jesus Loves Me, (Thai) Jesus Loves the Little Children, (Thai) This Little Light of Mine. The apostle Peter quizzed her about the transaction, and Sapphira tells a boldface lie. When teaching this story with the background in mind, it could be useful to explain why God takes dishonesty so seriously. ), Ananias and Sapphiras deceit and greed stand in contrast to the sincerity and generosity of the community of faith (4:3237). The pursuit of mans praise can corrupt the heart and lead a person to give in a manner that does not please God. 1. Sapphira is a model of 'complementarian biblical womanhood' Thank kids for sharing their thoughts. They are Dont Try To Impress Others, Things Arent Always What They Seem, and The People Closest To You Will Influence You. When youve hit two minutes, jump in yourself and say,And they all lived happily ever after!. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). What was their sin? Ananias and Sapphira may have fallen for this trap themselves by seeing others sell their properties and giving the money to those in need. She SAW with her own eyes and KNEW in her own heart and mind that her dear hubby Ananias was NOT honestly giving EVERYTHING to God. Hold your ten pennies, and give each child ten pennies. , beautiful ), wife of Ananias. If we are honest, even when we make a mistake, things can be made better. Allow kids to contribute truths about God. Then start around the circle. Endeavoring Women of the Bible: Sapphira Pure Endeavors What was that tiny decision? But they were to find that it can never be so. Instead, they presented it as all they had (in context, the phrase laid it at the apostles feet in verse 2 makes this clear). What Are The Key Lessons From The Story Of Ananias And Sapphira? Before copying or reproducing any portion of this website please carefully read the Mission Bible Class Copyrights and Permissions Page. The event of Ananias and Sapphira is set against the backdrop of life in the early church. With his wifes full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet (Acts 5:1-2 NIV). Listen! We cannot fool Him; we cannot make Him think we are somebody we are not. Place the metal bowl in the center of the circle. 1. Why didnt Peter show the same grace toward Ananias and Sapphira that he was shown for his deceit and denial of the Lord (Matt 26:69-75)? This story can be told using a variety of methods. Our team of Giving Consultants can help you select the perfect plan to maximize giving growth. Give Ananias the coins. Ananias and Sapphira made it seem like they were doing something greater than they were, but it wasnt real. During His ministry Jesus had encouraged his followers to not hold to any material attachments in this world, knowing that they would one day have to literally leave everything behind, whether due to persecution or the pending destruction of Jerusalem, or to the call of God. Fourth Practice-A-Thon set to increase support to prevent cancer among youth , Public warned to expect delays at hospitals, Davian Bryan gets 25 years for rape, abduction of Portland college student, Increased benefits coming for govt pensioners health scheme, Vaz outlines implementation of rural school bus system, St Catherine man accused of burglary remanded, Security guard gets 18 years for slashing common-law wife's throat, NWA to undertake $27 million drain cleaning programme in Clarendon, Portland woman in love triangle found guilty for fatally stabbing German woman 40 times, Digital Archives: Online editions 2006-Now. But notice: God takes lying very, very seriously. Lessons from bad girls of the Bible - Sapphira - Jamaica Gleaner There is euphoria and utopia in the scene described. We must know that we can never hide things from God neither deceive Him. Even disciples can be led into this bold and flagrant sin. That hell forgive lying doesnt mean he doesnt hate it. If we want to please Him, we must tell the truth and not lie to one another. No Christian husband and wife can be an island to themselves. Another thing that we learn about Sapphira is her name. She too fell down dead. If it was a great week you wish you could repeat, put your initials by the 10. top, (How to choose the best learning activities for my teaching situation). 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. They were a married couple that sold their property and gave a portion of the purchase price to help those in need as if it was all the money they received. Its my hope and prayer that youve been blessed by this series as we went over various lessons from various Bible villains from the New Testament such as Herodias, Judas, Felix, and Caiaphas! Handful of coins; Read aloud Acts 5:1-10. The root word where Sapphiras name comes from is the Hebrew word caphar () and it means to count, recount; record, decline, speak; to polish.. Art Rainer is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Greek word for aware in Acts 5:2 is synora () and it means to know in ones mind; to see completely.. No. And it is from this story we learn your giving should not be done for earthly praise. 2023 David C Cook. And everyone was shocked again when Sapphira fell down and died just like her husband did. Finally, we should recognize that our God does not desire our checkbook but our heart. Ananias and Sapphira were not honest before God, and that was their undoing. This leads to abundant life, abiding joy, and abounding blessing. OK, so what was the big deal? The Unforgiveable Sin: Evidence You Have Not Committed It, Does God Always Give Second Chances? Then ask for volunteers to play the roles of Ananias, Sapphira, and Peter. Jesus watches the rich hand over numerically large gifts to the temple. The news spread to everyone. The idea is to keep the story going in bits and pieces. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); on 3 Life Lessons From Ananias and Sapphira, 5 Lessons We Can Learn From Jacob and Laban, 4 Lessons From The Samaritan Woman At The Well. (Look upColossians 3:9andTitus 1:2.). He said that this is all the money. But we should pay close attention to it nonetheless and learn from its lessons. Hey Pastor Moses Pierre-Paul, Peter asked Sapphira, Your husband gave us the money from the property you both sold. The church in Jerusalem grew bigger and bigger every day. . page on this website for ideas that are adaptable to any lesson. . His patience leads us to repentance. ., Keep an eye on the time and make a loud buzzer noise if four seconds pass between kids jumping in with story bits. In the future, this practice would prove necessary for the churchs survival when persecution would begin and Christians would lose employment and income. How interesting that while we often hear of these bad girls in the bible, commentators do not often point out bad men in the bible. Encourage Ananias and Sapphira to play up their death scenes to the max. Right after Peter said this everyone was shocked to see Ananias fall down and die. The church was on fire and growing rapidly every day. Check the Teaching Ideas page on this website for ideas that are adaptable to any lesson. Are you, dear reader, in a situation where choosing to stay silent isnt the best choice? Why no opportunity of for repentance and restoration?. The Spirit of the Lord knows peoples innermost thoughts, and He cannot be tricked by anyone. to myself? Because so many Jewish Christians stayed in Jerusalem after Pentecost, some Christians sold property and gave the money to the church so those in need could have enough. I hope that you have found the lessons to be beneficial. Background Study: Click here for an overview of the Book of Acts The event of Ananias and Sapphira is set against the backdrop of life in the early church. . This incident serves as a lesson instructing us to walk carefully and humbly with the Supreme Being. Does that mean that if you lie youll fall down dead? God says, I, the Lord, speak only what is true (Isaiah 45:19). It was an exciting time to be a member of the church. A cowardly and silent reserve before evil associates, while you listen to their devices, makes you one with them. People cannot keep anything hidden behind locked doors or closets from the Supreme Being. Our goal is to keep the story going for two minutes. They are Don't Try To Impress Others, Things Aren't Always What They Seem, and The People Closest To You Will Influence You. . Ananias and Sapphira- Sunday January 10, 2021 How is it that Satan filled Ananias heart to lie (v. 3) but that Ananias also contrived the sin himself (v. 4)? There are also some life lessons we can learn from Ananias and Sapphira. The Holy Bible [KJV Audio and Text]. We should never live counterfeit Christian lives. Heres the start of our story: There once was a man who lied about everything. Sapphira - Encyclopedia of The Bible - Bible Gateway Two of the things will be true and one will be a lie. Say:Today were talking about lying. You are under no obligation to join in a crime or cover up any corruption, just because your beloved has wooed you into doing so. Oh that fear would once again seize the whole church. vii.) These dictionary topics are from Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It is not Peters character or even Ananias and Sapphiras deserts in which Luke is primarily interested. In other words, things arent always what they seem. Learn how your comment data is processed. In fact, this is not the only time awe is inspired in Acts (2:43; 9:31; 19:17), which reinforces this reading. Sapphira was taken out and buried by her husband. 12. Be HonestThe Story of Ananias and Sapphira | Bible.org It may be that the author of Acts himself wished to point this comparison: when he says that Ananias kept back part of the price (v. 2), he uses the same Greek word as is used in the Greek version of Josh. Christian Devotional - Life Lessons from Sapphira - YouTube Glad you learned something. No amount of commentary will ever take the edge off this passageand that may be the point. Point out that one of the ways we become like Jesus is to learn to speak the truth and to be honest in all we do. He is dedicated to helping others grow personally and spiritually and lives by the motto "In This Life and The Next". If Ananias and Sapphiras deceptiveness had fooled Peter, it would have damaged the stature of the Apostles in the church. Our intimate secrets are known to God alone, and we are expected to live transparent and holy lives before our Heavenly Father. . A dark cloud invades the scene. They proceeded to lie and say that they had given it all. Soon hundreds and hundreds and even thousands of people decided to follow King Jesus and were baptised. Second, generosity should be driven by a desire to receive praise from God rather than man. Ananias and Sapphira (Elementary Lesson) - Ministry Spark We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Quick link to: A:hover {COLOR: #33bcf2; TEXT-DECORATION: none; font-weight: bold} One good man, named Joseph, owned a field and had a good idea. I enjoyed reading this lesson. "All the believers were one in heart and mind. We hope you will apply these life lessons from the Bible story of Ananias and Sapphira. 5 Things God Teaches Us in the Tragic Deaths of Ananias & Sapphira So the real sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not withholding money but the fact that they were lying to cover up the fact that they were publicly saying they gave all the money to the apostles while secretly keeping some of the proceeds for themselves. In today's lesson, we're gonna look into how a tiny decision Sapphira made caused her to not only lose her life, but even disabled her from truly living up to what her name means. But you havent just lied to all these people. God bless you more, You are most welcome. Click here for Ananias and Sapphira printables to print (A4 paper) God sees everything. No one had told her about Ananias so she did not know what had happened earlier. The Tragic Story of Ananias and Sapphira in the Bible and What it Tells Bible commentators draw a parallel with these two and the first couple. This story serves as a powerful illustration of several important truths about God's expectations for His followers. God bless you. So what are we to do with our questions about this passage? Say:God wants us to tell the truthand hell help us do it. If we reject Jesus, we have to stand before God for judgment, and we will not escape eternal destruction. Okay, again an intense ending! The Bible says that "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I wanted you to see how easy it is to lie . Just like bad people will influence us to do bad, good people will influence us to do good! I am delighted to share with you the key lessons found in the story of Ananias and Sapphira, as told in the book of Acts 5:1-11. Click here to download the slideshow or click here to download the pictures to print. Lets look at three lessons from Ananias and Sapphira. He even lied about . Why this swift act of judgment? Who Is Sapphira in the Bible? - Christianity Though Ananias and Simons acts and motivations are slightly different, Peters rebuke has a similar solemnity to itand death is even warned. As modern-day Christians, we struggle with this idea of God smiting them in an atmosphere of the New Covenant and Grace. Ananias and Sapphira - Mission Bible Class Ananias and Sapphira - Wikipedia Then say:My goal wasnt to help you become better liars! As we see with Ananias and Sapphira, for better or for worst the people closest to us will influence us. Greed and deceit enter the community like a virus. I hope your message went well! They would tell everyone that they were giving ALL the money to the apostles but, really, they would secretly keep some back for themselves. Thats because theres no such thing as a week thats exactly half good and half bad! Also note the practice of laying down the proceeds at the apostles feet as a surrender of possession to be distributed (4:34). Join them. For example, attempting to appear rich may lead people to borrow money to buy things they cant afford or even steal to do the same thing. Ananias and Sapphira are a foil In all the shock and awe of the couple's fate, it's easy to forget the first word in the story: "But." (The chapter division certainly doesn't help, either.) The disposition of our heart is of far more consequence to God than the amount of money placed in an offering plate.
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