These two professed Christians, who had turned from Judaism and had associated themselves with the newly-formed Christian community, agreed together to lie against God in the Spirit. And third, there cant be more than four seconds of silence between bits, or we lose. . They fell down dead. The Sapphiras of today, are both men and women who by their silence, are complicit in the conspiracy of corruption. Genuine people do not care about what we own, only phony people respect our social status and material possessions. Today, we have our final negative example. Or, you completely know and completely see yourself sitting in the middle of an intense gossip ring, and you feel convicted to say something, but you stay silent. In the minds and hearts of these Christians, everything they owned was held in common. And so this is not simply a story of greed in the early Church. 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. They are Dont Try To Impress Others, Things Arent Always What They Seem, and The People Closest To You Will Influence You. Act out your . Thanks for reading Opolot. 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! Right after Peter said this everyone was shocked to see Ananias fall down and die. You have not lied just to human beings but to God.. Pray:Thank you, God, for your truth. This next lesson from Ananias and Sapphira encourages us to think before we make conclusions. Say:God is a God of truth. Now, lets dive into Part 7 and dig into another deeply convicting lesson from one of the New Testaments biggest bad girls: In Acts 5:1, we learn a couple things about Sapphira: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is not the first time we see God demonstrating He knows what transpires in our checking accounts. Because they lied, they immediately died, teaching us one of the most important lessons taught from their story; we can lie to others, but we cant lie to God. Jesus also taught the importance of caring for those in need through His words and example. In fact, such a decision could be considered an example of sacrificial generosity. The news spread to everyone. 7 MORE Good Lessons from 7 MORE Bad Bible Characters (Pt. 7: Sapphira Yes, silence is golden. See if you can tell which is the lie. Programs Blossom and Kids Thrive When They Are Taught How to Worship, What My Grandma Can Teach Us All About Environments of Gratitude, How to Be Ready When Parents Dont Share Their Childs Special Needs, The Fruit of the Spirit for Kids (Elementary Lesson), Pennies (10 per child and 10 for yourself). Everyone find a partner and share about a time you told a lie and got caught in that lie. Ananias and Sapphira, What happened to Ananias and Sapphira when they lied to the whole church? As you may know, Ananias fell and died after Peter told him he lied to the Holy Spirit. Then start around the circle. What does it mean that Sapphira was aware of what her husband did? Help the class look up the word lie in a dictionary and a thesaurus. 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. We cannot fool Him; we cannot make Him think we are somebody we are not. What Does Sapphira Mean? Other voices are more demanding, but only One deserves our undivided attention. What he is concerned to emphasize is the reality of the Holy Spirits indwelling presence in the Church, together with the solemn practical implications of that fact.4. Passages such as Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:32-37 describe the unity of the early church and of selling their possessions and sharing with those in need. Why did God strike down Ananias and Sapphira rather than give them a chance to repent? We give, not out of an obligation, but as an opportunity to demonstrate our trust in Him and be a part of His mission. The pursuit of Gods praise will mold the heart to look more like Christ and cause a person to give in a manner that pleases Him. Lesson: Ananias and Sapphira Lie - Ministry-To-Children Bible Lesson Click here for Ananias and Sapphira to print (Letter size-USA), Thanks for this lesson will share this to my Sunday class this Sunday at the The Downtown Dumaguete Church of Christ. In all the shock and awe of the couples fate, its easy to forget the first word in the story: But. (The chapter division certainly doesnt help, either. FOUR (4) LESSONS FROM ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA is a character study into the life of this coupe in Acts chapter 5.CONNECT WITH OUR MINISTRY THROUGH GIVING via Pa. Ananias and Sapphira were not obligated to give all or even a portion of the proceeds. People may find it difficult to distinguish between a real and a fake person but not God. The issue was not about finances. God bless you and your blog. Wednesday: Ananias and Sapphira. You have lied to God. Covetousness and a desire for the praise of people played a tragic role in their demise. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. In Acts 5:1-11, we read how the couple sells a piece of land and gives a portion of the proceeds to the church while claiming to give the entire proceeds. Its like when I was a teenager. Their mistake wasnt in giving money to the church. This goes to show that one of them had a negative influence on the other or both of them initially having the wrong heart reinforced each others bad character. Peter confronted Ananias in front of the church and told him that by doing this he had lied to God. Hold your ten pennies, and give each child ten pennies. 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. It helps to recognise the church at this stage as being in its infancy and most certainly exposed to Satans attacks. Create an account or log in to get started. That feeling and similar feelings that we might feel because we think we arent as good as someone else might turn out to be based on a lie. 5: Haman]. However, there were also moments of weakness, even gross sin, among believers. 3 Life Lessons From Ananias and Sapphira - The Wise Believer They wanted people to think they were really generous like Joseph but, in their hearts, they didnt want to share as much as Joseph did. You see in Peters somewhat prophetic statement in verse 3, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? that principalities are at war. . Each teacher is unique so only use the illustrations that best relate to the way YOU are telling the story in THIS lesson. Peter makes this clearDidnt it belong to you before it was sold? 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. Help us to believe the truth about you and about ourselves. Input/Output: Change Your Environment, Change Your Life. He notes that an important reminder for spouses is the matter of moral independence. 420 Furys Ferry Road Augusta, GA 30907 (855) 895-8951 info@securegive.com. F.F. Our takeaways from the text should probably be no more and no less than that of the people who witnessed the event: fear and awe. We can learn important lessons from the Bible. Friends, right now is the time to no longer be like Sapphira, but to be like Daniel, and stand for whats right! 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. Why no opportunity of for repentance and restoration?. PDF Ananias and Sapphira - Mission Bible Class What Are The Key Lessons From The Story Of Ananias And Sapphira? Why did Ananias and Sapphira act as if they were giving the entirety of the sale proceeds? page on this website for ideas that are adaptable to any lesson. FOUR (4) LESSONS FROM ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA - YouTube . Let us now discover the story of Ananias and Sapphira, which teaches us about disunity, hypocrisy, dishonesty, and divine judgment. Or maybe for children's Bible school classes on the Levite and his concubine from Judges 19. They might have thought to themselves that they arent as generous because they werent capable of doing something similar. It is truly amazing. "Listen and hear my voice" (Isaiah 28:23), the Lord says to us. , from Aram. Ananias and Sapphira came into a little money. About three hours later Sapphira came to the same place. But it does teach us that God cares about our hearts. vii.) No amount of commentary will ever take the edge off this passageand that may be the point. Acts 5:1-11 NIV - Ananias and Sapphira - Bible Gateway They knew that lying was very serious to God and that they should always tell the truth. Is this all the money? Sapphira thought everyone still believed the lie so she said, Yes the amount Ananias said is correct. So what are we to do with our questions about this passage? The words of John 3:16 were fulfilled. Ananias and Sapphira - Wikipedia We might see less using and abusing of children. Is it that men are expected to be bad? ), Ananias and Sapphiras deceit and greed stand in contrast to the sincerity and generosity of the community of faith (4:3237). I would like to include your text in a sermon I am working on if I may. Sapphira, for aught that is known to the contrary, may have suggested the deceit to her husband. 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. As a married couple, Ananias and Sapphira would have been the closest to each other teaching us that the people closest to us will influence us. One good man, named Joseph, owned a field and had a good idea. There is no tricking God. NO MISTAKE BIBLE STORY Final Curtain Supplies. Copyright 2023 The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited. I hope your message went well! But you havent just lied to all these people. There is euphoria and utopia in the scene described. The disciples and some 500 others saw Jesus alive after His brutal crucifixion, serving as a testimony of His power over death. In the future, this practice would prove necessary for the churchs survival when persecution would begin and Christians would lose employment and income. Ananias and Sapphira | 3 Instructive Life Lessons - Bibilium Schedule a quick demo to see how the SecureGive system works to increase giving in your church. Required fields are marked *. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. . Feel free to include it in your sermon. 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). Both the husband and the wife are killed by God in the church after they presented the gift. Was the New Testament Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek? Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, as members of the early Church, had a commitment to honour their promises before God. Explain that youll share a true statement about yourself as you toss a penny into the bowl. Have you ever told a lie? The New Testament book of Acts recounts the awe-inspiring story of a duo whose punishment for their sin couldnt have been more swift and sure. If we reject Jesus, we have to stand before God for judgment, and we will not escape eternal destruction. But during times where a line is ultimately drawn in the sand, silence turns yellow. In Luke 21:1-4, we find Jesus and the disciples outside the temple treasury. After noting that we can lie to others, but we cant lie to God, I shared 3 life lessons we can learn from their story. PDF LESSON 48 Ananias & Sapphira - Clover Sites Jack Zavada Updated on June 25, 2019 The sudden deaths of Ananias and Sapphira are among the scariest events in the Bible, a terrifying reminder that God will not be mocked. . Does that mean that if you lie youll fall down dead? And God will not kill you if you decide to sell your home and give most of the proceeds to the church and keep a portion for yourself. Write down and discuss your findings. Jesus watches the rich hand over numerically large gifts to the temple. When youre finished, discuss as a group: Say:I remember a time I told a lie and got caught. God cannot lie and expects us to always tell the truth. Before copying or reproducing any portion of this website please carefully read the Mission Bible Class Copyrights and Permissions Page. Whereas the community was filled with the Holy Spirit (4:30), Ananias was filled with Satan; he has become Satans plaything.2, As John Stott put it, If the devils first tactic was to destroy the Church by force from without, his second was to destroy it by falsehood from within.3. One is a song that I hope and pray will deepen the conviction in your heart to seriously stand for whats right and not stay silent when, like Sapphira, youre aware of wrong being done. As kids arrive, ask them to pencil in their initials on the line. (Look upColossians 3:9andTitus 1:2.). 1), 4 Signs That Show You're a Fake Christian, 7 Good Lessons From 7 Bad Bible Characters [Pt. Sapphira and her husband Ananias were among the first in Jerusalem to become Christians. John Says No., Strange Fire in Leviticus 10, and Why It Earned a Death Sentence. Click here for Ananias and Sapphira printables to print (A4 paper) It is not Peters character or even Ananias and Sapphiras deserts in which Luke is primarily interested. Say:Youre in the Tall Tale Circle. 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. Uses icecream and salt. God saw the desire to deceive in their hearts and deemed death as the rightful punishment. In the Bible, Sapphire is associated with the tribe of Issachar and is said to represent wisdom and understanding. However, because of their falsehood, they were led to sin unto death. Its ok. We know these decisions can take time. This incident divides into four sections:- 1. Encyclopedia of The Bible - Sapphira Resources Encyclopedia of The Bible S Sapphira Sapphira SAPPHIRA s f' r (Gr. Unlike Joseph, however, they lied about the amount they received from selling their property indicating that they were more interested in impressing others rather than helping those in need. Why do you think God makes such a big deal about it? click here to download the pictures to print, Click here for Ananias and Sapphira printables to print (A4 paper), Click here for Ananias and Sapphira to print (Letter size-USA), Colouring page and puzzle worksheets (Calvary Curriculum), Craft, Application Activity: Really good application to teach about what happens when we lie. Bruce writes in the Acts commentary in the NICNT series: The story of Ananias is to the book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. They had deliberately planned to deceive Peter and other members of the church, not understanding that Peter was filled with the power of the Spirit. Allow kids to contribute truths about God. 1. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles feet. Any kid for whom that statement is also true gets to throw a penny into the bowl. It is a very serious thing to lie to God!. But God tells us we can say we are sorry and start telling the truth. This incident serves as a lesson instructing us to walk carefully and humbly with the Supreme Being. This shows our ignorance as we need to understand that this was a solemn warning to the members of the early church, which was at its infancy. Why this swift act of judgment? It hurts others. This online devotional and bible study tool for women and men discusses life lessons from Sapphira.Sapphira was i. Before Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and gave a portion of the money towards those in need, The Bible states that from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need (Acts 4:34-35 NIV).