30 November 2025 - Peter van Breda - Hebrew Theology Based on a Story -

Devotional

Day 1: Integrity before God matters more than public image.

When generosity becomes a performance, the heart is exposed; giving that seeks praise rather than serving the poor is deceit, and the Holy Spirit is a person who sees the motives of the heart — lying to Him brings grave consequences, so practice honesty in your giving and in your life before God and others. [50:39]

Acts 5:1-11 (ESV)

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds. And bringing a portion of it he laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God."
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price."
9 But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her wrapped up and carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Reflection: Identify one area where you’ve presented a more spiritual public image than the truth; will you confess that to God now and to one trusted believer today, and take one concrete step to make restitution or change by the end of this week?

Day 2: Community generosity flows from true stewardship, not show.

The early church’s unity and sacrificial giving came from a stewardship mindset — people laid resources at the apostles' feet to meet needs, exemplified by Barnabas’ genuine generosity; contrast that with pretending ownership for praise, and choose stewardship that fuels mission rather than consumption or reputation. [01:07:12]

Acts 4:32-37 (ESV)

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement),
a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Reflection: Name one possession or resource you treat as “mine” rather than God’s; what specific action will you take this week to steward it for the church’s mission (donate an item, give time, release control), and when will you do it?

Day 3: God chooses the weak to display His power.

When Gideon protests that he is the least in his family and cannot save Israel, God equips the unlikely — past insignificance or failure does not disqualify you; God delights to use the weak so His power and grace are unmistakable in the story of redemption. [01:01:42]

Judges 6:15 (ESV)

And he said to him, "Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."

Reflection: Write down one insecurity you use to say “I can’t”; invite God into that doubt right now and list one concrete next step you will take this week to obey Him despite that fear (join a ministry, volunteer, make a call).

Day 4: God's "I AM" gives authority for the mission He sends.

When God tells Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," He supplies identity and authority to those He sends; you may feel inadequate, but the One who calls you is the eternal I AM who equips and sends — lean on His name as you step into the work He’s given you. [01:02:09]

Exodus 3:14 (ESV)

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Reflection: The next time you hesitate to speak for Jesus, pause and pray, "Lord, You are I AM"; then share one brief gospel sentence (a text, a short conversation, or an invite) with someone today — what will that sentence be and who will you reach out to?

Day 5: God looks to what you will be, not what you were.

Though David sinned grievously, God called him "a man after my own heart" and used him for great purposes; don’t cancel yourself out because of your past — repent where needed, receive restoration, and step into future service with the confidence that God uses transformed lives. [01:03:01]

Acts 13:22 (ESV)

"And when he had removed him, he made David their king. God testified concerning him, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.'"

Reflection: Pick one past failure you think disqualifies you; share it with one mature believer this week and identify one specific way you will serve or participate in the life of the church in the next 30 days.

Sermon Summary

I invited us to step into Acts not as spectators but as participants—sitting in the fourth row as Peter speaks, watching Ananias and Sapphira step forward, and feeling the shock of holy fear when deception meets the presence of God. Scripture is God’s living story, and when we read it as story, our faith grows. Hebraic theology is formed by God’s acts in real, messy history, and the Bible’s big arc is simple and beautiful: God made it. We broke it. Jesus fixed it. That meta-narrative calls us into relationship, not mere information.

We can trust this story. The witness of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the centrality of Isaiah’s vision of the Messiah remind us that we are not building our lives on sand. And we are a people formed by stories—“but Jesus” moments where God interrupts our trajectories, like Gideon’s insecurity, Moses’ exile, or David’s moral collapse. Your past doesn’t cancel your calling; God is more invested in your future than your résumé of failures.

Acts 5 sits between two glowing reports of unity and power. That’s the point: Barnabas’ quiet generosity versus Ananias and Sapphira’s curated image. The issue wasn’t the amount; it was the deception—lying to the Holy Spirit, who is not a force but God himself present among us. Holiness makes honesty non-negotiable. In a church family, we drop the mask, ask for prayer, and walk in the light.

Here’s the heart of it: ownership versus stewardship. Ownership says, “This is mine.” Stewardship says, “It’s all his.” This is not about money; it’s about mission. Before God asks anything from us, he gives everything to us in Christ—salvation, forgiveness, a new nature, the Spirit, and a future. That grace frees cheerful generosity. I shared our year-end reality with gratitude for faithful givers and an invitation to all of us to trust God with our finances. At the Table we bring our sin and receive the Savior. From that grace, we steward our lives—our stories, our resources, our families—so the gospel can run.

Key Takeaways

1. Read Scripture as living story Let the text become a room you enter, not a page you scan. When you picture yourself in the scene, the Word moves from information to encounter. Story-shaped faith forms obedience in ordinary life. Ask the Spirit to show you where you are in God’s story today. [51:50]
2. Your past doesn’t disqualify you Gideon’s fear, Moses’ exile, and David’s failure became doorways for God’s work, not dead ends. Repentance reopens vocation; grace reconfigures our future. Stop self-canceling; start stewarding what God is redeeming. God’s interest is your future, not your file. [63:22]
3. Honesty over spiritual performance God resists curated spirituality because it distorts the Body and grieves the Spirit. Deception fractures trust; truth-telling breeds healing and intercession. Drop the mask, ask for prayer, and let community carry you. Holiness begins with candor. [78:13]
4. Stewardship defeats the illusion of ownership Ownership clutches; stewardship releases. If it’s all his, then we are free to direct resources to mission, people, and eternal returns. Stewards execute the Owner’s will with joy and accountability. That shift turns money into ministry. [80:56]
5. Grace fuels cheerful generosity God gives first—salvation, righteousness, and the Spirit—then invites us to participate in his mission. Giving becomes gratitude, not guilt; joy, not pressure. We don’t buy favor; we bear witness to grace. The gospel makes generosity a privilege. [84:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:58] - Potluck and Advent preview
[49:40] - Reading Acts as living story
[51:50] - Theology shaped by story
[53:41] - Dead Sea Scrolls: trust the text
[60:01] - “But Jesus” and testimony
[63:53] - Judgment begins in God’s house
[67:12] - Growth, then Ananias and Sapphira
[70:18] - The lie behind the gift
[73:33] - Lying to the Holy Spirit
[78:13] - Drop the mask; be honest
[80:56] - Ownership vs. stewardship
[84:56] - Grace before giving
[88:34] - Year-end stewardship and prayer
[97:02] - Blessing over families

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- Acts 5:1-11
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Observation questions (3–4)

What specific actions did Ananias and Sapphira take before they were confronted, and how does the passage describe the immediate result? (Read Acts 5:1–11.)
How does Luke place this story between the church’s unity and Barnabas’s generosity in Acts 4? What contrast does that create? [01:07:12]
What language does Peter use to confront Ananias, and what does that wording tell us about who was offended by the deception? [01:13:33]
What details in the story show the communal consequences (fear, burial, reaction of the congregation) after these deaths? (Look back at Acts 5:5–11.)

Interpretation questions (3–4)

Why might Luke have put the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira in the middle of two positive “status reports” about the early church? What message does that arrangement send about holiness within a growing community? [01:07:12]
Peter accuses Ananias of lying to the Holy Spirit and then says he lied to God. What theological point is Peter making about the personhood and authority of the Spirit? [01:14:47]
The pastor argued that the root issue was ownership versus stewardship. How does the story illustrate the difference between “this is mine” and “it’s all his,” and why does that matter for mission? [01:20:56]
The sermon repeatedly urged reading Scripture as a living story you enter. How does imagining yourself in the scene change the way you interpret Acts 5 compared with reading it as abstract doctrine? [49:40]

Application questions (5–7)

Read Acts 5 again this week as if you were sitting in the fourth row listening to Peter. What detail or question from the scene stood out to you most, and why? Commit to sharing that insight with the group next time. [50:11]
The pastor said holiness makes honesty non‑negotiable and urged people to “drop the mask.” Is there a place in your life where you are pretending to be OK when you’re not? Who will you tell and ask to pray for you this week? [01:18:13]
Practically, how do you treat your money and possessions: as yours or as entrusted to you? Make a one‑page plan this month that lists income, regular giving, and one tangible change (cut a subscription, reallocate a gift, set up a giving schedule) that moves you toward stewardship. Bring the plan to your next small group meeting. [01:23:34]
The sermon stressed that “before God asks anything, he gives everything.” Name one “but Jesus” moment from your life (big or small). How could you turn that story into a brief testimony this week to share with someone who is curious about faith? [01:00:01]
The pastor encouraged cheerful generosity as a response to grace. Pick a specific, measurable step you will take this quarter to give more joyfully (for example: increase regular giving by X%, give one-off gift to a missionary, or sponsor a needy family). What is the step and when will you do it? [01:26:48]
Ananias and Sapphira wanted recognition. Is there a place where you seek status from others in spiritual life (social media, church role, image)? What practical boundary will you set this week to reduce that temptation? (For example: post one less faith photo, stop comparing giving publicly, ask an accountability friend to call you out.) [01:12:34]
The sermon urged reading Scripture as story to form obedience. What concrete habit will you try for the next two weeks to enter biblical scenes (e.g., imagine yourself in the passage for five minutes, journal one sensory detail each day, or pray asking the Spirit where you are in the story)? Report back to the group with one thing God showed you. [49:40]

(Do not include a closing prayer.)

Sermon Clips

Without fear of contradiction, each one of us have had or will have a but Jesus moment. And it is the testimony of how God intervenes, whether it is on your road to Damascus, or he found you in a pig pen like the prodigal son, we've all had a but Jesus moment. You have a story that needs to be told, not the Christianese sanctified language we call testimony, but the reality of exactly what's happened in your own life. You see, your testimony, the true testimony, is the best tool for evangelism that you have. [01:00:28] (43 seconds) #ButJesusMoment

``So here's the question. Are you still canceling yourself out because of your past? Are you still saying to God, I cannot do it because of what you previously have done? Let me tell you this. God's not interested in your past. He's interested in your future. Amen. [01:03:01] (23 seconds) #FutureOverPast

Here's what I want to get to. This is the main point of the message. What we're seeing here is the difference between ownership and stewardship. Ownership leads to greed. Stewardship leads to generosity. I think sin, suffering, and stewardship are the three main themes of the Bible. Those who understand stewardship help us to love and serve hurting people. And they help us to get the word of God out further. You see how all of this works together? That's why the issue in Acts chapter 5 is so damnable. It's about mission. It's not about money. [01:20:54] (53 seconds) #StewardshipNotOwnership

Ownership says this is mine. It's mine. I've earned it. I deserve it. I'm entitled to it. I will consume it. I will use it. I will enjoy it. I will spend it. It belongs to me. Stewardship is different. It says it's not mine. The difference is this. Stewardship says it's all his. I'm his. God gave me the ability to earn what I earn. God gave me the ability to then do with those resources what I want to do. I am a steward. I'm not an owner. [01:21:51] (42 seconds) #StewardNotOwner

Now you understand how generous God is. You see, this is where Christianity is different from other religions. Before God asks you to give anything, God gives you everything. Let me say that again. Before God asks you to give anything, He gives everything to you. [01:24:46] (28 seconds) #GraceGivesFirst

So, yeah, you are today. You say, well, I'm not a Christian. I want to come to Jesus and become a Christian. What do I give Him? What do you give Him? Your sin, your guilt, your dead-end future, the hurt, the pain that you suffered growing up, the pain that might be coming down the road at you. But here's what God says. Give me your sin, and I'll give you my salvation, my forgiveness, my peace, and I will give you a future, my righteousness, eternal life, love, adoption into my family, a new nature, and the Holy Spirit. [01:25:11] (49 seconds) #GiveSinGetGrace

And you would say, that's what I get? Not a fair deal. It isn't a fair deal, but it's a grace deal. God goes to the cross, dies for your sins, and pays your debt to God. And then He invites you in to be on mission with Him. And He says, there's a whole world of people out there that are still in their sin, and they don't know their Savior. Let's join forces together, you and God and the next person, and let's go get them for Him. [01:26:01] (38 seconds) #OnMissionWithGod

The Bible says, God loves a cheerful giver. And when God's people get God's heart, they become generous. They become joyful. They experience the joy of giving. They get to see other, experience God's grace through them. And they are so glad that Jesus would share with them this message and mission of generosity and salvation. [01:26:39] (26 seconds) #JoyOfGiving

Folks, Bellevue Church, that's the best life you can have. It's when you see your partner, when you see your husband, your wife, your child, when you see your co-worker, when you see somebody who you know is just circling the drain already, give their lives to the Lord. There can be no greater joy than that. You have that joy, and if you have Jesus, you can be generous. [01:27:05] (36 seconds) #ShareTheJoyOfSalvation

God has given us so much. I look around at this congregation and I see each one of you. For most of you, I know your stories. I know the trials you've been through. I know the things that you've had to endure. But I thank God that you've been faithful in the midst of that. And I want to tell you, God will never, never, never, never let you down. He loves you so much. [01:32:19] (33 seconds) #GodNeverLetsYouDown

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