Scripture meditation: Acts 9:36-42

Dorcas was a disciple of Jesus who lived in the important seaport of Joppa. She spent much of her time caring for the poor and widowed in the city. She was beloved by many, so it was a shock when she grew ill and died.

About the same time, Peter was visiting a nearby town called Lydda. He healed a paralyzed man named Aneas, triggering a mass conversion in the region. News travels fast, and when the disciples in Joppa heard of the miracle, they asked Peter to come and heal Dorcas.

When Peter arrived, he was taken upstairs where Dorcas’ washed body was lying. The widows gathered next to Peter, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had provided to them.

Peter sent everyone out of the room, got down on his knees and prayed. He said to Dorcas, “Get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He took her by the hand, helped her to her feet, called for the saints and the widows, and he presented her alive to them. Once again, this good news traveled fast, for this became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Dorcas was always doing good. She regularly helped the poor and disadvantaged. When she saw a need, her heart immediately leapt into action through her tools of needle, thread, and loom, topped off by her feet bringing a most thoughtful and beautiful gift. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Everybody knew about Dorcas and appreciated her alert eyes to persons in need. The whole community was touched in some way by Dorcas as she generously shared her life and goods with needy neighbors. Her generosity galvanized others to action and ultimately brought many into the family of God.

I challenge you: how can you emulate Dorcas’ generous spirit through your time, talent, and treasure?

Prayer

Father, I thank you for Dorcas. I ask that the Brethren in Christ Church would, like her, display that most attractive missional characteristic of generosity. Amen.

Resources

Open Door Value - It’s Bigger Than Us

Jesus prayed that God’s kingdom would come and God’s will be done on earth as in heaven. Our role in the body of Christ is to join the work of God’s kingdom, not just grow our church. Following Christ is joining the larger work of God in the world through God’s people. We do not compete with other churches or entities that are doing good and loving well. As a church, we are a people sent by God, following the example of Christ, to love well and serve our community. (Mark 9, Matthew 6, John 17, Luke 12) 

Brethren in Christ U.S. Core Value – Living Simply

We value uncluttered lives, which free us to love boldly, give generously, and serve joyfully.

Bible Passages:

Deuteronomy 15:7–8
If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 22:9
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

Psalm 112:5
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 John 3:17
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Resources

• Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian in Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Together-Exploration-Christian-Community/dp/0060608528

• Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed: The Story of the Village of Le Chambon and How Goodness Happened There by Phillip Hallie, https://www.amazon.com/Lest-Innocent-Blood-Be-Shed/dp/0060925175

• ARTICLE: Generosity: What is missing? by Eric Vroom and Steve Atkinson https://bibleproject.com/articles/generosity-what-missing/

For Kids & Families:

• A List of Children’s books that focus on giving and generosity https://childrenslitlove.com/2024/12/10/picture-books-that-focus-on-generosity-and-giving/

• VIDEO: Generosity by The Bible Project, https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/generosity/