God's Commitment to the Poor in the Early Church

God’s Commitment to the Poor in the Early Church

The following bible study was written by Chris Pyle (with the help of many friends) for the Navigator Campus Ministry. During the past few years, Chris has served as part time staff at Good Works. Chris and his wife Angie currently serve as weekend volunteers in our shelter. Chris and Angie direct The Navigators campus ministry at Ohio University. Chris has agreed to allow us to publish his work in order that our readers might develop an increased perspective of the poor and their place in the kingdom of God. Thank you Chris!

“For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

“These men without possession or power, these strangers on
earth, these sinners, these followers of Jesus, have in their
life with him renounced their own dignity, for they are merciful.
As if their own needs and their own distress were not enough,
they take upon themselves the distress and humiliation and sin of
others. They have an irresistible love for the down-trodden, the
sick, the wretched, the wronged, the outcast, and all who are
tortured with anxiety. They go out and seek all who are enmeshed
in the toils of sin and guilt…. In order that they may be
merciful they cast away the most priceless treasure of human
life, their personal dignity and honour. For the only honour and
dignity they know is their Lord’s own mercy, to which alone
they owe their very lives.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Cost of Discipleship

In searching the Scriptures, it is clear to see that God has a
concern for the poor, the outcast and the needy. As Jesus walked
the earth, He consistently taught and demonstrated that those in
need should be given our attention. Jesus’ great commission
of discipleship and evangelism to His followers is “to make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you.” (Matthew 28:18–20)

In light of His command to pass on his teaching to the next
generation of disciples, how did the early disciples serve the
poor and pass on that commandment to their disciples as well? In
this chapter we will explore the ways in which the first
disciples served the poor and passed this discipline on to
others.

The Disciples Carry on the Command

1. Read the following descriptions of the
disciples in the early church. In addition to the task of
preaching the gospel and making disciples, what else was
considered a necessary part of their ministry?

a. Acts 2:42–45

________________________________________________________

b. Acts 4:32–35

________________________________________________________

c. Acts 6:1–4

________________________________________________________

2. Throughout the book of Acts, a handful
of people are noted for their walks with God. Look at the
descriptions of the following people and write down the things
for which they are commended.

a. Acts 9:36

________________________________________________________

b. Acts 10:1–4

________________________________________________________

3. In the angels’ encounter with
Cornelius, what were the things about his life that were pleasing
to God (10:4) and what aspect of his life did God remember
(10:30–31)?

________________________________________________________

4. Why do you think that
these aspects of Cornelius’ life pleased God?

________________________________________________________

Jesus’ teaching about serving the needy is passed along to other
disciples as well. It’s important to take notice of how they
passed on the great command of mercy and service to the church
and the disciples to come. Look at the following passages and
write down how the following disciples expected the succeeding
generations of disciples to follow this command.

John the Apostle

1. Read 1 John 3:16–20

a. How do we demonstrate the love of God?

________________________________________________________

b. In what ways does John say that we are to
love (v. 18)?

________________________________________________________

2. Read 1 John 4:19–21 and 2 John
5–6

a. According to John what single trait is
the mark of a truly obedient Christian?

________________________________________________________

b. How does this relate to serving the poor and
Jesus’ call to mercy (Mark 12:31)?

________________________________________________________

c. In what ways can you demonstrate love to those in need around you?

________________________________________________________

James, the Brother of Jesus

1. Read James 2:1–9

a. What does James declare the royal law
to be?

________________________________________________________

b. When something is “royal,” what
does that mean?

________________________________________________________

c. Why does James associate this
“royal law” of love with our treatment of the
poor?

________________________________________________________

d. In your opinion, does the church today favor
the rich over the poor? Why or why not?

________________________________________________________

e. What are some ways that we ourselves
may show favoritism toward the
rich?

________________________________________________________

f. Why does favoritism toward the
rich dishonor God? (See Romans 12:16)

________________________________________________________

2. Read James 2:14–19

a. According to James, how is our faith
associated with serving the needy?

________________________________________________________

b. What is the state of our faith if we have no
deeds of service? (read 2:17)

________________________________________________________

c. In light of this passage, is your
faith alive or dead?

________________________________________________________

3. Read James 1:27

a. If someone were to ask you what
“pure” religion is, how would you
answer?

________________________________________________________

b. According to this passage, of what does
“pure” religion consist?

________________________________________________________

c. Why is provision to
the underserved important?

________________________________________________________

From the Heart of Jesus to the Heart of
Paul

Jesus’ concern for the poor and needy can be seen in the
faithful testimony of the Apostle Paul’s life. In Acts and
his own letters to the church, there is a compassion for the poor
and a call to serve people who are outcast and needy.

1. Look at Titus 1:1–3 and Acts 20:24.
What was the Apostle Paul called to do?

________________________________________________________

2. Even though the apostle Paul may not have
had a “specific” calling to work among or with the
“poor,” his service to them is recorded throughout the
New Testament. Look up the following passages and write down the
ways in which he served and showed mercy to the poor throughout
his ministry.

a. Acts 24:17

________________________________________________________

b. Romans 15:25–28

________________________________________________________

c. Galatians 2:6–10

________________________________________________________

3. Read Acts 20:35, part of Paul’s
farewell to the elders of the Ephesian church.

a. In his closing remarks about his
ministry, what does Paul say is the trademark of his
life?

________________________________________________________

b. What does Paul tell the elders that we
“must” do?

________________________________________________________

Timothy

Timothy was a man dear to Paul’s heart and ministry. He
regards Timothy as “my son, whom I love.” (1
Corinthians 4:17) In discipling and training this young leader,
Paul passes on his desire and conviction to help the weak and
serve the poor. Look at the passages below and observe the ways
in which Paul asks Timothy to remember those in need.

1. Read 1 Timothy 5:3,16

a. Why do you think that Paul is
concerned about widows?

________________________________________________________

b. What does this reveal about Paul’s
expectation for Timothy’s ministry?

________________________________________________________

c. How does this exhortation to serve
widows relate to what James had considered “pure
religion”? Read James
1:27.

________________________________________________________

2. Read 1 Timothy 6:17:19

a. What are the things that Paul commands
the rich to do?

________________________________________________________

b. Why do you think that Paul is concerned
about how the rich live and spend their
wealth?

________________________________________________________

c. How do these commands apply to you?

________________________________________________________

3. This concern can also be seen in Paul’s
counsel to the church of Thessalonica as well. Read
1 Thessalonians 5:14.

a. What is it that Paul urges his
brothers in Christ to do?

________________________________________________________

b. How could serving the poor fulfill this
command of Paul?

________________________________________________________

Paul’s Emphasis on Service

Paul passes along to Timothy the commission of Jesus to make
disciples, in 2 Timothy 2:2: “…The things you have
heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to
reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” In
the process of instructing churches and raising up church
leaders, Paul also entrusts to them the great command of Jesus to
show love and mercy to anyone who is in need. (Luke 10:37) Read
the following verses and look at how Paul emphasized this command
throughout his ministry:

1. Read Romans 13:8–10.

a. Why is loving our fellow man (or our
neighbor)considered the fulfillment of the
law?

________________________________________________________

b. In verse 10, Paul says that “love does
no harm to its neighbor.” According to Jesus, anyone who is
in need is our neighbor. Therefore, do we harm those around us if
we do nothing about their physical needs? Why or why
not?

________________________________________________________

c. What does your church do to serve its
“neighbors”?

________________________________________________________

2. Read Galatians 5:14.

a. Once again, Paul confirms the teaching
of Jesus that loving our neighbor is “the fulfillment of the
law.” What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?

________________________________________________________

b. Do you consider the needs of your neighbor
(or those in need) as important as your
own?

________________________________________________________

3. Read Philippians 2:3–7. What does Paul
have to say regarding the way Jesus considered others’ needs
in relation to his own needs?

________________________________________________________

Chapter Reflection

In reading about the early church in this chapter, what are some
of your thoughts about the way it served
people?

________________________________________________________

In observing the commands of Jesus and the lives and convictions
of his disciples, do you think that service to the poor is a
valid aspect of a Christian’s life?

________________________________________________________

To love the unlovable and those who cannot help themselves deeply
glorifies and pleases God. When we love the outcast and those in
need, God’s love is poured out to them. It is through
God’s sovereign work that He has blessed us with the
opportunity to partner with Him in bringing salt and light to the
world through service and good deeds. This is why obedience to
these commands pleases Him so much.

When we are obedient to love and serve the poor, we are saying to
God that we are willing to love others as He has first loved us.
We must always remember that God Himself took the initiative to
leave a perfect and sinless atmosphere in order to give perfect
love to the sick, the needy, the poor and the lost. In the same
way, Jesus invites us to leave what is comfortable in order to
serve others in our own lives: ”My command is this: Love
each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)