What Are We Pretending?
Chris Holm | OCT 11, 2026
Scripture: Acts 5-6
Series: Acts
Categories: Repentance, Become Like Jesus, Community and Relationships
Sermon summary
Sermon Summary:
We pick up in Acts 5 with a church that looks nearly perfect. Barnabas lays the money from his field at the apostles’ feet and earns a nickname. Ananias and Sapphira watch, and they want a little of that honor. They sell their land, keep part of the money, and let everyone believe they gave it all.
Peter reminds them that the land and the money were theirs the whole time. Nobody required the gift. The trouble was the lie.
We see ourselves in this story. We let people think we pray more than we do. We say we’re fine when we’re drowning. Jesus said our hearts follow our treasure, and James invites us to confess to one another so we can be healed. God treated hypocrisy seriously at the very start of the church because what gets set at the beginning runs through everything after it.
God also gives us time, and we shouldn’t assume there will always be more of it. So we bring our real selves to him. We can start with one honest sentence. God, this is where I really am.
Scripture in this message. Acts 5 and 6, Joshua 7, Leviticus 10, Psalm 32, Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:1, James 5:16, 1 Corinthians 12. Watch the full message, share it with a friend, or join us for a service this Sunday.