The early church in Acts “had all things in common” and distributed what they had “as any had need.” This sermon by Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers at First Congregational Church in Norman, Oklahoma takes that language seriously at a time when “socialist” is used as a trigger word in nearly every campaign ad. It looks at Acts 2 and Acts 4, who Luke was writing for, and why commentaries so often soften these passages for preachers. From there it moves to distributive versus retributive justice, the national debate over health care and the social safety net, and what it might mean for everyone to have enough to live in dignity. It closes with the common good, Godspell, and a Bob Dylan song, and a charge to preachers to preach the passage they would rather skip.

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, with a look at Acts 4.

Chapters (approximate)

• 00:00 - Scripture reading: Acts 2:42-47
• 00:55 - “Socialist” as a trigger word
• 03:15 - Acts 2 and 4 next to “from each according to ability, to each according to need”
• 05:30 - One heart and soul: people over possessions, and who Luke was
• 08:15 - Empaths and narcissists, scarcity as a lie, and the safety net
• 10:40 - A God of distributive justice, not retributive violence
• 13:00 - Wonder, and what it asks of us (benevolence giving at church)
• 15:45 - What the commentaries say, and what else might be going on
• 18:00 - A peculiar people: the extra coat and the new creation
• 19:30 - The common good, “Day by Day,” and “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall”
• 20:45 - Closing charge: “blessed are those who make good trouble”