“THE COMMON PURSE”
Acts 2:42-47
The Rev. Ms. Laurie A. McNeill
Montclair, New Jersey
April 17, 2005
All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their
possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. (Acts 2:44-45)
The early Christians generously gave of their possessions. When they did this, they continued the
tradition outlined in the Hebrew Scriptures. The people of Israel were commanded to tithe, to give a
tenth of their income to the house of God. The apostles in the New Testament knew that the Church,
also, would require material resources. The early Christians were disciplined in their support of the
Church.
Presbyterians recognize the importance of this tradition. In the Book of Order (the Constitution
of our church), we observe that:
a. The offering of material goods in worship is a corporate
act of self-dedication in response to God. It expresses thanksgiving
to God, the giver of life and all goods, the redeemer from sin and
evil. It is an affirmation by Christ’s disciples of
(1) their commitment to be stewards in all creation;
(2) their responsibility to share the Word with and
to care for all people;
(3) their desire to share God’s gifts with those to whom
believers are bound in the Church universal;
(4) their common bond in the body of Christ. (W-2.503)
The act of voluntarily giving our money to the church is extraordinary. Through our giving, we
bind ourselves to one another.
Look around this sanctuary and see the ones with whom we are bound. Not only do we share
a common bond in Christ, we share a checking account. We share a savings account. We share a
financial portfolio. We have a common purse!
Now I wish not to trivialize our relationship with Christ by mentioning the common purse. On
the contrary, I think the importance of our relationship with Christ is acknowledged by the recognition of
the common purse.
Consider the nature of personal relationships. Two people are serious about each other when
they start sharing their finances. A couple with a joint checking account has a significant level of
commitment. Partners and persons who are married who combine their resources make a strong
demonstration to their beloved. The sharing of money is a sharing of power and trust.
The common purse that we share as brothers and sisters in Christ is a demonstration that we are
committed disciples in Central Presbyterian Church. And the really amazing dynamic in this financial
sharing is the fact that we do not write the checks, and we do not have direct control over how the
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