1. WHAT IS MEANT BY “STEWARDSHIP”?
Matthew 25:14 — Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
Stewardship is the principle of Christian living which recognizes that everything we have belongs to God and that we are responsible to him for the way we use these things.
2. WHAT MAKES A PERSON A CHRISTIAN STEWARD?
2 Corinthians 5:15 — And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Galatians 2:20 — I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Our selfishness should have died with Christ. It should no longer control us. Now Jesus is in charge, and we live to please him.
3. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP?
1 Corinthians 10:31 — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 8:7 — But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Every daily activity can be a good work for God, including the way we use our money.
4. WHAT PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR CHRISTIAN GIVING DOES THE BIBLE OFFER?
1 Corinthians 16:2 — On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
We should give regularly, “on the first day of every week.”
We should “set aside” our offering money so that it is not spent on something else.
The amount of our offering should be determined by the amount of God’s blessings to us, “in keeping with his income.”
Every Christian, “each one of you,” should participate in these offerings.
5. DOES GOD WANT OFFERINGS OTHER THAN MONEY?
Romans 12:4-6 — Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
Many different abilities and talents are needed in the service of God and his church.
6. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TALENTS NEEDED IN THE CHURCH?
Worship — ushers, choir, preaching
Administration — officers, paperwork
Fellowship — organizations, food preparation
Maintenance — cleaning, painting, repairing
Education — teaching, assisting, paperwork
Stewardship and Evangelism — visiting and witnessing
7. WHY DOES A CHRISTIAN LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY?
Ephesians 5:1,2 — Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Because Jesus Loved us and died for us, we love to serve him well.
Ephesians 2:8-10 — For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We are not saved by our good works, but by God’s grace. When we do our good works, God himself is working in us.
SUMMARY: Every redeemed child of God has a mission to accomplish before he goes to heaven. He is to use his God-given abilities in the service of God. Because the Lord gives different abilities to each, each one’s mission is different, but even the poorest and weakest have a mission.
Since money represents much of God’s gifts to us, money must be used carefully, putting God first in our budget and setting aside for him an amount that honors him.
The organized church offers many different opportunities for service to God and his glory. Such opportunities must not be used to the glory of man.
A Christian tries to be a good steward of his God-given abilities, because he loves his God and wants to honor him with his life. However, forgiveness and salvation come only through God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
QUICKIE QUIZ (T or F)
- ___ A Christian does not go to heaven because of his good works.
- ___ God doesn’t care whether a Christian does good works or not.
- ___ The church shouldn’t preach about money.
- ___ The best good works are those done for the church.
- ___ Some people are too busy to do good works.
- ___ A Christian should try to give ten percent of his income to church.
- ___ Every church member should have some job in the church.
- ___ Some weeks a Christian may have nothing left over to give to God.
- ___ As long as the church work gets done, it doesn’t matter why you do it.
- ___ Washing dishes can be a good work for God.
WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY
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Galatians 2:20 — I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
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1 Corinthians 10:31 — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
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1 Corinthians 16:2 — On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
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Romans 12:4-6 — Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
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Ephesians 2:8-10 — For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
For more information you can watch this lesson presented as a Bible study HERE. Please click HERE to find the complete series of Bible studies.
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