The Stewardship of Ministry

Introduction

It is one of the greatest honors of my life to be asked to speak on this occasion. I first met your pastor when I was a college student in my early 20’s, where we worked together as telemarketers.

Our friendship really started in the Spring of 1995, if my memory serves me correctly, so it’s been almost 30 years ago. It’s hard to believe we are even that old, much less have been friends that long!

Your pastor and I had many thought provoking conversations in the those days and I invited him to church as I did many of my co-workers. The difference is, Steve came, and God worked greatly in his heart on that first Sunday, and Steve quickly embraced Christ as his Lord and Savior and began to grow in his faith.

I’m thankful I was able to play a small part in his life, and God used a simple church invitation, and a powerful presentation of the Gospel by A. B. Brown that morning to forever change his life, his trajectory, and his destiny.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!

I was a far from perfect example to Steve during those days and the years that followed. He was over at our home almost every weekend after that. Eating our food, sleeping on our couch…BUT STEVE I WOULDN’T TRADE THOSE DAYS FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

You and I built a friendship, and a bond, because of Jesus and now you reflect upon 20 years in the ministry, because of what JESUS did in your life all those years ago. For the last 20 years, you have been a STEWARD of a great treasure and that’s what I want to talk about today.

I want to talk about the STEWARDSHIP that YOU have, but I also want to talk about the STEWARDSHIP that YOUR CONGREGATION has and really that ALL BELIEVER’s HAVE IN COMMON.

Today I invite you to turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 3 today and we will be looking at some verses in both chapters 3 & 4.

Scripture Introduction

If you are like me, you may have heard many messages on stewardship from 1 Corinthians 4, and just about all of these messages, as I recall dealt with the stewardship of MONEY.

This passage isn’t talking about the stewardship of money. It’s really talking about the stewardship that ministers of the Gospel have, and really that ALL believers have!

It has everything to do with the stewardship of the Word of God and discipling believers as ministers of Christ. To gain an understanding of the context regarding what the Apostle Paul says in chapter 4, it is important that we pick up our reading in chapter 3.

1 Corinthians 3:5–8 NKJV

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

As you may know, the Church at Corinth had many problems, one of which Paul dealt with in 1 Corinthians 1:12. Some within the church had become enamored with the personalities of Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (Peter). As a result, they had become divided over personality types rather than unified over Christ. In the verses we just read, Paul brings up the subject again. As he does, he reminds the Corinthians that Paul, Apollos, and Cephas were not the ones to be praised. Stewards realize...

To God be the Glory, Great Things HE Has Done

Paul begins this section by asking rhetorical questions: “Who is Paul? Who is Apollos?” He then answers his own questions by reminding the Corinthian Church that he and Apollos are mere servants. Craig Smith says the word for servant here means:

"A leader in the church who is committed to serving God through meeting the needs of the Church, characterized by a disposition of humility and self-sacrifice.”

Steve that’s what we are called to be...

Paul and Apollos had been faithful in planting and watering the seeds of the Gospel and God’s Word. As a result, the Corinthians had placed their faith in Christ and had the opportunity to grow through the Word of God faithfully proclaimed to them by these ministers.

As you can see from this passage, Paul and Apollos did not create faith in these believers but proclaimed the Word that produced faith in them. Paul said elsewhere in Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Application

It’s important for your pastor and I, as well as every minister of the Gospel to remind ourselves often, WE CANNOT SAVE ANYONE! We can plant the seed, we can water the seed, BUT ONLY GOD GIVES THE INCREASE!

Steve I’m so thankful that I invited you to church. I’m so thankful that AB Brown faithfully preached the Gospel that day. BUT TODAY WE AREN’T HERE TO PRAISE ME OR AB OR EVEN YOU…WE ARE HERE TO PRAISE THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS…THE ONE WHO BECAME YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR THAT DAY, THE ONE WHO RADICALLY CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND SET YOUR FUTURE ON A NEW TRAJECTORY!

We must remind ourselves, only God can create new life, grow a seed, provide the new birth, and make the supernatural changes that occur in individuals’ lives.

So often we try to MAKE things happen that are beyond our control. When we do this we put UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS on ourselves and this can lead to depression and defeat.

But when we realize we are just to be FAITHFUL PROCLAIMERS of the TRUTH and LOVE to people where they are an immense load and weight is taken off of us

Notice also in our text...

1 Corinthians 3:9–10 NKJV

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

Stewards are Co-Workers with the Owner (3:9-10)

Paul moves his analogy from planting and watering a seed to that of field and a building. As stewards, we are not the owners of the “field” or “building.” Based upon the context of this passage, the words field and building are analogies of the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul makes it clear who the field and the building belong to; they belong to God. While we play a part in ensuring the building is on the solid foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, ultimately, the field and the building belong to God.

A steward takes care of what belongs to another. Just as Paul warned the Church at Corinth to be careful when building on the foundation he had laid, we, too, need to ensure we are giving our congregations the proper tools and materials to build on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul couldn’t build on the foundation for the Corinthians. He could provide tools and building materials and seek to transmit the correct knowledge to them. But what they did with the tools, materials, and knowledge was up to them. That’s why he warns them to be careful how they continue to build on this solid foundation.

Application

The same is true for us. Often, we will refer to the congregation as “our church” or “my church,” but ultimately, it’s imperative for us all to know that it is His church! Acts 20:28 reveals that Christ purchased the church with His own blood! The church global and the church local belong to Him, not us. He is the owner; we are simply tools in His hands to point others within His family to the truth, guiding and directing them to build well. We serve as an example to build well on this foundation because we can’t expect to lead others somewhere we have never been.

While it is a privilege and honor for Steve and I to serve as pastors of local bodies of Christ, we understand that the “FIELDS” we serve in belong to the ONE who purchased them with His precious blood.

We desire that you keep your eyes on Him, and allow us to team with you to advance God’s Kingdom in the fields that he has privileged us to serve.

Notice what Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 3:11-17

1 Corinthians 3:11–17 NKJV

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

YOU are Stewards Too (3:11-17)

Pastors and teachers and leaders within the church can point each other and their congregation to the right materials, and tools to build upon the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, BUT NO ONE CAN STEWARD THESE MATERIALS AND TOOLS FOR YOU!

I know I have, and I’m sure he has a handful, if not more, of heartbreaking stories of individuals over these last 20 years of people he and Hannah know, that they have poured their lives into and invested blood, sweat, and tears into who have chosen to build with “wood, hay, and straw.” I know they have faithfully warned people for these last 20 years against “shoddy spiritual construction” that would be revealed when the storms of life came.

This passage also reminds every believer, including pastors, that we will one day answer how we chose to build on the foundation of Christ. Paul alluded to this later in this same letter when he said in 1 Corinthians 9:27

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

How tragic it would be for to spend our lives investing in the flock, providing them with the tools and truths necessary to build their lives on the Rock, while at the same time neglecting to practice what we’ve been preaching! We, too, will give an account.

The day will reveal what our lives are built of, and when all is said and done, and it passes through the fire of His judgment, what will be left to bring Him honor, glory, and praise?

Now, as we move to chapter 4, notice what Paul says next:

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 ESV

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Stewards are Expected to be Trustworthy (4:1-2)

The word that Paul uses for “servant” in verse 1 means that we are SUBORDINATE to. Servants realize they are under the AUTHORITY of CHRIST!

Paul uses the word “STEWARD” which, in this context means someone who has a CHARGE and DIRECTION of something…In other words we have been CHARGED with the “mysteries” of God. This mystery is the WONDERFUL MESSAGE OF REDEMPTION!

Stewards are required to be faithful! God has ENTRUSTED us with a WEIGHTY, but WONDERFUL responsibility.

You see Steve we’ve come FULL CIRCLE and we need to KEEP on KEEPING on.

Over the years God has put FAITHFUL STEWARDS in my life.

My mom and dad who came to know Jesus about 7 years before I was ever born.

The Sunday School teachers and pastors who shared the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with me as a little boy and a teenager.

The professors I had while in a tiny Christian college.

Somewhere along the way I planted and watered a seed.

A B Brown planted and watered a seed.

Your friends and family who were believers that planted seeds.

Pastors that you had through the years that planted and watered seeds.

I know your wife Hannah, not only had seeds planted in her life, by her wonderful, godly parents, and her pastors, and professors growing up…and now together you are planting seeds in David’s life.

And now you, for the last 20 years, and hopefully until we are called to Heaven we will continue to FAITHFULLY plant and water seeds AND TRUST GOD TO GIVE THE INCREASE!

Conclusion

Twenty years. What an accomplishment. It’s a great accomplishment considering the statistics I recently read from Pastoral Care Inc that revealed the following:

38% of pastors are thinking of quitting the ministry, and 46% of those are under the age of 45.

70% of pastors do not feel like they have a close friend

Only 1 out of every 10 (10%) of pastors today will continue to pastor until retirement.

It can’t be expressed enough that the stewardship that Steve and Hannah have been given over these last 20 years has been WEIGHTY.

Today we do not just celebrate the fact that God has enabled and empowered Steve to carry this weight, but his wife, and to some degree his son, have had to carry this load together.

Watching from a distance you have carried it well, and the same GRACE that has enabled you to carry this load for the last 20 years will be the same GRACE that will enable you to carry this load until you are welcomed home.

I want to leave you with this...

CONGREGATION: Embrace YOUR Stewardship of Ministry

EVERY BELIEVER has a ministry.

When I invited Steve to church that day, I wasn’t a pastor. I was a 22 year old college student. But I had a ministry and SO DO YOU!

At the very least you are a MINISTER OF RECONCILIATION.

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

Let me tell you what often happens to us as pastors. We try to not only EMBRACE OUR stewardship of ministry, but often we try to embrace YOURS too…especially if we feel like it’s being neglected. When he is distracted from His stewardship, and then focuses on YOUR stewardship, he is unable to do either well.

ONE OF THE GREATEST WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTOR IS FOCUS ON FULFILLING THE ROLE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY!

The truth of the matter is NO ONE CAN STEWARD YOUR FIELD and YOUR BUILDING but you.

It’s not any pastors job to do your ministry, but rather to EQUIP YOU to do your ministry… Ephesians 4:11-13

Ephesians 4:11–13 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

I want to close with a story that I’ve watched transpire over the last 20 months. This has happened in the church that I have the privilege to pastor.

It’s all because ONE person chose to be a FAITHFUL STEWARD and plant a SEED, and others did the same. But it started with ONE...

Linda #1 invited Linda #2 to church. Linda #2 came and invited Debbie to church. Debbie came and invited Miranda to church. Miranda told her husband Ben and they both came along with their FOUR girls (Ella, Olivia, Sophia, and Chloe). Debbie also brought her husband Mike, along with her other daughter, Marissa. Debbie also invited her brother Steve who gave his heart to Jesus in the hospital and plans to be baptized soon. Miranda invited her cousin Tony and his wife Naomi and their two children: Atticus and Charlie. Miranda recently had a new baby (Lucy), and Tony & Naomi are also expecting a new baby (Shepherd). Miranda also invited her other cousin Paul and his son to church and they also attend pretty faithfully.

Miranda and Ben were new Christians when they started attending and got baptized a few months later. They have seen two of their children (Emma & Olivia) trust Jesus, and the four of them were baptized and joined our church last year. The three youngest children were dedicated to the Lord in April. At the dedication service Miranda brought two of her grandparents and her husband Ben brought his sister. Tony & Naomi’s oldest child, Atticus recently gave his heart to Jesus at Good News Club and I had the privilege to baptize him.

On the day the Brendells dedicated their youngest 3 children to Jesus there were 20 people at church that day all because LINDA #1 invited LINDA #2 and it snowballed from there.

Since the dedication I’ve also been privileged to see Debbie and Mike rededicate their lives to Jesus and get baptized, and to see Miranda’s younger sister Marissa give her heart to Jesus and also get baptized!

The next time you think a church invitation isn’t important...

I want you to think about the 22 people in Black Mountain, NC that I just talked about. I want you to think about the FIVE souls who have been saved and the EIGHT people that have been baptized and the THREE children that have been dedicated to the Lord over the last 20 months BECAUSE LINDA #1 INVITED LINDA #2 AND IT SNOWBALLED FROM THERE.

The next time you think a church invitation isn’t important...

I WANT YOU TO THINK OF YOUR PASTOR, WHO WAS INVITED TO CHURCH BY A COLLEGE KID 29 YEARS AGO...

IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE A STEWARD OF THIS WONDERFUL MESSAGE OF REDEMPTION. IF YOU WON’T BE, WHO WILL BE?