Sermon Tone Analysis

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him.

Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions.

They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others.

According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth.

We cannot understand the biblical vision of the Christian life without embracing the biblical concept of stewardship.

This idea goes back to the garden of Eden, where Adam & Eve were assigned the responsibility to be stewards of the garden God had created.

At the heart of stewardship is the understanding that stewards do not own what God has entrusted to them but are managers of His resources.

The BF&M states that God is the source of all blessings, temporal, and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him.

Human beings are granted an incredible responsibility as stewards of God’s earth, but this fact is grounded in the principle that God owns everything and that we human beings will give an answer to God for our use, enjoyment, and protection of all He has entrusted to us.

3 basic truths:

1. Everything belongs to God.

2. We are stewards; all we have is held as a trust.

3. We must give an account of our stewardship to God.

The biblical view that God owns all things stands in opposition to modern secularism and the idea of human self-sufficiency.

We enjoy a world we did not create.

We eat of its fruit, we receive its gifts, and we use its resources - but we have created none of this.

Being good stewards of what has been entrusted to us is an important Christian responsibility.

A HOLY TRUSTEESHIP

“....A holy trusteeship in the gospel.”

The bible explains that we have been bought at a price.

Therefore, we belong to Christ, and all that is ours is at Christ’s disposal.

The Christian worldview is revolutionary in that it frees people from an unhealthy attachment to material possessions and money.

Paul explains that Christians are debtors to the entire world...

Those who have received the saving gospel of Christ are commanded to yield and even sacrifice our material possessions for the cause of the gospel so that others may also come to know Christ.

Our most valuable possession is the gospel.

Jesus made this point very clear, in

What he’s saying is that His redeemed people are to put money, wealth, and material possessions in their proper place and at the disposal of Great Commission priorities.

CATHY FAMILY GIVING HOUSES

FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Christians are sometimes confused or uncertain about the use of money and material priorities.

Some believe that material possessions indicate God’s favor.

Others trust in material possessions to sustain them in times of need or poverty.

A mature Christian understands that material possessions or money cannot buy what is most important - the priceless treasure of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Christian stewardship includes our material possessions but...

Christian stewardship extends to our energy, our time, and the totality of who we are.

Jesus spoke of a steward’s responsibility to exercise talents for the glory of God.

The spiritual gifts God bestows on us are not merely for personal edification but are for building up the church.

Our stewardship requires us to be ready to give not only our material goods but all that we are for the good of the church and the advancement of the gospel.

THE STEWARDSHIP EVALUATION

Christians are to be characterized by generosity.

A Christian’s stewardship is motivated not by obligation but by a joyful sense of privilege.

Ultimately, believers give for the glory of God, but in this life we also give so that the Redeemer’s cause on earth will be advanced.

This is perhaps the most satisfying motivation for Christian giving.

THE TITHE

One issue of controversy among Christians has been the tithe.

In the OT, God commanded the people of God to give a minimum of 10% as an offering.

Some people argue that Christians, no longer under the law, are now free from the responsibility of the tithe.

Responsible believers understand, however, that Christians bear no less responsibility for giving than God commanded of his people in the OT.

It’s for the work of the kingdom!

In the Bible, the 10% is given as A STARTING PLACE!

What does your giving go to?

General upkeep and maintenance // we got bills!

Some goes to the debt

Staff

Church ministries

Church missions

MBA

ALSBOM/SBC

state missions

international missions

disaster relief