Stewards of the Lord's Property

Numbers 1:50–51 NLT

50 Put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with all its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings as you travel, and they must take care of it and camp around it. 51 Whenever it is time for the Tabernacle to move, the Levites will take it down. And when it is time to stop, they will set it up again. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the Tabernacle must be put to death.

James 1:17 NLT

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

The Lord has blessed our church with 307 S Fulton Ave! How awesome to have this facility! When I first came a few years ago we talked about blooming where we are planted or relocating, and God has certainly helped us to BLOOM!!!! There is more blooming to come.

Scripture talks about stewardship of what is placed in our care.

Matthew 25:21 NLT

21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Tonight I want us to explore what we can do to make our building ready and restored for NEXT STEPS.

We have already invested greatly over the past three years in improvements and care - but there are some needs we have as a congregation, some demands coming on us by fire and safety, and some anticipation of further growth and what God may want to do in our midst.

These steps are bigger than what we can accomplish in a week and with a short pull on a resources, but I believe will help this facility and location go forth in meeting needs of this church for generations to come.

Tonight as a congregation we have to determine what that means. We have been wise about not incurring debt, but do we need to invest for the future to allow for the growth and ministry God wants to accomplish?

Whatever we decide as a church tonight, we come and leave with a heart of unity --- we decide to move forward together regardless if our visions or ideas were met or unmet. The work of the Lord is the most important.

We can all:

Speak positively in faith believing for what is ahead

Pray and prepare for a greater harvest of souls to come

Contribute our talents to a project to reduce costs and make ready what God has given us for new things

Contribute our resources to lessen costs and debt and free income for the Kingdom and ministry

Proverbs 3:9 NLT

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.

2 Chronicles 24:4–9 NLT

4 At one point Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of the Lord. 5 He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: “Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings, so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!” But the Levites did not act immediately. 6 So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and asked him, “Why haven’t you demanded that the Levites go out and collect the Temple taxes from the towns of Judah and from Jerusalem? Moses, the servant of the Lord, levied this tax on the community of Israel in order to maintain the Tabernacle of the Covenant.” 7 Over the years the followers of wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the Lord to worship the images of Baal. 8 So now the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the Temple of the Lord. 9 Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness.

Tonight we do not just want to decide to renovate the facility, but we also want to commit to invest in the renovation. To give of our own means to see it happen.

I am ok with whatever decision we arrive to as a congregation - I have left this in the Lord’s hands. I want us to however come together as a body with a renewed commitment to the work God has in store for us and each of us give of ourselves for it to happen!