Sermon Tone Analysis

*/Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes./*

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*/Maturing stewards do the right things for the right reasons and strive for excellence in all they do!/*

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*GOD'S STEWARDS ARE /IN /THE WORLD,*

*BUT NOT /OF /THE WORLD.*

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*What does this mean?*

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*God's stewards recognize that the Lord sets them apart from the world and by the transforming power of the Gospel sends them into the world to live out the Gospel.*

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What do we mean when we speak of the church?

Is church a building, a steeple, or is it the people?

Well obviously it could mean any of those things—depending on the context of its use.

This principle of stewardship, however, reminds us that God’s people, the church, are the /ekklesia--/the Greek word means *“that which is called out”* or, the *“called out ones.”*

To be “called out” is in reference to the world.

God’s people are called out of the world.

That sounds funny, I know.

I mean we are all still here—in the world!

However, when Jesus prayed in what is commonly referred to as His High Priestly Prayer, He makes it clear that there is a separation—a spiritual separation from the world for His “called out ones” (John 17:15-18): 

/“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”/

The evil one Jesus speaks of here is of course the Devil, the prince of the spirit of the air that motivates the world and its way of dealing with life.

When protected from that one is to be sanctified, that is, set apart for a specific purpose.

In this case with respect to God’s purpose.

This is the Church!

This is God’s people!

This is what God’s stewards are—in the world, but not of the world.

The Church—God’s people—are left here in the world to be the salt and light of the world.

Think of it this way: we are to reveal God’s truth to the world by what we say, do, and think.

God continues to make Himself known to the world through His “Called out Ones” who are in the world.

And this is precisely why the world hates us.

This is why Satan himself and so many of his human and spiritual allies work against Christians and the Christian faith.

If there was no Christ, no Christian, the world would surely be overjoyed—so it thinks.

But to make that happen, they would have to overcome the God who has overcome it.

And that cannot, and will not happen.

Nothing can change the reality of God—who He is, and what He has and does and will do.

Not even the added challenges we face from our old human nature which is always inclined toward evil can change that.

No wonder the words of Romans 12:2 encourage us to put off the patterns of this world by allowing the renewing power of God to work.

The ability to do that starts in our baptism.

But it never ends there.

What God begins in us in baptism needs to be fed and nourished, or it will die.

My point is this: if we keep ourselves separated from God’s Word, we keep ourselves separated from the very spiritual nourishment that helps us stand strong against our natural enemies, the Devil, the world, and our own sinful nature.

You see, through the power of the Spirit that works through the written Word, we are able to “test and approve” what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

St.

Paul says it again this way in Philippians (2:13):  /“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”/

Thank God for that, otherwise a little soul such as that of Tracy Karen’s has no hope—even in her baptism, and we don’t either!

However, by the /mercies/ of God, and His ongoing striving for us, the believing Christian does have hope and that hope never disappoints.

Hope provides us with a different set of beliefs and values.

Hope provides us with the way out of any temptation.

Hope keeps us in true faith, all because God in baptism set His seal of approval upon us.

That seal is the Holy Spirit promised just as Peter said: Acts 2:38-39 (ESV)

*/38 /*/“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

*39 *For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

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          This is what it means to be “called out of the world” by God: it means my sins are forgiven; my spirit is motivated by God’s Spirit; my life is now hidden in His life.

To God be all glory!

I hope this helps you all better understand the merciful and forgiving nature of God and how much we are loved by our God.

Jesus, speaking of His disciples and of those who will believe in Jesus because of their word, says: John 17:15-18

/My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

As you sent me into this world, I have sent them into the world.

/ 

          This is what sets the believer apart from the unbeliever, the sons of God apart from the children of the world.

It’s all a matter of God’s calling and election.

And Abram (Abraham) is a testament to how being called out works.

Gen. 12:1-3

/The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you./

The point I am trying to make here is that God’s people have always existed as a result of God’s choosing.

Just as Abram was chosen and called out of the land of his forefathers (world), so we also are chosen and called out by virtue of the promise given in and through the person and work of Jesus Christ who is that promised seed of Abraham.

Recognizing that we are a people set apart from the world is extremely important as we deal with life in this fallen world.

It has the effect of bringing peace of soul and quietness of mind.

Notice, how the Lord himself states this truth in … John 16:33

/I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world./

Did you catch that?

Jesus does not tell us to go and overcome the world.

Instead He calls us to take our rest in Him because He has overcome the world.

What is neat about this is that there isn’t anything the world can say or do—not even through death—that can ever take away what Jesus has accomplished for us!

Thank God that He was sent into the world to bless the world with His presence and work.

Thank God that He has called us out to be stewards of His grace, mercy, and love.

\\ *How is this done?*

*As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will:*

·       Emphasize how the Gospel transforms stewards' attitudes in, about and toward the world;

·       Emphasize the Christian witness of stewards in the decisions that are made; and,

·       Encourage the support of appropriate projects and activities both within and outside the church.

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*As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will not:*

·       Limit the scope of Christian stewardship only to "church-related" projects and activities;

·       Use spiritually defective approaches and motivations from the world that are based mainly and primarily on the criterion that they "work;" or,

·       Forget the daily tensions and struggles of being God's stewards /in /but not /of /the world.

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*GOD’S STEWARDS ARE /IN/ THE WORLD *

*BUT NOT /OF/ THE WORLD.*

*This means that God’s stewards recognize that the Lord sets them apart from the world and by the transforming power of the Gospel sends them into the world to live out the Gospel.*

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