The Interrogative's of Stewardship - #4
The Interrogative's of Stewardship - #4 • Sermon • Submitted
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The Interrogative's of Stewardship - #4
The Interrogative's of Stewardship - #4
“The Where of Stewardship”
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Stewardship right now is more important than it has ever been - Why?
Because I believe we are in the last days - and in these “last days” we know what will take place...
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
So how does stewardship tie into not being a part of the “falling away” (2thes2.3) , or the “some shall depart from the faith...”? (1 tim4.1)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We have to protect our heart...
We have to protect us from us...
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
Stewardship is the managing of someone else’s finances, resources and affairs - people get in trouble when they misappropriate them for their own use…
The dangers include:
“misappropriation of funds”
“embezzlement”
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Description: 1 Peter 4.7-11
1 - Who
2 - What
3 - When
4 - Where
“The Where of Stewardship”
Charity
because of vs 7
“and ABOVE ALL THINGS...” VS 8
above - before
all - each, any, every, whole
Have fervent charity
have - to have, to own, to possess
fervent - without ceasing - continuously, constantly, eagerly
marked by care and persistent effort
charity - love - agapa`
love
esteem; regard
affection
This is a Godly love… not a selfish, self serving, shallow love
b. why do we look at charity as giving?
Love / charity gives...
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
When you love - you give...
Charitable with / generous with / steward of:
Time - you give someone time you are giving your life
Talent - you help someone - you are giving - you are being charitable
Pastor & Mrs. Callaghan just bought a house - we have some of our people who have been going over and helping them remodel, clean up, make repairs -
Treasure - see a need / fill a need...
“And above all things, have fervent charity among yourselves”
charitable - / loving with
compliments
encouragement
11 A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
edification - sharing a truth
praise - a word of praise goes a long way
kindness, care, concern...
“hey, how are you doing, I can see somethings bothering you...”
“I just want you to know that I have been praying for you...”
“I just wanted to share with you that I saw one of your children help another child up when they were playing”
“Your piano / violin special was such a blessing”
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Suffering Love
Wilfred Grenfell was once asked what influenced him to give himself unreservedly to Christian missions. Slowly he told this story: “Into a hospital where I was a resident physician, a woman was brought one night terribly burned. Immediately it was evident there was no hope for her. Her husband had come home drunk and had thrown a paraffin lamp over her. The police were summoned and at last they brought in the half-sobered husband. The magistrate leaned over the bed and insisted that the patient tell the police exactly what happened. He impressed upon her the importance of telling the whole truth as she only had a little while to live.
“The poor soul turned her face from side to side, avoiding facing her husband, who stood at the foot of the bed. Finally her eyes rested on his strong hands, following them up his arms and shoulders and then across to his face. Their eyes met. Her expression of suffering momentarily disappeared, as tenderness and love colored her countenance. She looked at the magistrate and calmly said, ‘Sir, it was just an accident,’ and fell back on her pillow, dead.”
Grenfell added: “This was like God, and God is like that. His love sees through our sins.”
We are to be stewards of the Grace of God and distribute “charity” “love” the way the Lord does… it will hide a multitude of sins...
“The Where of Stewardship”
Charity
Church
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
church offerings
This particular offering was for the impoverished Jewish Christians in Jerusalem
The need had been presented & pledges had been made -
The collection was then taken up -
Our giving is based not on our abundance but by the Lord’s example
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
all through scripture, we find the offerings being brought to the house of God
Rich
Poor
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Mission
Comission
Our Giving to the Lord is to support:
His work
His cause
Our commitments and sacrifices in our giving should not be motivated out of guilt, but out of love...
I give because I love the Lord
I give tithes and offerings because I love the Lord
I give to missions and ministry because I love the Lord and the cause of Christ -
I give to the building program - because I love the Lord and the mission that the church is committed to:
Sharing the gospel
Seeing people saved
Education
edification
encouragement
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
The Where of Stewardship
Charity
Church
Christian
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Stewardship
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Don’t get weary of well doing in your stewardship...
Stewardship for:
Charity - love’s sake - everyone need’s love - be a steward of God’s grace
Church - Ministry, Message, Mission -
tithes / offerings, sacrificial support -
Investment in eternity - ROI
This week out SW - staff men went out - we were able to see a 16 year old get saved-
The mission is continuing… w/o your support, that would not be a possibility
Will the needs ever go away? will we always need to sacrifice for the Lord and the church?
I hope so… If there is no need - there is probably nothing going on...
I don’t want to be a part of a church that is:
satisfied
stagnant...
I want to be a part of a church that is:
Caring
Committed
Christ Centered -
You cannot be Christ Centered and not Church Centered
You cannot be Christ Centered and not Commission Centered
Sacrifice
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Stewardship for Christ =
Charity
Church
Christian
love
giving
hospitality
care
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
“our care for the stranger should not exceed our care for the saint”