Doctor of Souls

2 Corinthians 9:6–10 NIV

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

6 I say. 1 Co. 1:12; 7:29; 15:20. Ga. 3:17; 5:16. Ep. 4:17. Col. 2:4. He which soweth sparingly. ver. 10. Ps. 41:1–3. Pr. 11:18, 24; 19:17; 22:9. Ec. 11:1, 6. Lu. 6:38; 19:16–26. Ga. 6:7–9. He. 6:10.

7 not. De. 15:7–11, 14. Pr. 23:6–8. Is. 32:5, 8. Ja. 5:9. 1 Pe. 4:9. God. ch. 8:12. Ex. 25:2; 35:5. 1 Ch. 29:17. Pr. 11:25; 22:9. Ac. 20:35. Ro. 12:8.

8 God. 2 Ch. 25:9. Ps. 84:11. Pr. 3:9; 10:22; 11:24; 28:27. Hag. 2:8. Mal. 3:10. Phi. 4:18. all grace. ch. 8:19. 1 Pe. 4:10. always. ver. 11. 1 Ch. 29:12–14. may. ch. 8:2, 7. Ac. 9:36. 1 Co. 15:58. Ep. 2:10. Col. 1:10. 2 Th. 2:17. 2 Ti. 3:17. Tit. 2:14; 3:8, 14.

9 He hath dispersed. See on Ps. 112:9. his. Ps. 112:3. Pr. 8:18; 21:21. Is. 51:8. 1 Co. 13:13. Ga. 5:5, 6.

10 he. Ge. 1:11, 12; 47:19, 23, 24. Is. 55:10. multiply. ver. 6. Pr. 11:18. Ec. 11:6. Phi. 4:17. increase. Ho. 10:12. Mat. 6:1. Ep. 5:9. Phi. 1:11. 1 Th. 3:12; 4:10.

Blayney, B., Scott, T., & Torrey, R. A. with Canne, J., Browne. (n.d.). The Treasury of Scripture knowledge (Vol. 2, p. 130). London: Samuel Bagster and Sons.

The Pastor Teaches Christian Stewardship

Stewardship—historical and contemporary challenges.

Agree or disagree. The local congregation is dependent on the freewill offerings of its own members.

Discuss your congregation’s sources of income as it relates to the above statement.

Creating a positive mind-set.

Agree or disagree. Some members chaff at appeals to support their own church with money.

Agree or disagree. Because of negative comments or reactions in the past, some pastors may be hesitant to appeal to the members to consider increasing their offerings.

Managers vs. owners.

This section presents what we teach in confirmation class about the meaning of the word steward and how it applies to the concept of stewardship.

Agree or disagree. Our opinions about the owner of all things will influence our willingness to manage those things in a God-pleasing way.

Stewardship—five Ts.

I must be getting old — or at least more experienced. I grew up learning about the three Ts of stewardship. Jos Giganti of The Regular Joe Show will mention Time, Talents, and Treasure. But now there are five! I had learned there was a fourth but not the fifth. What are four and five?

How does categorizing stewardship into five different areas help us realize that stewardship is not just about how we handle our finances?

How does this teach people of all ages and circumstances their responsibility in regard to stewardship in the broad sense?

Pages 316-317

What the main areas of life that we are required to spend money on?

What criteria do you use to balance them?

Can a pastor drive a BMW?

What is the difference? Joseph arranged for Egypt to store up 20% of the produce for seven years in anticipation of a famine and was blessed. The rich farmer planned to store up grain for the future and was chastised by God.

Simple principles — 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Although this was for a specific fund raiser, what timely principles still apply to stewardship today?

1.

2.

3.

4.

How has our government adopted these principles when it comes to income tax?

The grace of giving — 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.

Which of these many principles on pages 319—321 stand out for you?

Training Christian stewardship leaders.

How do you implement this in your congregation?

Training Christian stewards

Share with the group what you have done and resources for an annual stewardship campaign.

Missing: Methods of gathering money from members.

No mention is made of EFT from members on a weekly or monthly basis. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a system?

Anecdote. From time to time a shut in will hand me an envelope to put into the church offering plate. Last Fall I was preparing some books to sell and found two offering envelopes entrusted to my care in 2010. What oversight had I committed?

“Sacrificial giving”

This seems to be a reaction to an approach some make when it comes to appealing to stewardship. How does the following relate to this idea?

Agree or disagree. We will invest ourselves the most in those areas of life that we consider to be the most important to us?

Agree or disagree. We will chaff at having to do something we don’t like or pay money for something we don’t think is necessary.

Example: I love to play chess. I collect chess sets, study major chess openings, play daily, and enjoy the game. You may not even own a chess set or know how to play. On the other hand, I have never watched a complete game of NHL hockey and have no idea when they play or if their season is cancelled.

How does axiom apply to stewardship in the broad and narrow sense?

Spiritual gifts

This section emphasizes that stewardship entails more than the management of money. We all have specific gifts and talents from God that can and should be used to his glory.

We may be in the habit of categorizing gifts and service based on importance but St. Paul encourages people with different levels of ability of their worth in serving God.

Recall John Milton’s reflections on this in a sonnet we memorized in college.

WHEN I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one Talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide, “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?” I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need Either man’s work or his own gifts. Who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed, And post o’er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.”

Stewardship and vocation

What misunderstanding about spiritual vocations does the following statement demonstrate?

Mrs. Carl Otto (our landlord while at the seminary) proudly told my wife and I about her sons who were pastors and their daughter who was married to a pastor. But one son was “only” a teacher.

Prof. Schuetze shared that when he walked his dog, a business owner he met regularly would not even say “Hello” to him and because of that he would be very reluctant to ever do business with him. He seemed to defend his decision based on how the other person ignored him. (I’m a little confused on this so help me out.)

Agree or disagree. The level to which we help others with our stewardship is based on their attitude toward us.

Conclusion: Stewardship is about how we demonstrate in practical ways how important our God — the giver of all things — is to us and what he commands us to do with our time, talent, treasure, temple, and trees.