1. Taking the “Stew” Out of Stewardship
1 Chron. 29:1-‐20
The word “stewardship” sends cold shivers down some people’s spine. To many,
“stewardship” conjures up visions of agonizing appeals for money. People imme-‐
diately squeeze their pocketbook so Cght that poor Abe Lincoln screams bloody
murder!
False ideas people think about stewardship: Stewardship is NOT...
• A method of raising money – It is God’s method of raising mature men and
women. God is not some celesCal “tax collector” who comes for your money to
fund the business of the church! God’s church will go on with or without your
money!
“THE LORD'S LOTTERY” (A sure-fire stewardship program designed by Dale
Vitalis)
BIBLICAL BASIS– "As a man winneth, so will he giveth." Hezekiah 6:15
PURPOSE–Get more money to find its way into the offering plates on Sunday.
PLAN– Three simple steps to explosive giving
1. After the offering, have the ushers bring the full offering plates forward. The
pastor will place all the offering envelopes in a big round tumbler and turn it
several times.
2. One usher will draw out one of the offering envelopes from the round tumbler.
3. The person’s envelope drawn will win DOUBLE whatever their offering was!
BENEFITS– Seven outstanding benefits (“Blessings” if you serve a "spiritual"
congregation) from this STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM:
1. Minimal cost to the church!
2. More and more members will begin using offering envelopes.
3. If you make the offering envelopes available only to members, you will be
astounded at how your membership will grow.
4. Members will naturally put in more money because they know that if their
envelope is drawn they will get more back. (Never underestimate the intel-
ligence of your members)
5. Your worship service will reach new heights of excitement. You can imag-
ine the excitement each Sunday as the winning envelope is drawn.
6. If you take up the offering after the sermon, more people will stay for the
preaching. (The person whose envelope is drawn must be present to win.)
7. Pastors will no longer have to work quite so hard on their sermons, as that
will no longer be the "main event."
ONE DRAWBACK– Remember what happened to Jimmy and Tammy Baker.
1/16/11am (Bible Bap:st Church, Port Orchard, WA) — Dr. Al Hughes
2. • Stewardship is NOT Tithing – Tithing is only a small part of stewardship. If all
you do is Cthe, you’ve only just begun to understand what stewardship is
about.
• Stewardship is NOT limited to finances– It involves your TOTAL LIFE. What about
your talents, Cme, body, properCes, and family?
In reality, stewardship is understanding that everything we own belongs to God,
and we are responsible for making the very best use of the resources that God
has entrusted into our hands. It means viewing all of your resources (your Cme,
talents and relaConships) as clay in the PoVer's hands—to be shaped, molded and
used for His glory.
• Stewardship is an ADVENTURE.
• Stewardship is a WAY OF LIFE– A lifestyle of managing God’s resources.
• Stewardship is INVESTING IN ETERNITY.
• Stewardship is God’s plan of BLESSING.
• Stewardship is FAITH in ac:on.
• Stewardship is proving the sincerity of your LOVE for God.
• Stewardship is LORDSHIP!
THREE KEYS that will take the “stew” out of stewardship:
I. Stewardship is a resolution of HEART (1 Chron. 17:1-‐2, 25; 29:9,
17-‐19). Stewardship is not a maVer of money, it is a maVer of heart.
• God is not ader your money—God is ader your heart. If He has your
heart, He will also have your check book.
• How a person handles his/her resources is a reflecCon of the condiCon of
their heart – “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Your heart involves three things...
A. AFFECTIONS (1 Chron. 29:3). What do you love.
ILLUS. “The Money Trail”– When the government or a business suspects
fraud, the auditors always follow “the money trail.” It is the money trail,
not the verbal trail, that proves what is in a man’s heart. Follow the path
of your money and it will reveal where your heart is (Mt. 6:21).
1. Do you love the Bible? Does your money trail lead to the propaga-‐
Con of it’s message?
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3. 2. Do you love the church? Does the money trail prove you are in sup-‐
port of it’s ministries?
3. Do you love souls? What are you invesCng to win them to Christ?
B. EMOTIONS (v. 9). What brings you joy? (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7– “God loveth a
CHEERFUL GIVER.”)
C. VOLITION / WILL (vs. 5, 6, 9, 17).
1. A decision / commitment needs to be made (v. 5).
2. This involves PURPOSE (1 Cor. 16:1-‐2; 2 Cor. 9:7– “... as he PUR-‐
POSETH in his HEART, so let him give.” )
Someone has said, “Give, not from the top from your purse, but from
the boVom of your heart.”
II. Stewardship is a recognition of OWNERSHIP (1 Chron. 29:11-‐16).
• All property rights can be traced to God.
A. God is OWNER by right of creaCon (Ps. 24:1; 50:10-‐12; 100:3; Hag. 2:8).
God is the earth’s Land-‐Lord. We are only tenants.
B. That makes us “stewards” managing God’s resources.
1. It is the job of the steward to wisely invest the goods entrusted to
him for the profit of the owner.
2. There will be a day of accounCng with the owner – The Divine Audit
(Luke 16:1-‐2).
III. Stewardship is a requirement of FAITHFULNESS (1 Chron.
29:18-‐19; 1 Cor. 4:2).
• Faithfulness is the basis of Accounting Day (Mt. 25:14-30).
A. “Good” – competent. “He is a good employee.”
B. “Faithful” – Trustworthy; reliable; commiVed (a faithful husband/wife).
C. “Servant” – AVends to the wishes of another instead of himself.
SUMMATION: Where will you spend eternity?
Where will your money spend eternity (Mt. 6:19-‐24)?
Where is your heart? Where does the “Money Trail” lead in your life?
Have you been faithful in your management of God’s resources?
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