biblical stewardship

1. BIBLICAL
STEWARDSHIP
Erika F Puni, PhD
Stewardship Director
General Conference

2. Biblical stewardship is misunderstood by
many of our church members to mean “tithe
and offerings.” This misconception, and our
focus on “giving” has created the following
problems:
 Mistrust of church leaders and systems
 Diversion of tithe and offerings by members
to other persons & groups
 Project giving replacing systematic giving
 Resistance to stewardship by pastors and
church members
Stewardship Today

3.  Stewardship starts with God as Creator
 It recognizes Him as owner of all things
(life, time, abilities, resources etc)
 Acknowledge Him as the sustainer of
life, and is in control of His creation
 Accepts Him as the provider of every
good gift and blessing
Redefining Stewardship

4.  Stewardship understands God as the
initiator of relationships with people
 Teaches that Jesus is Savior and Lord
 Recognizes the church, the body, as an
extension of Christ Himself
 Christianity is a lifestyle of the
believer in partnership with God
Redefining Stewardship

5. Stewardship is the lifestyle of one who
has a living relationship with Jesus
Christ, accepts His lordship, walking in
partnership with God and acting as His
agent to manage His affairs on earth.
Biblical Stewardship

6. Receiver
Master Slave
Creator Creature
Redeemer
Giver
Manager
Owner
Redeemed
STEWARD
LORD
THE TWO SIDES OF STEWARDSHIP

7. Stewardship and Creation
The Creator God
“In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth.” Gen 1:1 (NIV)
“So God created man in his own image, in
the image of God he created him; male and
female he created them.” Gen 1:27 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: God is Creator and Owner

8. Stewardship and Creation
A Giving God
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the
east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had
formed.” Gen 2:8 (NIV)
“Then the Lord God made a woman from the
rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought
her to the man.” Gen 2:22 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: God is giver of ALL good gifts

9. A God of Blessings
“God blessed them and said to them, “Be
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth
and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air and over every living
creature that moves on the ground”
Gen 1:28 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: God’s blessings precedes
human stewardship and responsibility
Stewardship and Creation

10. A God of Partnership
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our
image, in our likeness, and let them rule over
… over all the earth.” Gen 1:26 (NIV)
“The Lord God took the man and put him in
the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of
it.” Gen 2:15 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is a spiritual
response to God’s invitation of partnership
Stewardship and Creation

11. A God of Relationships
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound
of the Lord God as he was walking in the
garden in the cool of the day, and they hid
from the Lord God among the trees of the
garden. But the Lord God called to the man,
“Where are you?” Gen 3:8,9 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: God always initiates
relationship and community with His creatures
Stewardship and Creation

12. Jesus is Savior and Lord
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give
him the name Jesus, because he will save his
people from their sins.” Matt 1:21 (NIV)
“Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou
shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Matt 4:7 (KJV)
The Biblical Principle: Jesus is BOTH Savior and Lord
Stewardship and Redemption

13. God gave Jesus for the world
“For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (NIV)
“Who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.” Titus 2:8 (KJV)
The Biblical Principle: The good news of salvation
is God giving all in Jesus Christ
Stewardship and Redemption

14. Stewardship and Redemption
Stewardship is loving God first and full
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment.” Matt 22:37,38 (NIV)
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is a love response
(full and complete) from the human heart to God

15. Humans are God’s stewards
“Again, it will be like a man going on a
journey, who called his servants and entrusted
his property to them.” Matt 25:14,15 (NIV)
“After a long time the master of those servants
returned and settled accounts with them.”
Matt 25: 19 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is a matter of
faithfulness and accountability to God
Stewardship and Redemption

16. Stewardship is a lifestyle of service
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly
so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord
and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
should wash one another's feet. I have set you
an example that you should do as I have done
for you.” John 13:14-16 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is living the life
of a servant in community every day
Stewardship and Redemption

17. Heart
Tithes & Offerings Lordship of Christ
Church Member God as God
Program
Pocket & Wallet
Values
Behavior
Lifestyle
BROAD VIEW
NARROW VIEW
Stewardship is ALL of me in response to ALL of God

18. Stewardship is the lifestyle of one who
has a living relationship with Jesus
Christ, accepts His lordship, walking in
partnership with God and acting as His
agent to manage His affairs on earth.
Biblical Stewardship