Heritage Presbyterian Church Adult Sunday School

1. EFFECTIVE
STEWARDSHIP
Five Sessions
DOING WHAT MATTERS MOST
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL 2018

2. Class Description & Outline
Christian Stewardship is about more than the
money we drop into the collection plate—
stewardship is everything we do after we say we
believe. In Effective Stewardship, you will learn
how to think critically and biblically about the
areas of responsibility that have been entrusted
to you by God.
1. Session One: Our Talents and Skills
2. Session Two: The Environment
3. Session Three: Loving Our Neighbor
4. Session Four: Church and Family
5. Session Five: Finances and Giving
Session
Five
2

3. Finances and Giving
How to be good stewards of our wealth by
following time-tested principles of budgeting
and wealth management.
 Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore do not be
anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we
wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these
things, and your heavenly Father knows
that you need them all. But seek first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
Session
Five
3

4. Key Issue
The Bible repeatedly warns us not to obsess
over wealth, for the love of money leads to
much dissatisfaction, grief, and evil (Mt.
6:25-34; Eccl 5:10; 1 Tim 6:6-10; Heb 13:5).
 Christians are not called to take vows of poverty.
Jesus made exceptions, but this is not the biblical
rule.
 We are not called to hand over all our wealth to
someone else to manage, but rather to manage
wisely the wealth God entrusts to us, sharing it
ably and well
Session
Five
4

5. Key Quotes
 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Now there is great gain in godliness
with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world,
and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we
have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into
a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that
plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of
money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this
craving that some have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many pangs.
 “The gospel is a gospel of giving and forgiving. We may
sum it up in those two words; and hence, when the true
spirit of it works upon the Christian, he forgives freely,
and he also gives freely. The large heart of God breeds
large hearts in men, and they who live upon his bounty
are led by his Spirit to imitate that bounty, according to
their power.”~ Charles Spurgeon
Session
Five
5

6. Video Highlights
 Stewardship involves all that God has
entrusted to us
 Money as tool vs. money as idol
 2.5 percent vs. 1.6 billion
 With the measure you use it will be
measured back to you
 Keys to successful living financially
Session
Five
6

7. Video: Finances and Giving
Session
Five
7

8. Video Discussion
1. “The key to somebody being a good steward is to come to
grips first of all with the reality that God owns it all.” If we
believed this spiritual truth deep in our bones so that it
shaped our every action, what are some specific ways we
might behave differently?
2. Proverbs says that for lack of counsel, plans fail. As fallible
human beings, none of us are completely objective about
our own spending plans. What type of accountability do
you have with your finances? What practices have you
developed in your life to help you become a better steward
of God’s resources?
3. If there were one physical possession in your life that
posed a danger of becoming more important to you than it
should, what would it be?
Session
Five
8

9. Bible Exploration
1. In Acts 20:35 the apostle Paul reminds us of the words of Jesus:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” How has this been
true in your own life? Why do we often have trouble believing
this when it comes to giving of our financial resources?
2. Read Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus teaches that where our
treasure is stored, our heart will be found as well. In other
words, our spending patterns are often an accurate reflection of
our deepest values. If one were to judge solely by your purchases
and the way you spend your money, where would they find your
heart? What would they say you value?
3. Read together 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:4; and Luke
12:13-21. What do these passages teach us about keeping a
balance between our need to provide for our families and the
danger of hoarding wealth? How do you balance your saving
with your giving?
Session
Five
9

10. Living the Truth
1. With the development of new technologies and
changing lifestyles, the distinction between what we
“need” and “want” has blurred. In many cases, we
have labeled something as a “need” that would have
been considered a luxury to previous generations or
to those living in less-developed countries. What
standard do you use to determine if something is a
“want” or a “need”? Is this a standard that will vary
from person to person? Why or why not? To what
extent is it OK for Christians to take the cultural
norm as our own norm, and at what point should we
decide to be different from the surrounding culture?
Session
Five
10

11. Living the Truth
2. Most of us tend to define excessive wealth by
choosing a dollar amount that is just beyond
what we would ever expect to make,
personally. We often fail to realize that
people who make far less do the exact same
thing, judging us excessive by their own
standard of living. What is the danger of this
way of thinking? What would be a more
fruitful way of approaching the problem of
excessive spending? Are there principles
that can apply to our financial stewardship
regardless of our income level? Give some
examples.
Session
Five
11

12. Final Thought
“The more we give, the more we delight in our
giving—and the more God delights in us. Our giving
pleases us. But more importantly, it pleases God.
This doesn’t mean we should give only when we’re
feeling cheerful. The cheerfulness often comes
during and after the act of obedience, not before it.
So don’t wait until you feel like giving—it could be a
long wait! Just give and watch the joy follow.”
~ Randy Alcorn
Session
Five
12