Mal Underwood

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The Circle of Stewardship

• Mal Underwood
• Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
• Commission on Stewardship
• malvinunderwood_at_bellsouth.net
• (H) 770-386-3147 (M) 404-580-5472
• You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
  Think of us this way, as servants of Christ and
  stewards of Gods mysteries. Moreover, it is
  required of stewards that they should be found
  trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 323-42
• Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God,
  serve one another with whatever gift each of you
  has received.
• 1 Peter 410

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The Circle of Stewardship

• All scripture is inspired by God and is useful
  for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and
  for training in righteousness, so that everyone
  who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped
  for every good work. 2 Timothy 316-17

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The Circle of Stewardship
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The Circle of Stewardship

• Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed
  you in the womb, I am the Lord, who made all
  things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who
  by myself spread out the earth. Isaiah 4424
• The God who made the world and everything in
  it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not
  live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he
  served by human hands, as though he needed
  anything, since he himself gives to all mortals
  life and breath and all things. Acts of the
  Apostles 1724-25
• For every wild animal of the forest is mine, the
  cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds
  of the air, and all that moves in the field is
  mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
  for the world and all that is in it is mine.
  Psalm 5010-12
• Genesis 11 23

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The Circle of Stewardship
GOD
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The Circle of Stewardship

• Building blocks of Christian Stewardship
• 1. God created and owns it all

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The Circle of Stewardship

• Every generous act of giving, with every perfect
  gift, is from above, coming down from the Father
  of lights, with whom there is no variation or
  shadow due to change. James 117
• But each of us was given grace according to the
  measure of Christs gift. Therefore it is said,
  When he ascended on high he made captivity
  itself a captive he gave gifts to his people. .
  . .The gifts he gave were that some would be
  apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some
  pastors and teachers. Ephesians 47-8,11
• Take care that you do not forget the Lord your
  God . . . when you have eaten your fill and have
  built fine houses . . . and your silver and gold
  is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself,
  forgetting the Lord your God . . . Do not say to
  yourself My power and the might of my own hand
  have gotten me this wealth. But remember the
  Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the
  power to get wealth. If you do forget the Lord
  your God . . . you shall surely perish.
  Deuteronomy 811-20

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The Circle of Stewardship
GOD
GIFTS
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The Circle of Stewardship

• Building blocks of Christian Stewardship
• 1. God created and owns it all
• 2. Everything we have is gift

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The Circle of Stewardship

• And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
  to which indeed you were called in the one body.
  And be thankful. Colossians 315
• Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that
  cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we
  offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence
  and awe. Hebrews 1228
• Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay
  your vows to the Most High. Those who bring
  thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me. Psalm
  5014,23a

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The Circle of Stewardship
GOD
GIFTS
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GRATITUDE
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The Circle of Stewardship

• Building blocks of Christian Stewardship
• 1. God created and owns it all
• 2. Everything we have is gift
• 3. Have a grateful heart

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The Circle of Stewardship

• We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about
  the grace of God that has been granted to the
  churches of Macedonia for during a severe ordeal
  of affliction, their abundant joy and their
  extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of
  generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 81-2
• Some give freely, yet grow all the richer
  others withhold what is due, and only suffer
  want. A generous person will be enriched, and
  one who gives water will get water. Proverbs
  1124-25
• As for those who in the present age are rich .
  . . they are to do good, be rich in good works,
  generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for
  themselves the treasure of a good foundation for
  the future, so that they may take hold of the
  life that really is life. I Timothy 617-19

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The Circle of Stewardship
GOD
GIFTS
G_ _ _
GRATITUDE
GENEROSITY
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The Circle of Stewardship

• Building blocks of Christian Stewardship
• 1. God created and owns it all
• 2. Everything we have is gift
• 3. Have a grateful heart
• 4. Be generous

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The Circle of Stewardship

• Bring the full tithe into my storehouse, so that
  there may be food in my house, and thus put me to
  the test, says the Lord of hosts see if I will
  not open the windows of heaven for you and pour
  down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi
  310
• Then the righteous will answer him, Lord,
  when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you
  food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and
  welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?
  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison
  and visited you? And the king will answer them,
  Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of
  the least of these who are members of my family,
  you did it to me. Matthew 2537-40
• Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform
  them let all who are around him bring gifts to
  the one who is awesome. Psalm 7611

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The Circle of Stewardship
GOD
GIFTS
GIFTS
GRATITUDE
GENEROSITY
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The Circle of Stewardship

• Building blocks of Christian Stewardship
• 1. God created and owns it all
• 2. Everything we have is gift
• 3. Have a grateful heart
• 4. Be generous
• 5. Give back to God

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Ultimate Stewardship Scripture

• Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel
  the Lord our God, the Lord is one you shall
  love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
  with all your soul, and with all your mind, and
  with all your strength. The second is this,
  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
  There is no other commandment greater than
  these. Mark 1229-31

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A Stewardship Life

• Let love be genuine hate what is evil, hold
  fast to what is good love one another with
  mutual affection outdo one another in showing
  honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit,
  serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in
  suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to
  the needs of the saints extend hospitality to
  strangers. Bless those who persecute you bless
  and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who
  rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in
  harmony with one another do not be haughty, but
  associate with the lowly do not claim to be
  wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for
  evil, but take thought for what is noble in the
  sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it
  depends on you, live peaceably with all.
  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room
  for the wrath of God for it is written,
  Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.
  No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them if
  they are thirsty, give them something to drink
  for by doing this you will heap burning coals on
  their heads. Do not be overcome by evil, but
  overcome evil with good. Romans 129-21

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More Gifts to God

• Jesus answered them, This is the work of God,
  that you believe in him whom he has sent. . . .
  For the bread of God is that which comes down
  from heaven and gives life to the world. John
  629-33
• The end of the matter all has been heard. Fear
  God, and keep his commandments for that is the
  whole duty of everyone. Ecclesiastes 1213

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Pauls Prayer

• I bow my knees before the Father, from whom
  every family in heaven and on earth takes its
  name. I pray that, according to the riches of
  his glory, he may grant that you may be
  strengthened in your inner being with power
  through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in
  your hearts through faith, as you are being
  rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may
  have the power to comprehend, with all the
  saints, what is the breadth and length and height
  and depth, and to know the love of Christ that
  surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled
  with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by
  the power at work within us is able to accomplish
  abundantly far more than all we can ask or
  imagine, to him be glory in the church and in
  Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and
  ever. Amen. Ephesians 314b-21