Stewardship

1
Stewardship

• Scripture Reading
• Luke 161-13

2
What is a Steward?

• From the Greek word oikonomos
• the manager of a household or of household
  affairs especially a steward, manager,
  superintendent (Thayer's Greek Lexicon)
• Its someone entrusted with caring for a
  superior's goods.

3
What is a Steward?

• In the Old Testament a steward was over an entire
  household. He was responsible for managing the
  householder's material goods.
• Joseph was both steward in Pharaohs house (Gen.
  4139) and he himself had a steward who served
  under him (Gen 4319).

4
What is a Steward?

• In the New Testament the word steward refers to
  a guardian or curator (Matt 208 Gal 42) in
  addition to its Old Testament meaning as a
  manager or superintendent of a household (Luke
  82-3 1 Cor 41-2)
• (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

5
What are we stewards of?

• Our blessings Matt. 2514ff and the parable of
  the talents asks the question what have we done
  with what God has blessed us with?
• Our time Eph. 516, were to make the most of
  our time and our opportunities (redeem the time)
  Col. 45.

6
What are we stewards of?

1. Gods creation not for us to abuse nor to
   worship (Gen. 128, 215 Rom. 125). This is our
   Fathers world!
2. Our bodies our bodies are not to do with as we
   please! Our bodies are from God - we are not our
   own. 1 Cor. 619.

7
What are we stewards of?

• Our lives our very being Eccles. 127, one
  day our spirit will return to Him who gave it.
• Our children they also are a gift (heritage)
  of the Lord (Ps. 1273), who has placed them in
  our care to bring them up (Eph. 64).

8
What are we stewards of?

• Gods word God has put His word in our care. 1
  Cor. 41-2 1 Peter 410
• The Lords church Jesus purchased it with His
  blood it belongs to Him! Acts 2028 Col.
  124-25.

9
7 Key Principles of Stewardship

• The common characteristics of our stewardship in
  all its forms!

10
1Its Universal

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

• We cant say, Its not my job!
• We are all created beingsGenesis ch. 1 2
• He is the Maker of all things Isaiah 4424
  John 13 Col. 116-17
• We have all been blessed with a stewardship from
  God.

11
1 Its Universal

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

• Application of the potter clay relationship.
  Isaiah 648 Psalms 11973 1003-4 Acts
  1723-31
• We are not our own (1 Cor. 619-20).
• Applies to ALL that God has put in our charge.
  Matt. 2514ff

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2-Submission

• Submit therefore to God (James 47 cf., 1
  Peter 56).
• Parable of the wicked vine-growers (Matt.
  2133ff)
• Will the clay rebel against the potter? Isaiah
  2915-16,
• Will we yield to the potter make ourselves
  useful to the Master? (2 Tim 219-21).

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

13
3 - Trust

• Our Master is looking for His stewards to be
  trustworthy and faithful.
• God has entrusted his possessions to us. Matt.
  2514,
• it is required of stewards that one be found
  trustworthy 1 Cor. 41-2, cf., Matt. 2521,
  well done good and faithful slave (vs. 21)

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

14
3 - Trust

• Are we guilty of prodigality? Luke 161ff
• Will we guard that which has been entrusted to
  us? 1 Tim. 620
• Can God use us in His service because Hes
  counted me faithful? 1 Tim. 112
• Who can God count on? Luke 1242

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

15
4 - Thankfulness

• Do we appreciate what God has put in our care?
• I thank Christ Jesus our Lord because He
  considered me faithful, putting me into service
  (1 Tim. 112).
• Can we articulate the great things God has done
  for us? (Luke 839)

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

16
5 - Diligence

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

• We can be lost for a lack of diligence. Matt.
  2526, wicked and lazy slave
• It takes work to be a good steward.
• Diligence to present ourselves approved unto God
  (2 Tim. 215)
• Diligence to be found by Him in peace, spotless
  and blameless 2 Peter 314,
• Titus 214, zealous for good deeds.

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6 - Courage

• We cant be a steward overcome by fear - Matt.
  2525, I was afraid
• We cant be afraid to act within the authority of
  what the Master has specified.
• Deut. 316, Be strong courageous... Cf.,
  Deut. 201-4 Heb. 136.
• Even Paul Acts 189

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

18
6 - Courage

• When its time to fight our spiritual battles, we
  cant afford to be one of the fainthearted. Deut.
  203-8, (cf., Judges 73)
• Afraid Phobeo - to be alarmed or frightened
  - our English word phobia.
• God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of
  power, love discipline (2 Tim. 17)!

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

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7 - Accountability

• Accounts will be settled with Him who has given
  us this stewardship
• Matt. 2519, the Master came and settled
  accounts with them
• Luke 162, give an account of your
  stewardship
• This accounting will take place before the
  judgment seat of Christ, (2 Cor. 56-10)

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

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7 - Accountability

• Will we be found to be a good steward? 1 Peter
  410-11, As each one has received a special
  gift, employ it in serving one another, as good
  stewards of the manifold grace of God.
• The accounting for our stewardship will be an
  individual accounting Rom. 1412,

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church

21
Accountability

• What do we do if we wish to be forgiven for our
  lack of stewardship?
• How can we ensure that the settling of our
  accounts will be something to be longed for?
• Repent of our sins and become obedient to the
  gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Blessings
• Time
• Creation
• Bodies
• Children
• Life
• Gods word
• Church