March 9th Session 10 | Stewarding a True Kingdom Legacy Big Ideas: What has God entrusted to me to steward? Eternality of the Soul How has God asked me to steward souls? Discipleship   Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  “Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” -William Barclay, Scottish minister   Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   Matthew 6:31-34 "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.   Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.   Eternality of the Soul When a man and a woman with God make a child, they have created something eternal.  Who has God placed as the responsible parties for the formation of the eternal souls in your family? The answer must be first the parents and caregivers, and secondly the community of faith surrounding and supporting those parents, focused on individual soul formation.   “He alone who gains the youth, owns the future.” -Adolph Hitler 1935 rally   “The youth of today is ever the people of tomorrow. For this reason we have set before ourselves the task of inoculating our youth with the spirit of this community of the people at a very early age, at an age when human beings are still unperverted and therefore unspoiled. This Reich stands, and it is building itself up for the future, upon its youth. And this new Reich will give its youth to no one, but will itself take youth and give to youth its own education and its own upbringing.” -Adolph Hitler, 1937   “Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.” Noah Webster    Schooling and education are not the same. Schooling is a part of your larger education.  The words schooling and education are not found in the Bible. The words found in the Scriptures that relate to education are teach, learn, and disciple.   Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.   Education is discipleship.   1.     Go make disciples 2.     Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.  3.     Education is to be done in an abiding relationship with Christ, not separate from Him.   Discipleship- a disciple can be defined as a learner, a pupil, an imitator, a follower, and a reproducer. (Bible.org)    How has God asked me to steward souls? Discipleship   Who is educating you and your family?  Don’t let schooling get in the way of their education.  Don’t allow work to get in the way of education.  Don’t allow apathy to get in the way of education.  Don’t allow sin to get in the way of education.    Proverbs 1:1-9 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion— 5 a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. The goal in biblical education and discipleship is not to give people all the answers of what to believe or how to live nor create safe spaces from the world. The goal is to: Introduce them to an intimate, abiding relationship with Jesus, who will transform their hearts and minds and inject the character of Christ. (conform vs. transform) Combat indoctrination with truth, which will equip them to expose the lies that would deceive them.  Help them learn critical thinking skills to refute deceptive lies and train them how to continue to resist falsehoods.  Disciple them in a Biblical worldview that they can live and then express to others.     What are the Primary Influences that Shape My Disciples' Education?  C.S. Lewis’ manifesto on the Eternal Weight of Glory and the Eternality of the Soul, describes education of the child as an eternal soul becoming the single most weighty responsibility for the parents and the church; tragically, yes sinfully, we have given this over to unfaithful stewards.  Create an Intentional Plan to be the Primary Driver of My Family’s Education.  4 Generation Model  2 Timothy 2:1-4 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.   Paul → Timothy → Faithful Leaders → Those Able to Teach Others    2 Timothy 1:5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.    1 Corinthians 4:15-17 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. AMP- For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers (to guide you) in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers (who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you), for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news (of salvation).  16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.  17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.   Philippians 2:19-24  But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.   Take Away What has God given me to steward? How has God directed me to steward what He has given me? What is the joy that is set before me from Christ? What steps do I need to take to steward well what God has given me? What are some weights and sins that hinder me from fulfilling all that God has for me?   Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Conform-to act in accordance or harmony [with something]; to comply; to act in accordance with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of society or a group; to be or become similar in form. Transform- is a change in form, appearance, nature, or character.