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Session 2 | Healthy Biblical Stewardship

 • Series: Vision

Vision 2021 Session 2 | Healthy Biblical Stewardship Proverbs 29:18a Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; (undisciplined and disobedient) the people are uncontrolled; the people perish: Vision is the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come. He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he can never lose. -Jim Elliot 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (Or trustworthy.) Steward- A person who manages the affairs or financial property of another. One who administers anything as the agent of another. The Greek word for “steward” is oikonomos and means a manager, treasurer, overseer, or guardian. Stewardship · “Jesus devoted roughly 25 percent of his words in the Gospels to the resources God has entrusted to our stewardship. This includes some twenty-eight passages. · In the Old and New Testaments combined, there are over eight hundred verses on the subject, addressing topics ranging from planning and budgeting to saving and investing, to debt and tithing. · Furthermore, money, wealth, and possessions are the greatest idols in our culture. There is simply no way to be a disciple of Jesus and not learn to worship God with stewardship. · Jesus stressed that we either worship our wealth or worship with our wealth. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Bigger Barns Luke 12:16-21 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Solomon Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore, enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed, all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Why would anyone give time, treasure, talent to this local church? · Lost people looking for hope. People are looking for answers to the world’s problems. · People are looking for gospel context to many sin/hot button issues in our day. · Christ followers are looking for a biblical community. When you give time, treasure, and talent to Kingdom endeavors, there is a supernatural element that God initiates. Catalyst-a substance that alters the speed of a chemical reaction but is not used up in the process. Proverbs 11:24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! If you call Catalyst Church home and benefit from the ministry here and do not contribute time, treasure, and talent, why?