Stewardship
T3 bible Study #3 – June 16, 2016
T3 Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/t3study/
Blog about God’s Provision: (Melissa’s stewardship/giving testimony) https://wordpress.com/post/zechariahssong.wordpress.com/78
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Define Stewardship in your own words:
(Group Responses: Responsibility, openness, sharing, thankfulness, achieving goals)
Stewardship (Dictionary):
- the activity or job of protecting and being responsible for something, obligations
- the conducting, supervising, or managing of something entrusted to one’s care
*Money is one of the most talked about subjects in the bible. (Why do you think that is?) Money is not the root of all evil … how we approach the subject of money determines if it is an evil in our lives. Having it isn’t bad, but the condition of your heart determines its importance in your life … weather or not it becomes an idol.
– Willing heart: Exodus 25:2 “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” – Giving is a heart condition, not a wealth position! Everything is His anyway (1 Chronicles 29:14), He is just giving us the opportunity to have a thankful heart.
– Giving ratio to receiving: Deuteronomy 16:17 “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” – God doesn’t expect more from those who have more … that’s why He gave us a tithe (a percentage of what we have rather than a flat fee that not everyone can obtain), Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase. So your barns will be filled with plenty.”
*Reap what you sow:
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
- This principle teaches that the harvest is directly proportionate to the amount given bountifully … this is from the Greek word from which we get the word eulogy or blessing. When a generous believer gives by faith and trust in God, with a desire to produce a great blessing, he will receive that kind of harvest blessing in return. God gives a return on the amount one invests with Him.
- Pamela Mentioned: if you sow corn you won’t get soy beans!
*Good stewardship isn’t just about money… but also about time, attitudes, kindness, etc.
– Psalm 50:23 “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation” Psalm 51:17 “My sacrifice oh God is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart that you will not despise.” – we offer God our thanks, our character, our sinlessness as a sacrifice as well … those things do not come naturally so we must work toward giving God these things
– Acts 9:36-42 – Tabitha gave her time and talents to help others … because of this God blessed by not only giving her life but she was able to see many others come to the Lord through her miracle and her witness to others. Would others opinion of us be enough to save us in our time of need? The people she helped vouched for her character!
– Luke 3:11 “He that has two coats let him give one to the person who has none.” We are commanded to give to those less fortunate…. But we are also commanded to give good things … Luke 6:38 “Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and shaken together, running over. For with the same measure you give, it will be returned to you.” … how often do we donate new clothes to the homeless? Is giving an afterthought or part of our commitment to God?
Good Deeds:
- 1 Tim 6:17-19 “Command those who are richin this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
- 1 Peter 4:7-11 “The end of all things is near.Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
“Homework” (self-reflection questions)
Dave Ramsey Principles: https://www.daveramsey.com/baby-steps/ (7 money controlling steps)
Questions to think about this week:
- How can I give more to God?
- What can I do for others? (Pick one person to be a servant to this week)
- How can I save more? (1 less Starbucks lol)
- What in my life is a want (not a need) that I can sacrifice to help someone else?
Zechariah's Song Ministries 