S T E W A R D S H I P

Biblical Stewardship Foundations

with Ben Maxson

Seminar Rationale
1. Growing hunger for spiritual integrity and vitality.

2. Increasing impact of society on the church.

3. The biblical reality of the normal Christian life.

Seminar Purpose
1. To explore God's principles for today and eternity.
2. To develop a biblical philosophy of life.

3. To accept Christ in us.

4. To increase spirituality. 5. To allow the Holy Spirit to restore His image. 6. To train writers and stewardship leaders.

Seminar Design

1. Extended dialogue with each other and Scripture.

Seminar Design
2. Three way exegesis: a. Exploring biblical models. b. Analyzing culture. c. Evaluating daily church life.

E P I C Culture
E Experiential

P Participatory
I Image-based

C Connected

Seminar Design

3. Opportunity for personal application and decisions.

Exploring Our Setting

1. Changes In Society & Church

Exploring Our Setting

2. Giving trends are down.
a. Anti-institution mood.

b. Credibility crisis.
c. Church is less influential in society. d. Younger generations give differently.

Exploring Our Setting

3. Lack of pastoral training in stewardship.
4. Dislike of stewardship in church members. 5. Increasing struggle to meet local budget. 6. Stewardship treated as a materialistic issue when it is primarily a spiritual issue.

Proper, biblical stewardship addresses all needs.

1. Stewardship training strengthens leadership.

2. Stewardship training helps a church grow spiritually.

3. Stewardship training increases a church's financial support.

Stewardship Myths
1. The money-and-offerings myth. 2. The fund-raising myth. 3. The insufficient-money myth. 4. The church-support myth. 5. The cure-for-selfishness myth.

Stewardship Myths
6. The fear-of-commitment myth. 7. The pastoral-distance-from-givingpatterns myth. 8. The too many stewardship sermons myth.

9. The business-bargain myth.

10. The work-for-God myth.

Back To Basics

Only a Biblical vision of Christianity can lead us back to a Christian lifestyle

Biblical Presuppositions
1. God is a personal God intimately involved in our lives. 2. God is in control guiding the affairs of man.

Biblical Presuppositions
3. God is owner of all as Creator
and Redeemerprovider of all.

4. God is in direct control of His

church, allowing room for human decisions.

Biblical Presuppositions
5. God provides everything to accomplish His will for His church, in His time frame. 6. God works in partnership with human agents. 7. Christ is Lord of all, lordship is a choice of the will.

Biblical Presuppositions
8. The Holy Spirit is the active lordship agent. 9. We receive the Holy Spirit by faith. 10. In Christ we are able to do anything He wants us to do.

Stewardship Definition
Stewardship is the lifestyle of one

who accepts Christs lordship,

walking in partnership with God

and acting as His agent to

manage His affairs on earth.

Let God Be God!

Stewardship is based on who God is!

1. God is creator.

Let God Be God!

Stewardship is based on who God is! 1. God is creator. 2. God is sovereign.

3. God is savior:

Let God Be God!

4. God is love.

5. God is owner of all.

6. God is personal.

Reason's For Humanity's Creation

1. Object of God's love. 2. Vehicle of God's love. 3. Manifestation of God's love. 4. Vindication of His love and justice.

Stewardship Cycle
Created

Stewardship Cycle
Created

Fallen

Stewardship Cycle
Created

Redeemed
Fallen

Stewardship Cycle
Created

Adopted
Fallen
Redeemed

Stewardship Cycle
Created

Restored

Adopted

Fallen

Redeemed

Stewardship Cycle
Created

Enthroned
Restored

Adopted Fallen
Redeemed

Exploring The Gospel

Key Questions:

1. Is salvation really a gift?

2. When can we experience salvation?

Exploring The Gospel

3. What percentage of people we work with have this experience? 4. What is our best response to this gift? 5. What follows the experience of salvation?

Exploring The Gospel

Practical Applications:
1. How does our understanding of the gospel impact on the way we work with people? 2. How does our understanding of the gospel shape our stewardship ministry? 3. How do we help others integrate the gospel into their lives?

KINGDOM TO KINGDOM

Kingdom of God

KINGDOM TO KINGDOM
Kingdom of God Kingdom of Darkness Condition

Sinful Nature
Act

Separation Dominion of Sin

KINGDOM TO KINGDOM
Kingdom of God
Kingdom of Darkness Condition Sinful Nature Act Separation Dominion of Sin

Kingdom of Light Union with Christ Divine Nature

Sinful Nature

Act

Righteous Acts

Lordship of Christ

2nd Coming

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 05-12-96 If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred, does not make him less dear to the heart of God.

He knows that he has communion with the Saviour; and when reproved for his mistake in some matter of judgment, he

does not walk sullenly, and complain of

God, but turns the mistake into a

victory.

Looking at a Dynamic Gospel

The Act of salvation

1. Christ dies on Calvary. 2. God gives His Son.

The Condition of salvation

1. Accepting the gift of grace. 2. Surrendering to Jesus as Lord. 3. Dying to self.

The Content of salvation

1. The Holy Spirit bringing the person of Jesus Christ.
2. His righteousness.

3. Forgiveness.
4. A new creation.

The Consequence of salvation

1. Discipleship 2. Obedience 3. Sharing

Presenting the gospel

1. Key Points: a. b. c. d. We have all sinned. The wages of sin is death. Christ died for us. If we confess and accept Him, He forgives and gives us eternal life.

Presenting the gospel

2. The new life in Christ. 3. The transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Dynamic Discipleship

The Problem With Normal:

1. We allow culture to shape and redefine Christianity.
2. We accept average, or mediocrity. 3. We experience a gradual erosion of values, norms, and practices.

4. We consider biblical expectations as unrealistic. 5. We measure ourselves by others.

Exploring The Biblical Reality

1. Does God love unconditionally? a. Can we do anything to make God love us more? b. Can we do anything to make God love us less? 2. Is it possible to be a little bit Christian?

Exploring The Biblical Reality

3. How does God see us? a. Christlike. b. Holy. 4. Can a Christian have a secular life?

Biblical Christianity is:

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. Dynamic. Focused on Christ. Committed 100%. Passionate. Transformational. Fruitful. Peaceful. Loving & accepting.

God makes us stewards partners with Him!

Definition of Disciple:
A disciple is one who walks with, learns from and lives in submission to a master in order to become like the master.

Describing the Disciple

1. Passionately loves Jesus Christ.
2. Maintains intimacy through daily devotional life.

Describing the Disciple

3. Integrates Christ into every area of life.

4. Makes Christ the priority in all decisions.

5. Actively shares Christ.

Love and Lordship

1. Only love can be the foundation for lordship.
2. God has loved us with an everlasting love. 3. His love for us is unconditional. 4. As we experience His love, love awakens in our heart.

Love and Lordship

5. Our love leads us to trust Him.

6. Trust leads us to surrender to His lordship. 7. Accepting His lordship begins a partnership with Him.

Lordship/Stewardship Process
1. Recognize Christ initiates stewardship.

2. Accept His gift.

3. Accept His lordship/ownership.

4. Claim His Spirit.

5. Acknowledge your status. 6. Accept His partnership. 7. Integrate your stewardship.

Lordship Model
High Relationship

Child

Partner/ Friend

Dabbler

Slave
High

Low

Performance

Lordship Model
High

Relationship

Child

Partner/ Friend

Dabbler

Slave
High

Low

Performance

Truth Model
High As A Person Know A God

Know God
Know About God

Ignore God

Low

As Information

High

Spiritual Growth Model

1. How does God work in our lives?

2. What becomes the motivating force in life?

3. How do we grow in our development or the relationship with God?

Spiritual Growth Model

TransForm

Empower

Compel
Convict Attract

How the Spirit Works

1. Creates a new heart with a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

2. Brings the living presence of Christ (John 14:16-19).

3. Justifies us (1 Corinthians 6:11).

How the Spirit Works

4. Strengthen the inner man with power that Christ can dwell within (Ephesians 3:16-19). 5. Produces both the will and the doing (Phil. 2:12-13). 6. Convicts, guides, teaches & brings to remembrance (John 14:26; 16:8-16).

How the Spirit Works

7. Speaks to our spirit, intercedes, and prays for us (Rom. 8:2-16; 26-27). 8. We receive the Holy Spirit by faith. (Gal. 3:14; Luke 11:13) 9. Brings the love of God to the heart. (Rom. 5:5) 10. Guarantees of future blessings (2 Cor. 1:22),

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

PRESENCE

ONENESS

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

GOSPEL

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

PRESENCE

ONENESS

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

PRESENCE

ONENESS

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Cont.

VISION ONENESS

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

Most problems come in areas of Gospel/Lordship: -- Failure to integrate Gospel. -- Failure to submit to Lordship.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Cont.

VISION ONENESS

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

Cause of the problem is often in the area of Vision or Presence. -- Loss of Vision distorts the Gospel. -- Loss of Presence distorts Lordship.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Cont.

VISION ONENESS

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

Best answer -- combine Vision & Presence -- it transforms the way we live.
Place to start -Vision > Gospel >

Lordship >

Transforming the Mind

Why the Mind Is Important:

1. Gods ultimate gift in the creation of man.

2. Controls all of life.

3. Where habits are formed.

4. Where the relationship with God takes place.

5. Where sin and the battle with sin takes place.

Points of Importance
1. 80 to 100 billion brain cells.
2. Information storing capacity = 30 X Encyclopedia Britannica. 3. 1000 or more inter-connections with other cells.

4. Electrical-chemical messages.
5. Pathways with physical structures.

Bible References About the Mind

1. God asks us to love Him with our minds (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). 2. God calls for a living sacrifice and a transformed mind (Rom. 12:1-2). 3. Transformed into His glory (2 Cor. 3:18).

4. We can have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).

Bible References About the Mind

5. Let this mind (attitude) be in you which was also in Christ (Phil. 2:5).

6. Made new in the attitudes of our minds (Eph. 4:23).

7. God promises to put His law in our minds (Jeremiah 31:33).

Bible References About the Mind

8. We should pray with our minds (1 Cor. 14:15). 9. The peace of God will guard our minds (Phil. 4:7). 10. We should focus our minds on true and heavenly things (Col. 3:1-2; Phil. 4:4-9; Heb. 12:2-3).

Steps for Transforming the Mind

1. Prayerfully face your sinful reality. 2. Gratefully accept your reality in Christ.

3. Focus your mind on Christ and the things above (Col. 3:2; Heb. 12:1-3).
4. Be willing to live with the mystery of God.

Steps for Transforming the Mind

5. Practice devotional skills: 6. Practice the presence of God. 7. Actively resist sin.

Keys to a Growing Devotional Life

The spiritual disciplines are the tools of discipleship.

Keys to a Growing Devotional Life

1. Regular, planned time. 2. Open, expectant attitude: (Isa. 30:15) a. Seeking God. (Jer. 29:11-13) b. Listening to God. (Ps. 46:10) c. Expecting Him to guide.

Keys to a Growing Devotional Life

3. Prayer "Opening the heart to God as to a friend (Steps To Christ, p. 93). 4. Bible Study: (Ps. 119:105) a. Relational. b. Reflective.

c. Meditative.

Keys to a Growing Devotional Life

5. Scripture Memorization: (Ps. 119:11) a. Regular process. b. Personal application. 6. Meditation: a. Content. b. Narrative. c. Prayer before the throne.

Keys to a Growing Devotional Life

7. Practicing the Presence of God opening the mind to the reality of God's promise. a. Accepting His promise to be with us.
b. Accepting the Holy Spirit by faith. c. Opening the imagination to the reality of God. d. Making room for God.

Working with the Church

Working with the Church

Issues 1. Why does the church exist? 2. Are we congregational or connectional? 3. What does it mean to be a church?

Definitions and Dimensions

1. The called-out ones. 2. A group of individuals identified by: a. Their connection to Christ and their walk with God.

b. Being part of a larger body with mutual submission to a corporate purpose and process.

Definitions and Dimensions

3. The corporate Body of Christ.

a. Gods visible people.

b. United by the work of the Holy Spirit, in vision, mission, and identity. c. Organized to work together in coordinating, sharing, and communicating.

Historical Context
1. A visible people since Abraham & Israel on.
a. Called outAbraham from Ur/Israel from Egypt b. Called backfrom Babylon

c. Not denying individual connection with God

d. End-time remnant

Historical Context
2. A divine body:

a. Israel as a theocracy
b. Christ as the head of the church c. The Church as a theocracy

Historical Context
3. A visible organization:

a. God led
b. Spirit empowered

c. Culturally shaped
d. With a divine mission

Historical Context
4. Prophetic stream: a. Blessing promised to Abraham b. Contrast between Babylon & Zion/Jerusalem c. From church of God to pagan drift d. End-time people of truth and faith

Purpose

1. To visibly manifest Christ in the world (John 14:16). 2. To be the body of Christ as a caring community (1 Cor. 12:1213; 25-26).

Purpose
3. To reveal God and His character: a. God as truthperson and information

b. The great controversy

c. The gospel as the good news of Gods solution to the sin problem

Purpose
4. To be a ministering community (2 Cor. 5:16-21). a. Priesthood of all believers

b. Priestly ministrypraise, reconciliation, intercession and teaching

c. A people preparing for the coming of Christ

Function
1. Exalting ChristIf I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me (John 12:32).
2. Proclaiming the kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-21).

3. Submitting to one another within the body of Christ (Eph. 5:21).

Function
4. Bringing the living presence of Christ into the world: a. Christ dwelling within (Eph. 3:16-17).

b. A counter-culturein the world, but not of the world (John 17:15-16).

5. Loving each other (John 13:35).

Why Money?
1. It is the theme most often mentioned by Christ: a. Over two thirds of the parables deal with money or material possessions. b. Over 2,000 biblical references to money! Only about 500 on prayer, and less than 500 on faith.

Why Money?

2. Money is life. Time + Talent + Energy = Money. 3. It is a common denominator.

Why Money?
4. Finances are a spiritual battleground:
a. In the world. b. In the work place and business.

c. In the home.
d. In the church.

5. God uses money.

6. Money competes with God (Matt. 6:24).

Why Money?
7. Time & money the most fluid aspects of life. a. Quickly reflect one's walk with God. b. Quickly impact on relationship with God.

c. Therefore the Tithe and the Sabbath are spiritual thermometers.

1) 2) Individually Corporately

Why Money?
SPECIAL NOTE: Money is an important part of stewardship. Yet proper financial stewardship can only come in the context of the Christian lifestyle of stewardship.

Traditional Giving

Information Giving usually happens as the result of two things: Giving

Emotions

Traditional Giving

Information

Emotions

The information is often Limited Screened Selective Altered

Giving

Traditional Giving

Information

Emotions

The emotions appealed to are often

Glory/Recognition Guilt Generosity Duty

Giving

Traditional Giving

Information

Emotions

The result is often

A feeling of manipulation. A sanctified materialism. Growing resistance. Giving

Traditional Giving

Something must change!

Giving

Giving must come from a personal walk with God.

Biblical Giving Combines:

Information

Giving

Biblical Giving Combines:

Information Emotions

Giving

Biblical Giving Combines:

Information which is:
Open / With Integrity

Giving

Biblical Giving Combines:

Information which is:
Open / With Integrity

Giving
Biblically Congruent

Biblical Giving Combines:

Information which is:
Open / With Integrity

Emotions which come from:

Personal Walk with God

Giving
Biblically Congruent

Biblical Giving Combines:

Informatio n
Open / With Integrity

Emotions
Personal Walk with God

Giving
Biblically Congruent Conviction of Holy Spirit

Biblical Giving
Giving in this context:
Grows with our spiritual growth.
Is a natural part of partnership with God. Means investing Gods resources in His Kingdom.

Information

Emotions

Giving

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

1. Abraham (Gen. 14:20).
a. Covenant promise--blessings. b. Responding to God's blessings.

c. Extension of normal practice.

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

2. Jacob (Gen. 28:22). a. Experiences God's presence. b. Hears God's promise. c. Commits to tithe as God blesses.

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

3. Leviticus 27:30-33.

a. Tithe belongs to God.

b. It is holy to the Lord. c. God shares in the riskno selection by quality. 4. Numbers 18:21-28. a. God gives the tithe to the Levites.

b. Even the Levites were to tithe.

c. Tithes are an offering to the Lord.

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

5. Deuteronomy 12:6-17; 14:22-28; 26:12.
a. Second tithe (uniquely different). b. Worship of God. c. Sharing God's blessings. d. Given every third year to the Levites and the poor. e. Brought to the place God chooses as a dwelling place for His name.

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

6. 2 Chronicles 31:5-12.
a. Time of Hezekiahs revival. b. Temple is restored.

c. People called to return to Godthe Passover is kept.

d. Levites restored to their ministry.

e. Call for tithing.

f. In the context of Gods blessings.

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

7. Nehemiah 10:37-38; 12:44; 13:5, 12. a. Time of revival when Ezra reads the law. b. Corporate worship. c. A commitment to faithfulness to God in tithes and offerings. d. Storerooms for the tithes and offerings are established.

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

8. Amos 4:4 A challenge to their tithes while living lives of sin. 9. Malachi 3:9 a. Extended dialogue over their apostasy. b. Call to return to God.

c. Robberyfailure to recognize God's blessings.

Biblical Lessons On Tithe

10. Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12.

a. Tithe as an expected response.

b. Tithe returned in the context of a worship lifestyle of justice and mercy.

11. Hebrews 7:2-9.

a. Tithing is presented as a command. b. Review of Abraham and Melchizedek.

c.

Christ is greater than Aaron because Levi tithed to Melchizedek.

General Conclusions
1. The tithe belongs to and is returned to God. 2. Tithing is an act of worship to God.

3. The tithe is returned in response to Gods blessings.

4. Tithing is a test of loyalty for Gods people.

General Conclusions
5. Tithing is part of revival and a return to God.
6. The tithe is the starting point of our worship to God in the material areas of lifeofferings follow. 7. God supports His corporate people by giving the tithe He receives to support the sanctuary and the Levitical system.

Testing Our Loyalties

Key Principles: 1. Put God first "Seek ye first . . ." (Matt. 6:33). 2. Worship only God. (Exodus 20:3)

Gods First Test

1. The setting:

a. A perfect world.
b. A perfect humanity.

c. A perfect relationship.
2. The temptation "You will be like God . . ."

Gods First Test

3. The issue the seduction of ownership.
a. Who is God? b. A choice of life or death. c. Loyalty to the creator. d. Who do we trust?

e. Who do we obey?

Gods Contemporary Tests of Loyalty

The Sabbath in time.

Gods Contemporary Tests of Loyalty

Tithe in possessions.

The Sabbath Test of Loyalty

1. In Eden put God first.

2. Sign of:
a. Accept God as Creator. (Ex. 20:8-11)

b. Accept God as Redeemer. (Deut. 5:12-15)

c. Accept God as Sanctifier. (Ex. 31:13) d. Accept Gods kingdom. (Isaiah 66:23)

Principles for Sabbath Observance

1. Accept the gift of salvation & eternal life. 2. Seek intimacy with God. 3. Lay aside the burdens of life. 4. Make it a day of focused worship and fellowship.

Purpose for Tithing

a. To worship God.

b. To combat selfishness by making God first.

c. To test our loyalty. (Minimum Test) d. To remind us of unconditional surrender. e. To provide for the full-time gospel ministry.

Tithe as Worship:
a. Accept our relationship with God.

b. Recognize God as Creator.

c. Accept God's Ownership. . .

d. Recognize God's care, guidance and love.

e. Accept redemption as a restoration of God's ownership.

Tithe as Worship:
f. Understand that tithe is holy, unique, different it belongs to the Holy One.

g. Accept responsibility to administer all God's gifts.

h. Receive a blessing from handling that which is holy by returning tithe (Lev. 27:30).

Tithe is not:
a. Ours to administer. b. A merit system.

c. A substitute for love, justice, mercy, and loyalty. d. A suggestion that the remainder is ours.

To not tithe denies:

a. Gods sovereignty.

b. Gods ownership.
c. Gods holiness.

d. Christs Lordship.
e. God's care and love.

f. God's honor and glory.

g. Gods Divine partnership.

Testing Our Attitudes

Loyalty determines WHO we serve. Attitude determines HOW we serve.

Key Principles
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart (Mark 12:30). 2. Take my yoke upon you. (Matthew 11:29). 3. Made new in the attitude of your minds (Eph. 3:23).

Checking Our Attitude

1. The setting daily life:

a. The mind.
b. The heart.

c. Time.
d. Treasure.

Checking Our Attitude

2. Issues: a. Who do we live for? (Phil. 1:21) For me to live is Christ. b. Who do we live with? (Gal. 2:20) I am Crucified with Christ. . . c. How do we live? (Rom. 6:11, 14) Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God. . .

Gods Contemporary Tests

1. The two-fold intimacy in time:

a. The devotional closet.

b. The integrated life.

Gods Contemporary Tests

The level of our passion for God is proportionate to our intimacy with God.

Gods Contemporary Tests

2. Offerings in possessions.

a. Regular, systematic partnership.

b. Advanced partnership, with specific conviction.

Intimacy As The Integrated Life

1. Applied love and passion.

a. Who or what is the practical passion of my life?

b. How does my love for God change my relationships with others? c. How does my passion control my use of time?

Intimacy As The Integrated Life

3. Making Christ a priority in all decisions:

a. Accepting His Lordship.

b. Accepting Holy Spirit.

c. Seeking His will first, before acting.

d. Accepting God's parameters.

Intimacy As The Integrated Life

4. Actively sharing Christ in sphere of influence: a. Living letters. (2 Cor. 3:2-3) b. Current testimony. c. Making disciples as an extension of life. (Matt. 28:19-20)

Grace of Giving Preceded by:

a. The grace of receiving (John. 3:16).
b. The giving of oneself (Rom. 12:1, 2). c. Making God first (Matt. 6:33).

Antidote for Selfishness

a. Become an expression of gratitude. b. An agent of transforming grace.

c. A response to God's giving.

d. An implementation of the partnership with God. e. Working from God's abundance rather than humanity's scarcity.

Examples of the grace of giving:

a. Giving for the building of the tabernacle. b. Abraham giving His son. c. The widow of Sarephath. d. The widow giving two mites.

e. The Macedonian churches.

Gods Purpose for Offerings

a. To extend the partnership with humanity. b. To give a testimony of praise to God.

c. To support His mission on earth.

d. To strengthen the unity of the Church.

e. To provide for His Church.

f. To help the needy.

Role of Holy Spirit in Giving

a. To convict and guide the giver. b. To empower the individual to give. c. To guide the corporate body and its leadership.

Offering Principles
a. The motive is more important than the amount.

b. God operates on maximums, not minimums.

c. Give as the Holy Spirit convicts.

d. Give with no strings attached without control.

Transferring Ownership Stewardship Definition

Stewardship is the lifestyle of one who accepts Christ's lordship, walking in partnership with God and acting as Gods agent to manage His affairs on earth.

The Problems of Ownership

1. Confused identity.

2. False responsibility.
3. Thwarted satisfaction.

4. Owned worry.
5. Illusory success.

Facing Ourselves
1. Today's reality We give lip service to God as Owner. 2. Few have learned to release all control of all to Him. 3. We have an ingrained premise that ownership means security, independence, success, happiness, status, no worries.

Facing Ourselves
4. Problems ownership produces: (Make your own list.) 5. Reality? a. We cannot take possessions with us. (1Tim. 6:6) b. Pagans run after these. (Matt. 6:32) c. Letting God be owner requires total surrender of self to Him. (Matt. 7:21; Rom. 8:1; Phil 2:5)

Gods Way
1. Prioritize - "Seek ye first . . ." (Matt. 6:31-33) 2. Transfer - "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Pet. 5:7, NIV)

3. Treasure - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6:19-21)

Gods Way
4. Let God Supply - "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19, NIV)

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness . . ." (2 Pet. 1:3, 4, NIV)

Key Working Principles

1. The Lordship Principle - (Mk 12:29-30; Rom. 10:9; Col. 2:6) a. There is only one Lordno one else can be in charge. b. Love is the foundation of the Lordship relationship. c. Christ is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.

Key Working Principles

2. The Ownership Principle (Psalm 24:1; 50:9-15) a. God is owner of all.

b. We are only managers, trustees, or stewards.

c. God wants us, not just our gifts.

Key Working Principles

3. The God First & Last Principle (Prov. 3:9; 1 Cor. 16:2) a. Seek God first, and He will provide. (Matt. 6:33 b. If anything or anyone else is first, it is a form of idolatry. c. Putting Him first places everything else in His context. d. Making Him first & last assures that everything remains in Him.

Key Working Principles

4. The Presence Principle (Ex. 33:14, Matt. 28:20, Col. 3:3)
a. Christ has promised to be with us. (John 14:16-20) b. The Holy Spirit brings the presence of Christ. c. We accept His presence by faith.

Key Working Principles

5. The Resident Alien Principle (Heb. 11:13-16; Phil. 3:20) a. Pilgrims on earththis world is not our home. (1 Pet. 2:3) b. Living in the light of eternity. c. Heaven is already ours.

Key Working Principles

6. The Debtor Principle - (Rom. 1:14) a. Salvation makes us debtors to God. b. And to those around us. c. Sacrifice is the Christian lifestyle. (Rom. 12:1)

Key Working Principles

7. The Cheerful Attitude Principle (1 Cor. 9:7; 2 Cor. 8:9)
a. Stewardship is about attitude, more than mere actions. b. Stewardship begins with loving, not giving. c. Christ provides the example.

Key Working Principles

8. The Open Hand Principle a. Open hand gives God ownership and control. b. An open hand can hold more and be refilled. c. Closing the hand assumes ownership.

Key Working Principles

9. The Big Shovel Principle - (Luke 6:38) a. You can't out give God. b. God emptied heaven in giving His Son. c. The more you give, the more He can place in your trust.

"When Christ died on the cross, God's pockets were empty. He spent it all; He could give no more than all of Himself." - Quoted by David Swartz in, Embracing God.

Key Working Principles

10. The Multiplication Principle a. God multiplies the effect of what we surrender. b. As we implement stewardship, we grow: 1. Our trust in Him grows. 2. Our spiritual gifts grow. 3. Our ability to give grows. 4. Our relationships grow.

Key Working Principles

11. The Vision Principle - (Heb. 11:27)
a. Living as seeing the Invisible we see God at work. b. Living from the throne of God. (Eph. 2:6) c. Eternal realities break through the present realities.

Key Working Principles

12. The Partnership Principle - "No man stands alone..." a. "I can do all things through Christ ..." (Phil. 4:13) b. We are part of a bigger whole the Body of Christ. (Eph. 3:19) c. Christ does not ask us to work for Him, but with Him.

Stewardship in a Barter Economy

Issues in a barter economy Teaching Caring for tithe in kind

Issues in a barter economy

1. How to teach giving in a non-cash situation.
2. How to disciple by bringing God into the material side of life.

Issues in a barter economy

3. Key principles a. Tithe began in kind

b. Principles are the same

i. Giving is worship

ii. Tithe acknowledges God as Owner

iii. Offerings respond to Gods blessings

Issues in a barter economy

3. Key principles, cont.
c. The issue is the increase

i. Fruit of the soil

ii. Animal offspring

iii. Spoils of war

iv. Business profit v. Gifts

Teaching
1. Teach the principles

2. Explore applications
3. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide in the application 4. Facilitate the implementation

Caring for tithe in kind

1. Plan ahead for the logistics a. Collecting b. Storing c. Handling d. Selling (where possible) 2. Train church officers a. Treasurers b. Deacons 3. Recording/Reporting a. To avoid misuse b. Converting

God Centered Living

1. Allows God to be God.
2. Maintains confidence in God. 3. Accepts Gods view of reality. 4. Depends on God and His ability to provide.

5. Accepts Gods parameters for life.

6. Accepts crucifixion of self. 7. Focuses life around God.

Ask Yourself
1. Does God have priority in my life? 2. Are my plans Gods? 3. Do I take time to listen to God?

4. Do I consult God in daily decisions and affairs? 5. Is God my passion?

6. Do I let God be God?

7. Do I live from the throne?