A Biblical Foundation for Stewardship 2016
DAY 1: Biblical Stewardship The purpose of this Stewardship Devotional is to provide a biblical foundation for stewardship. In this devotion, we present a foundation, elements, and application of biblical stewardship for prayerful study. This Devotional is set up in the following sections: Day 1 Overview and Introduction Days 2-8 Core Values of NCF Days 9-15 Elements of Biblical Stewardship Days 16-18 Applications of Biblical Stewardship After a brief overview and introduction, we begin with the root system, the Core Values of New City Fellowship church, which provide the foundation out of which the Elements of Biblical Stewardship develop. The practice of the Elements are fundamental to our faith journey in following Jesus Christ. As we grow in embracing these Elements, our hope is that we would wrestle with the Application of them into our daily lives and into everything we do with all the time, the treasures and the talents that God has given us. May the Lord bless you as you study His Word. May He give you the freedom to have a soft and moldable heart as you allow the Holy Spirit to encourage and teach you. 2
OVERVIEW & INTRODUCTION 3
DAY 1 (continued): Biblical Stewardship Introduction & Mission Statement Biblical Stewardship serves as the foundation of each of the diaconal ministries at New City Fellowship. Deacons are called to lead the congregation in demonstrating Biblical Stewardship, and acts of mercy, justice and compassion to the family of believers, strangers, prisoners, immigrants, refugees, enemies, and anyone in need. How does the NCF Diaconate define Biblical Stewardship? Biblical Stewardship acknowledges God as the author of all that is good and the provider of all that we have. Stewardship recognizes that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are to use all that we have received for His purposes, and to support those in need. Psalms 24:1 Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 James 1:27 Proverbs 3:9-10 Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Luke 6:34-36 Reflect on these Scripture passages and the questions below. Who are the diaconal team members assigned to serve your house church? What are some ways you and your house church can support diaconal ministry at NCF? What needs in your House Church are not directly addressed by diaconal ministries? If you re not a part of NCF, who are the deacons at your church, and how do you access them when you or someone is in need? 4
OVERVIEW & INTRODUCTION For more information on the ministries of New City Fellowship s Diaconate, visit our webpage. http://newcity.org/universitycity/deacons/ 5
DAY 2: NCF Core Value Gospel Power Called to be Sons of God The central, ongoing focus of our faith and proclamation is Jesus Christ and the forgiveness and righteousness that are ours as a free gift through his work on the cross. In Christ we have been given the right to become children of God. Along with that, God has given us His Spirit to empower us to defeat sin and practice righteousness. Romans 1:16-17 2 Corinthians 5:21 Study these Scriptures and the table. Identify an area where you see your view being more like an orphan than a son or daughter. Ask God to remind you that you are loved, forgiven and accepted as righteous in God s sight by one means only as a gift through Jesus Christ and His work on your behalf. 6
SONSHIP God Sin Prayer Orphan View Stern judge; Sense of disapproval Guilty; Powerless; Depressed; Penance; Defensive Difficult results based on performance Son / Daughter View Loving Father who accepts and approves Forgiven and righteous; Free to repent change First resort is to ask Father to fulfill His will Others Judgmental; Controlling; Distrustful Free to love; confident of Obedience Self-righteous; Basis of God s discipline; Determination; Unlimited Obligation; Joyless; Must look good Joyfully confident of the Spirit s power to enable through grace Ministry Independent; Self-reliant; Driven and Burned Out; Boastful Believe God s Spirit works through teams to advance Suffering Motivation Good=blessed; Bad=punishment Success Failure; Reputation; Law- Keeping; Approval Believes God orders life to transform us into Christ-likeness Grace; God s undeserved love For further study, visit http://newcity.org/universitycity/core-values/gospelpower-sonship/ 7
DAY 3: NCF Core Value Kingdom of God The Establishment of God s Justice and Mercy on Earth The church is called to glorify God by living out their love and obedience to him through a commitment of doing justice and practicing mercy, both within the church community and in the world at large. God s expectation is for us to be an expression of his kingdom rule and reign in the midst of the nations of the earth, especially caring for the poor, the widow, the orphan and the immigrant - proclaiming the Gospel in Word and deed. Matthew 4:23 Micah 6:8 Isaiah 42:1-4 Matthew 6:33 Matthew 3:11 Ephesians 4:7-13 Ephesians 2:10 Isaiah 58:6-9 God s kingdom priorities are not hidden to us, nor are they ours to define. God has spoken in his Word and declared to us what he wants our service to look like. According to Isaiah 58:6-9, what types of ministries will mark us as the church if we are seeking first His kingdom? 8
KINGDOM OF GOD In God s love and graciousness, these ministries (caring for the widow, the orphan and the immigrant in our midst, as well as seeking justice in relationships, responsibilities and work issues) are not the calling of a special few of God s people, but it is the privilege of all God s people to live such lives of service. Where are you stepping out in faith to do justice and practice mercy? For further study, visit http://newcity.org/universitycity/core-values/thekingdom-of-god/ 9
DAY 4: NCF Core Value Team Ministry: Reflecting the Trinity in the Body of Christ God is committed to fulfilling the work of his kingdom through the church, ministering together in teams that express a graciously and Sovereignly distributed diversity of gifts. The power for team ministry is rooted in believing the Gospel together, building the ministry out of prayer, and reflecting the nature of the Trinity in our team relationships. The ministry of Christ lives out this principle. Jesus ministry teams begin with the Trinity, includes Mary and Joseph and the Israelite community, and his life s work is fulfilled in the context of calling and working with twelve disciples. If we stand back and look more closely at the ministries of Abraham, Moses, David, or Peter, John and especially Paul, we will see all the marks of an intense team relationship in fulfilling ministry. Study the ministries of one of these men listed above and reflect on how you see team ministry lived out. How does Team Ministry contribute to a better understanding of biblical stewardship? 10
TEAM MINISTRY For further study, visit http://newcity.org/universitycity/core-values/teamministry/ 11
DAY 5: NCF Core Value Reconciliation: God s Plan to Bring All Things Together under the Rule of Christ The prayer of Jesus (John 17) and the eternal plan of the Father (Ephesians 1) are to restore the unity and peace that have been destroyed by sin. God s call to the church (1 Corinthians 12) is for his people to intentionally embrace one another in righteousness and love across all divisions racial, cultural, socio-economic, etc. as living proof that Jesus has come and the Father has begun the final restoration of all things. Principles of Reconciliation, (from Breaking Down Walls by Washington/ Kehrein) 1. Commitment to Relationship A willingness to do whatever is necessary to develop relationships with one another across our cultural boundaries, with a commitment to endure through conflicts. Ephesians 2:17-22 2. Intentionality The Purposeful, Planned and Positive Activity that Facilitates Reconciliation. Acts 6:1-5 3. Sincerity The willingness to be vulnerable, including the selfdisclosure of feelings, attitudes, differences and perspectives with the goal of resolution and building trust. Philippians 2:1-4 4. Sensitivity The intentional acquisition of knowledge in order to relate empathetically to a person of a different culture. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 5. Interdependence Recognizing our differences, but realizing that we each offer something that the other members of the body need. Romans 12:3-8 12
RECONCILIATION 6. Sacrifice The willingness to relinquish an established status or position to genuinely adopt a lesser position, in order to facilitate reconciliation. Philippians 2:4-11 7. Empowerment Granting a person from another culture the right to engage in serious reconciliation through mutual repentance and forgiveness. Ephesians 2:13-16 8. Call Recognizing we are ALL called to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation; some are specially called to be reconcilers. 2 Cor. 5:17-21 Study and reflect on the Scripture passages and the Principles of Reconciliation. For further study, visit http://newcity.org/universitycity/core-values/ reconciliation/ 13
DAY 6: NCF Core Value The Promises of God: Confidence in God s Covenantal Commitment to Us The covenantal context of the promises and their focus around the Gospel of the kingdom, enables sinful, sometimes disbelieving people to appropriate the promises by a faith that is focused on the trustworthiness of God and his work for us, not on the strength or purity of the believer s faith. God wants us to know Him as the God who makes and keeps promises, and trust Him as the God who can and will fulfill his promises Genesis 15:9-21, Hebrews 6:13-20 God will keep his promises because He is good; not because we are good Isaiah 57:14-17 God will keep his promises because he has the power and wisdom to make sure they will be fulfilled Exodus 3:13-22 All the promises of God are moving us, and our circumstances toward the fulfillment of God s purposes. Study and reflect on the above Scripture passages related to the Promises of God. Believing the promises of God gives us hope for the present situation. Every new crises is not new cause to doubt God s love, but a new opportunity to see his faithful promises unfold. Reflect on a recent time of crisis in your life. How did you respond? Did you have the freedom, in humility, to question why God was allowing the crisis? What promises did you cling to for hope? 14
PROMISES OF GOD There are seven major elements to God s Covenant relationship with us, that all the other promises of God, in effect, support. Take some time to study them to remind you what God s promises are, and what they are not. These seven elements can be found described at http://newcity.org/ universitycity/core-values/the-promises-of-god/ 15
DAY 7: NCF Core Value Humility and Humble Circumstances: God s Power Revealed in Human Weakness God is committed to advancing the work of his kingdom through humility, which involves both an attitude of the heart and a willingness to embrace humble circumstances. The historical patterns of the Bible show us how God wants us to embrace weakness and learn humility in order that the glory of his salvation might shine more powerfully. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 The freedom for the child of God is to acknowledge the presence of his/her frailty and cast himself/herself upon the Lord with great confidence, in faith, for God s intervening grace to take a situation that would humanly and naturally bring defeat and/or despair, and look to God to bless it with his saving Presence, and bring glory to Himself out of it. Study and reflect on the above Scripture passages and this core value. Remember and bless the Lord for a time when you knew, without a doubt, that it was God s power at work bringing you through a situation. 16
HUMILITY AND HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES For further study, visit http://newcity.org/universitycity/core-values/humility -weakness/ 17
DAY 8: NCF Core Value Trials: God s Prescription for Maturing our Faith In a sinful and broken world, God uses trials to sanctify us. Following Jesus as a disciple who does justice and proclaims grace requires that we enter into the sufferings of Christ and embrace the trials of life as a tool in our Father s hand to equip us for doing his will. Every man, woman, and child will face trials in this life. Trials are the means God uses to mature our faith. Persevering through trials is how Jesus Christ himself matured and learned obedience. Recognizing that trials mature our faith can free us to be willing to stay in the trial until we see God accomplish his purpose. Perseverance means the presence of pain is not necessarily the signal it is a time for us to quit; it is often the time we are about to become the most teachable. We should not try and remove trials for other people the great goal in life is not to produce a trial free environment it is to see people s character shaped and molded by God. James 1:2-8 Luke 3 Hebrews 2:10-18; 4:4-5:10 1 Peter 1:3-9 Romans 5:1-5 2 Corinthians 4:16 Hebrews 12:7-11 Philippians 3:7-11 18
TRIALS Study and reflect on the Scripture passages. If you are in the midst of a trial right now, take time to ask God to give you the faith to persevere through the pain, and come through the trial further along in your faith in Christ. For further study, visit http://newcity.org/universitycity/core-values/trials/ 19
DAY 9: Elements of Biblical Stewardship LOVING GOD We are to love God with our entire being. In order to do so, we are called to willfully surrender every aspect of our lives for His use. God calls those who love Him to reverently fear Him and to trust Him with their whole heart even above what they may see, experience or understand. It is impossible to love God completely and at the same time desire material gain. God is to be our help and satisfaction; it should motivate and energize everything we do. Deuteronomy 6:5 Psalm 63:1-3, 7-8 Matthew 6:24 Deuteronomy 10:12 Proverbs 3:5-7 1 Corinthians 10:31 Mark 8:34-35 What would it look like to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength? What areas in your life are you struggling to trust God? Is it possible to love God completely and at the same time desire material gain? Take some time to pray. Sit before the Lord and ask Him to speak to you through His Word. Ask Him to open your eyes to areas in your life where you need to give them over to Him. 20
21 LOVING GOD
DAY 10: Elements of Biblical Stewardship TITHING & GIVING Christians have obligations both to tithe and to care for the poor. Tithing shows your allegiance to the King of Kings and is an act of trusting Him. It shows we rely on Him to supply all our needs. Our obligation to tithe is in addition to God s call to help care for the poor. Some of us can give beyond the tithe. For those of us who have resources remaining after our commitments are met, we should prayerfully consider giving to the poor. Our giving should be voluntary, according to what God has placed on our hearts; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. Giving is an act of worship. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Genesis 14:18-20 Matthew 6:1-4 Malachi 3:8-10 Proverbs 3:9-10 Matthew 23:23 Why do you think God declares tithing and giving as important? Since all that we have is God s, how should our spending, giving and tithing all reflect that acknowledgement that all our resources are ultimately His? Does God want tithe from those living month to month, who are barely fulfilling their financial obligations? Should believers tithe based on their gross income or their net income? What is the difference between tithing and giving? 22
TITHING & GIVING Take some time to pray. Sit before the Lord and ask Him to reveal to you ways He wants you to be stretched and grown about the ways you currently think about tithing or are tithing. 23
DAY 11: Elements of Biblical Stewardship LOVING OTHERS As believers of Christ, we are to be generous and merciful to others even those who may oppose and harm us. We are to love our neighbors without reservation both friends and enemies that they may see our good works and glorify the Lord. We are not to be known by selfish ambition, but we are to give honor and elevate the interests of others above our own. In all that we do, we are to treat others as we want to be treated. To deny support to our family is to deny God s promises to those who love Him, and is an act that is worse than being accused of unbelief. We demonstrate our love for one another by supporting the needs of others and relying on others to provide for our needs as well. Luke 6:30-36 Romans 12:10 1 John 4:19-21 Philippians 2:3 Matthew 5:43-48 Matthew 5:16 Matthew 7:12 1 Timothy 5:8 Why do you think loving others is important to God? How can allowing others to meet your needs be loving them? Why should we believe that God will give us the love to give when we don t feel like loving someone? Take some time to pray. Meditate on His Word. Ask God to show you people in your family, your church, your community, and your workplace that you can grow in loving more like He calls you to. Ask Him to heap His extravagant love on you that you may feast on it and that by His grace you can keep on loving others. 24
25 LOVING OTHERS
DAY 12: Elements of Biblical Stewardship PURSUING CONTENTMENT We are not to be anxious, but instead we are to be strong in faith and without care for our needs, through trusting in God. We are to be generous and not put our trust in money. Rather, we are to pursue godliness. God teaches us contentment as we submit ourselves to him. Contentment is not based on economic or social status. Contentment is being satisfied with God s love. Contentment is honoring God with your mind, body, and soul. Matthew 6:28-34 1 Peter 3:3-4 Mark 10:25 1 Timothy 4:8 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 1 Timothy 6:6-11 Philippians 4:6-7, 10-13 In what areas in your life do you find yourself struggling to be content? What does time in the Word, time in prayer, time alone, time in fellowship, care for the food we eat, and care for exercising our bodies have to do with contentment? What can you do when you feel anxiety coming on, or jealousy for another s life or things? Read Habbakuk 3:17-19. How have you praised God while going through severe and prolonged trials? Take some time to pray. Ask the Lord to speak to you through His Word about how you can grow in being content with God being enough. Confess areas that you are struggling to be content. Thank Him for continuing His work in your life, making you more like Him. 26
PURSUING CONTENTMENT 27
DAY 13: Elements of Biblical Stewardship BEING HONEST God calls us to confess our sins, speak the truth, and live lives consistent with godly truth. God calls believers to live righteously and with integrity. God hates dishonesty and deception. He blesses those whose thoughts and deeds are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Philippians 4:8, 9 Proverbs 12:22 1 John 1:5-10 Proverbs 11:1, 3 Zechariah 8:16-17 Leviticus 19:13 1 Peter 2:12 Acts 5:1-11 How important do you think being honest is important to God? We all fall short of being truth-tellers all the time. When we, others, or the LORD, find this sin in ourselves, what act must we do? Take some time to reflect on the Word of God. Confess your sins of dishonesty to God. Receive His forgiveness. Ask Him to fill your mind and lips with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. 28
BEING HONEST. 29
DAY 14: Elements of Biblical Stewardship RESTING After the work of creating the world, God took time to rest. Jesus commands us not to take the burdens of this world on ourselves, but to find rest in Him. Resting is not simply the absence from labor for ourselves and family, but includes an encouragement of Sabbath rest for our guests and employees as well. God also calls us to spend the Sabbath enjoying Him, His creation, and allowing others to enjoy the surplus He has provided us. Practicing Sabbath rest requires trusting that God will accomplish all that He has called us to do in the time He has designated for work. Genesis 1:31-2:3 Mark 2:23-3:5 Hebrews 4:9-11 Exodus 20:8-11 Matthew 11:28-30 What are examples of resting not being simply the absence of doing work but instead the intentional act of ceasing work to take time to cast our cares on the LORD and have our mind, body, and soul refreshed? How is resting an act of trusting God? Why do you think God thinks resting is so important? Why did God rest when He created the world? Take some time to rest. Be quiet before the LORD. Lay your work, your ministry, your family everything at His feet. Ask Him to meet you in your need. Ask Him to restore the joy of your salvation. Thank Him for taking care of you. 30
31 RESTING
DAY 15 DAY 15: Elements of Biblical Stewardship FULFILLING DEBT Debt is a decision to use God s resources. Debt can be a form of bondage and it represents a promise made to the debt holder, so we need to be careful with debt. Debt is common to man, however believers should avoid debt where possible. We should take our vows seriously. We are to live modestly and we should not use debt to live beyond our means. God will bless neither Christians nor non-christians who profit illegitimately from lending to those in need. We are to be an example of God s grace and mercy by generously supporting those in need. Christians are not to charge interest on loans to other believers, friends and family, or the poor. When Christians lend, we should do so freely, and without an expectation of repayment. God is the defender of the poor, and believers are called to do the same. Ecclesiastes 5:5 Numbers 30:2 Proverbs 22:26-27 Proverbs 28:8 Hebrews 13:5 Psalm 112:5 Proverbs 22:7 Proverbs 17:18 Matthew 5:42 Romans 13:7-8 Psalm 37:21 Why do you think God calls us to avoid debt? God knows our sin tendencies. How could God, out of His love for us, use this call to avoid debt so that we can keep Him as our first love? 32
In this culture, full of the push to be self-sufficient and opportunities for further gain, how do you wrestle with taking on a debt as you read God s Word? In Romans 13, does the reference to debt only refer to financial debt or is it broader? Are their any debts that honor God? FULFILLING DEBT Take some time to sit quietly before the Lord. Ask Him to open your eyes to His Word in a fresh new way. Ask Him to continue to engage your heart in wrestling through this Biblical Stewardship Element of Fulfilling Debt. 33
DAY 16 DAY 16: Application of Biblical Stewardship WORK & MINISTRY When God created human beings in the first days of creation, He made it clear that our work and service should reflect His image. As we do this, we glorify God and thus fulfill His original purpose for creating mankind. Work is central to God s purpose for us. He has gifted us with the talents needed to work in ministry to God and others. Psalm 104:23 Colossians 3:23 Ephesians 4:28 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 Ephesians 6:7 Acts 20:33-35 Why do you think work and ministry are so important to God? Do you think God values work or ministry more than the other? What similarities and differences are there between work and ministry? How does being a child of God impact how you define who you are in relation to what you do? According to the Word of God, how should we train and teach others, including our children, the value and call to work and ministry? How does God want Christians to think about how others labor or serve in ministry? Take time to pray. Pray for someone you know who is struggling with injustices at work. Pray for someone you know who is unemployed and job hunting. 34
WORK & MINISTRY The receiving of time, treasures and talents from God 35
DAY 17: Application of Biblical Stewardship PLANNING, BUDGETING & RECORD KEEPING God calls believers to exercise prudent and wise stewardship over what He has provided. We are to be motivated, not by a fear of loss or control, but by confidence in God s sovereign and perfect plans for us and His kingdom. We will not always know His plan, but He is honored and glorified when we seek Him persistently for wisdom and direction. For our plans to succeed, we must seek and have faith in what God has revealed to us; we must commit both ourselves and our work to the Lord; and we must depend on His strength and providence, and not our abilities. God s plans will not fail regardless of our plans, actions, or circumstances. Jeremiah 29:11 Proverbs 16:3 Proverbs 21:5 Proverbs 27:23-27 What have you learned from these Scriptures about how God s people have planned, budgeted and kept records? Where is the balance between living day by day and planning for the future? In what areas, if any, can you grow in planning, budgeting, and record keeping? Take some time to pray. Ask God to teach you and give you wisdom as you make plans. Take time to wait on the Lord before making decisions. 36
PLANNING, BUDGETING & RECORD KEEPING The management of time, treasures and talents 37
DAY 18: Application of Biblical Stewardship PURCHASING, BORROWING & SAVING God has entrusted His children with gifts of time, treasures and talents to use to honor and glorify Him. Those who rely upon and delight themselves in the Lord will leave an inheritance for their children. But the wealth of the unjust will be enjoyed by the righteous. God's favor is denied to anyone who has the ability to support the poor but doesn't. Our motivation to support the poor should be to glorify God, and not for personal gain. When we honor Him with what He has provided, God has promised to provide all our needs, and even some of our desires. Hasty schemes to acquire riches will result in financial ruin, but a commitment to honest work and prudence will be rewarded. If we lack wisdom on how to use what God has provided, He promises to give it generously to all who ask. Borrowing excessively or beyond the ability to repay can result in restrictions on the freedom to serve God, and should be avoided. Saving money wisely gives a man freedom to serve God by caring for others in need, providing for family and friends, and for resting from work. As possessions increase, so will the demands upon them. Similarly, when worldly passion dominate our hearts, God no longer responds to self-serving prayers. 1 John 3:17-18 Proverbs 6:6-8 Isaiah 55:2 1 Timothy 6:10 Ecclesiastes 5:11 Proverbs 19:17 1 Corinthians 16:2 Proverbs 13:22 38
PURCHASING, BORROWING & SAVING The uses of time, treasures and talents Before you make a purchase, remember that everything you have is from the Lord. What are some ways to honor Him when deciding what to purchase? How does caring for the poor currently influence your purchasing? In what ways, if any, does God want to change the way you think about caring for the poor with the resources He gives you? What are some of the biblical stewardship principles you can apply when deciding what to purchase, if and when to borrow, and when to save? Take some time to pray. Ask God to give you wisdom in the ways you use His resources to care for you and your family, and as you care for others. Ask Him to reveal areas that you need to trust Him in more. 39
For more information on this ministry, contact: Charlie Svoboda Stewardship Ministry Team Leader (314)216-1155 or charles.r.svoboda.jr@gmail.com Diaconate Office Information: Administrative Deacons Michael Yarbrough Katy Stern 1142 Hodiamont Ave., St. Louis, MO 63112 (314)726-2302 x243 http://newcity.org/universitycity/deacons/