Stewardship is a Choice Series
II Cor. 8:1-5; 9: 6-15
January 11, 2004 * Chester’s First Baptist Church, Chester, Illinois
(A message adapted from Dr. John C. Maxwell)
Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
The card reads "Stewardship is a Choice: God has given me special gifts and resources to help me become the person He intends for me to be. That is His gift to me. I must choose to manage these gifts and resources for His glory and not my own. That is my gift to Him."
2 Cor. 8
We will read about a church model that was pleasing to God.
Last Sunday we talked about personal models. (2 good & 2 bad)
(Little w/ little, little w/ much, much w/ little, and much w/ much)
Today, Church in Macedonia Paul is writing to. . .good model for a church to model after.
Calvin Coolidge Quote in listing guide:
"No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others; or failing therein it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist." (Calvin Coolidge)
2 Corinthians 8.1-5 (NIV)
2CO 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. [2] Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. [3] For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, [4] they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. [5] And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
*Background:
Macedonian churches were churches Paul had started during previous missionary journeys. (Philippi, Thesselonica, Beria. All in northern Greece.)
We find Paul on a journey heading AWAY FROM Macedonia, but he was called by God to go back to where he had already been to help churches he had started that were in need of his help. (Philippi, Thesselonica, Beria. All in northern Greece.)
Now Paul in II Corinthians is asking for help.
I helped the church and now the church is helping him!
The church had started out as a baby.
a They started as a group that needed assistance, feed, cleaned up after when things got messy.
b The church in Macedonia had became strong.
To become strong, independent, self-reliant.
They became strong so they could use the gifts God had given them to bless others.
Any church that doesn’t get this concept of Christianity has missed it!
(We are only blessed, prosperous, grow so we can bless others!)
How do we measure the greatness of a church?
a A greatness in a church is not on what it receives, its on what it gives!
We are not a savings & loan institution; we’re a church!
As God bless us, we pass it on to others!
b Preacher, when will we stop taking up offerings for other people? NEVER
Are we ever just going to take care of our needs, and take care of ourselves?
a No. Not at this church.
b If your philosophy of stewardship is to keep everything God has blessed you with and horde it for yourself, not going to fit withing the philosophy of how we do ministry at FBC.
Preacher, why don’t we sell spaghetti dinners? We’re not Marcello’s. Where the Church!
Preacher, why don’t we sell Chicken Dinner? We’re not KFC. Where FBC, the Church!
We don’t sell candy, cook books or calanders, the church is able to do outreach because we are going to GIVE to take care of the needs of others.
If your philosophy of stewardship is to keep everything God has blessed you with, horde it. . .it’s not going to be a good fit at this church.
We’re always going to be giving, reaching, blessing.
(I’m proud to be the pastor of the church that gives things away.)
I There are some outstanding Characteristics about the church @ Macedonia.
1 Gave out of much affliction v.2
(They had had a crisis, trial, hard time. It wasn’t easy for them to give.)
2 Gave out of deep poverty. v.2 (much w/ little)
3 Gave beyond their power v.3
4 Gave willingly and to their own accord v.4
5 Viewed giving as a privilege v.4
6 The first gave themselves to the Lord v.5
From these six characteristics, there is a biblical formula that we use and apply
The right attitude
PRODUCES
the right action
THAT PROVIDED
God’s Blessing
The Right Attitude:
1 Giving is a matter of priorities, not a matter of problems.
v.2 They had problems, but that was not their priority.
a Personally and corporately, there is a temptation to look at our problems as our priorities.
b We’ll never be good stewards, nor reach our potential.
* "Preacher, I’ve got to get my act together before I can help anybody."
* There is nothing wrong with "getting your act together".
REALIZE!!! You’ll always have a certain amount of problems.
c Macedonia had problems, that does not interfere with their stewardship!
"God, I don’t have the time, talent, money that I’d like to have."
You limit your yourself! (Little with Little)
2 Giving is a matter of willingness, not a matter of wealth.
(A willing attitude has nothing to do with wealth.)
a Stewardship has nothing to do with wealth!!!
b God is not interested in what or how much you have. (He already knows because he as given it to you!!!
*He is interested in what you are doing with what you have.
(Last Sunday, poor person and be a bad steward or a rich person and be bad steward.
Little w/little or little w/ much)
Giving has everything to do with having a willing heart, not with a wealthy pocket book.
God could careless if you have a little or a lot. (What are you doing with what you have?
Wealthy? Great, great. . .what are you doing with what you have?
Poor? Great (not great, great). . .what are you doing with what yo have?
3 Giving is a matter of opportunity and not a matter of obligation. v.4
a The church @ Macedonia was begging to give. (Following Paul, begging to give.)
b FBC is great giving church, but I have never heard, "Preacher, were not going to leave until you pass the plate one more time."
These people @ Macedonia were poor, problems. . .but they were going to give even though they didn’t have any resources!
I’m not worried about what you do if you had what you wish you had or wanted to have. . .what are you doing with what you have right now?
T.S.: If the attitude is right, it will produce the right action.
1 They first gave themselves to the Lord.
*v.5 "And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord
A Stewardship is not a financial issue, it’s a spiritual issue.
a The secret of success in stewardship is in settling the issue of Lordship.
b Whose in control of your life? Whose running it? Lord?
*Successful steward is automatic!!!
B I know people who have never made Christ the Lord in their life and try to be good stewards.
a Offering, cringe & writing the check is painful. (Miserable!)
b Stewardship is like paying taxes. Offering is like a here’s my weekly payment, monthly payment.
*Their Lordship issue has never been settled.
C Don’t give God your 5 cents or your $1,000 bill before you first give him yourself!
(You’ve got to fall in love with Jesus first!
Growing up, I never washed a dish in @ my mom’s house. After I got married, I wash my plate. My wife has got me doing things my mother could never get to me to do. How? I’ve fallen completely in love with my wife!
When you fall completely in love with Jesus you will do things that you never did before you feel in love with him.
2 They gave themselves to the their leaders. " . . . and then to us. . ."
A They not only settled the issues of Lordship, but also of leadership.
a Paul told them about some believers in need, and Macedonia followed the leadership that God had given them.
b They said, "Paul you know us, we’ll give according to your leadership."
Paul directed them.
So many churches say, "Preacher, you just preach, marry, and bury. We’ll take care of the rest."
That’s not the biblical leadership that God has instituted in his bride. (Elder, Overseer, Shepherd)
3 They ave according to their ability.
They settled the issue of Love.
Conclusion:
If you settle these three issues, you would give like the church at Macedonia.
(Lordship, Leadership, Love.)
When they settled those issued, exciting things began to happen at their church.
God’s Blessing (How?)
1. The Grace of God was given to them. (v.1)
They got the Lordship, leadership, love issues settled & God showed up!
2. The ability to give beyond their resources. (v. 3)
Yes, you read it right! How did they give beyond their own ability.
When you do your best. . .that’s all God asks! He doesn’t ask from you what you do not have.
RO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Can you give God any more than your best? 100%? NO!!!
You give Him your best and then God says, "You’ve given my your best . . .now I’ll step in."
We all know the bible stories of God feeding the Hebrew people for 40 years on manna from heaven, feeding the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish.
A Do you believe them or are they fairy tales? Real events or fiction?
You can believe these stories, and yet they never penetrate or change or lives.
If they bible teaches us anything about stewardship it is this. . .
Little is much in the Master’s hands!!!
in keeping with God’s will
.[3] For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, [4] they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
