Stewardship: Lesson 3

Pastor’s Bible Class

Thomas Road Baptist Church

Dr. Elmer L. Towns

Stewardship

Lesson 3: Learning to Manage Your Life

April 13, 2008

Definition: Stewardship is properly managing my time, talent and treasure.

A. WHAT HAS GOD GIVEN ME?

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (II Cor. 9:15).

1. God has given us physical life. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7). Because we have this gift, “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring” (Acts 17:28).

2. God has given us Christ who died for us. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (II Cor. 9:15).

3. God has given us salvation. “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water’” (John 4:10).

4. God expects us to manage our abilities which are called spiritual gifts. “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men” (Eph. 4:8).

5. God has given us all things. “The living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (I Tim. 6:17). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever” (Rom. 11:36). What does “all things” include?

a. Our family.

b. Our church.

c. Our health.

d. Our jobs.

e. Our possessions.

f. Our opportunities to serve God.

g. Our opportunities to make a living.

B. HOW I SHOULD GIVE TO GOD – II COR. 9:1-15

1. You give because you want to give. “Now concerning the ministering to the saints . . . and your zeal has stirred up the majority” (II Cor. 9:1-2).

2. You should prepare what you give to God, not wait for the spur of the moment thought. “That you may be ready, lest . . . (I) find you unprepared” (II Cor 9:3-4).

3. Everyone will sow something for God. What will you sow? The more you give the more you will get. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (II Cor. 9:6).

4. You should make a decision how much you will give to God. Life is a choice. We must choose wisely. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart” (II Cor. 9:7).

5. We must have a good attitude about giving to God. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7).

6. You give to God so that good works may be done through your church. “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” (II Cor. 9:8).

7. When you give money to God, you grow spiritually. “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” (II Cor. 9:10).

8. In the Old Testament they were to bring an animal sacrifice to give thanks to God. When you give money to God, you are thanking Him for all He had done for you. “When we take your gift to them, they will break out in thanksgiving” (II Cor. 9:11, LB).

9. We give money to God so we can help others. “For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God” (II Cor. 9:12).

10. We give to God so we can help people outside the church. “For your liberal sharing with them and all men” (II Cor. 9:13).

11. Our gift of money is a way for people to experience the grace of God. “Because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you” (I Cor. 9:14, LB).

12. Your gift of money makes God’s gift available to others. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (II Cor. 9:15).

C. HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).