The Activity Of Stewardship Series

THE ACTIVITY OF STEWARDSHIP

Hebrews 6:9-12 (NIV) 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation.

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Psalm 20:7-8 (NIV) 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Introduction:

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE WORLD OF GOD FOR INSIGHTS REGARDING THE DOCTRINE OF STEWARDSHIP. DURING THAT TIME, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A STEWARD, WHAT THE LEVEL OF OUR STEWARDSHIP SHOULD BE, HOW STEWARDSHIP NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED INTO A HABIT AS PART OF OUR WALK AS A BELIEVER, AND THAT THE COMPELLING LOVE OF CHRIST IS OUR MOTIVATION TO ACT AS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS. NOW TODAY, WE FINISH UP THIS SERIES WITH THE CHALLENGE OF ACTIVE STEWARDSHIP.

NOW I NEED TO LET THOSE OF YOU KNOW WHO ARE VISITING WITH US TODAY, THAT AT THE END OF THIS SERVICE, I WILL BE ASKING ALL OF THOSE WHO CONSIDER CALVARY THEIR HOME CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE IN A WHOLE CHURCH DEMONSTRATION. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE YOU, AND BY NO MEANS DO I WANT YOU TO FEEL OBLIGATED IN ANY WAY.

WE WILL BE RECEIVING OUR OFFERING AT THE END OF THE SERVICE, AND AT THAT TIME, I WILL BE ASKING EVERYONE WHO CONSIDERS CALVARY TO BE THEIR HOME CHURCH TO RISE, AND MOVE TO THE PERIMETER OF THE SANCTUARY, AND THEN TO WALK IN A CIRCLE BY THE FRONT OF THE SANCTUARY AND EVENTUALLY BACK TO YOUR SEAT. DURING THIS TIME, EACH INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY WILL BE PASSING BY THE OFFERING PLATE. AT THAT TIME, EACH FAMILY/INDIVIDUAL WILL BE PLACING THEIR OFFERING AND STEWARDSHIP GIFT IN THE OFFERING PLATE.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? FOR SEVERAL REASONS: FIRST, AS A VISIBLE RESPONSE TO THE TEACHING IN GOD’S WORD AS TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS. SECOND, TO BE A VISUAL ILLUSTRATION THAT WE ARE ALL STEWARDS HERE, IT IS NOT THE MINISTRY OF A FEW, BUT THE MINISTRY OF ALL. AND THIRD, TO BE A TESTIMONY TO EACH OTHER OF OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS PLACED UPON OUR HEARTS AS WE HAVE SOUGHT HIM IN PRAYER REGARDING THIS DAY.

AS I SHARED BEFORE, STEWARDSHIP IS NOT JUST MONEY. WE NEED TO BE STEWARDS IN OUR PRAYER LIFE, IN OUR ACTIVITY, AND IN OUR SERVICE. YOUR STEWARDSHIP GIFT CAN BE ONE OF THESE, OR A COMBINATION. A SIMPLE PLEDGE BEFORE GOD TO LIFT A MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH UP IN PRAYER OR A DESIRE TO ASSIST IN A MINISTRY IS JUST AS VALUABLE AS ANY OTHER ACT. DROP A NOTE IN THE PLATE AS YOU PASS BY, A NOTE THAT SAYS, ”I WILL BEGIN TO PRAY FOR THIS AREA OF THE CHURCH.” OR “I WILL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO SERVE IN THIS MINISTRY OR SERVICE”. DON’T SIGN IT, JUST DROP IT IN. STEWARDSHIP IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART IN THIS MATTER.

NOW, ENOUGH OF INTRODUCTION LETS LOOK AT THE WORD OF GOD!

I. WE ARE MORE THAN OUR SALVATION

A. NO ONE CANNOT DENY THE IMPACT OF SALVATION ON OUR LIVES

1. REDEEMED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN

2. REDEEMED FROM THE PUNISHMENT FOR SIN

3. THE TOTALITY OF OUR SINS COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

4. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE GOD OF ALL CREATION

5. AN ETERNAL DESTINY ROOTED IN HEAVEN AND UPROOTED FROM HELL

B. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAYS THAT THERE ARE BETTER THINGS THAT ACCOMPANY SALVATION

1. THE WRITER THEN GOES ON TO DEVELOP THE “BETTER THINGS”

2. SO, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS ARE EXPECTED OF THE BELIEVER AFTER THEIR SALVATION

3. SALVATION DOES NOT COMPLETE OUR ACTIVITY REGARDING CHRIST, IT BEGINS IT.

4. FROM THE MOMENT OF OUR SALVATION, THE SPIRIT OF GOD BEGINS WORKING IN OUR LIFE

a. HE GAVE US GIFTS

b. HE CONVICTS US IN ORDER TO MATURE OUR WALK

c. EVEN JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY/WE WOULD DO GREATER THINGS THAN HE DID

John 14:12 (NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.