Stewardship: Managing Gods Blessings

1
Stewardship Managing Gods Blessings De
termining Your Return On Life
2
I. We REAP what we SOW.
3
A. What TYPE of seed are we SOWING in our lives?
4
A. What TYPE of seed are we SOWING in our
lives? Do not be deceived, God is not mocked
for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
The one who sows to please his sinful nature,
from that nature will reap destruction the one
who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit
will reap eternal life. Galatians 67,8 - My
thoughts - My faith - My relationships -
My response to Gods Word - My finances - My
response to the Holy Spirit
5
Stewardship -- The faithful MANAGEMENT of my God
given resources for His GLORY and the good of
OTHERS.
6
B. What AMOUNT of seed are we SOWING in our
lives? Now this I say, he who sows sparingly
shall also reap sparingly and he who sows
bountifully shall also reap bountifully.
Each one must do just as he has purposed in
his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver. 2
Corinthians 96,7
7
Give, and it will be given to you good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, running over, they
will pour into your lap. For by your standard of
measure it will be measured to you in
return. Luke 638
8
- What we RECEIVE in life is greatly
determined by what we GIVE in life.
9
II. A Model Church Now, brethren, we wish to
make known to you the grace of God which has been
given in the churches of Macedonia, 2) that in a
great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy
and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth
of their liberality. 3) For I testify that
according to their ability, and beyond, they gave
of their own accord, 4) begging us with much
entreaty for the favor of participation in the
support of the saints, 5) and this, not as we had
expected, but they first gave themselves to the
Lord and to us by the will of God.
2 Corinthians 81-5
10

• Observations about the
• Macedonian Church
• 2 Corinthians 81-5
• They gave SUPERNATURALLY.
• we wish to make known to you the grace of God
  which has been given in the churches of
  Macedonia
• 2. They gave out of AFFLICTION.
• that in a great ordeal of affliction
• 3. They gave out of POVERTY.
• and their deep poverty

11
4. They gave out of personal CHOICE.
according to their ability, and beyond, they
gave of their own accord 5. They viewed giving
as a PRIVILEGE. begging us with much entreaty
for the favor of participation in the support of
the saints 6. Their greatest gift was giving
THEMSELVES TO GOD. but they first gave
themselves to the Lord and to us
12
III. A Stewardship Formula for the Macedonian
Churches The proper perspective produces the
proper actions that provides Gods blessing.
13

• A. The proper perspective
• Giving is a matter of PRIORITY, not problems.
  (vs. 2)
• ii. Giving is a matter of WILLINGNESS, not
  wealth. (vs. 2)
• iii. Giving is a matter of OPPORTUNITY, not
  obligation. (vs. 4)

14

• B. The proper actions
• They gave themselves to the LORD. (vs. 5)

15
B. The proper actions ii. They gave themselves
to the LEADERS. (vs. 5)
16
B. The proper actions iii. They gave themselves
to ONE ANOTHER. (vs. 4)
17

• C. The Blessing of God
• i. A genuine GIVING spirit.
• ii. A MULTIPLIED effect.
• iii. Abundant JOY.

18
Stewardship Conclusion To have the proper
ATTITUDE and the proper ACTION, we need to have
the proper FOCUS.