STEWARDSHIP
by Bob Wickizer
Stewardship
Bob Wickizer
Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20; Psalm 19; Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46
Stewardship in most churches is about as welcome as a cockroach on a wedding cake. Stewardship is most often the subject clergy hate to preach about. Personally I find this reticence by clergy to be very odd. Stewardship is not only essential for the health and vitality of the church but stewardship is the NUMBER ONE component of our individual identity and spirituality. [pause] To repeat this, stewardship is the NUMBER ONE component of our individual identity and spirituality
In most churches stewardship is a hot potato tightly connected with that always difficult issue of money. Most stewardship efforts in churches amount to a sermon or two in the fall and some effort to contact people in order to raise money. I think it is easier to get people to volunteer for the dunk tank at the county fair than to lead a church stewardship campaign.
Stewardship is much more than what it takes to keep St. Alban's running. Far more important than that , our attitudes about stewardship reflect our relationship with God. Stewardship is intimately connected with our salvation.
Let's visit the Bible to see what it says about the role of a steward – one who manages the business and household affairs for an owner.
Mt:24:45 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.
Is Jesus comparing us to slaves? Absolutely. In fact the word "Christian" literally means "slaves of Christ." In this parable, God is the master and we are the slaves.
Luke 16:1 "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and sai ...
Bob Wickizer
Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20; Psalm 19; Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46
Stewardship in most churches is about as welcome as a cockroach on a wedding cake. Stewardship is most often the subject clergy hate to preach about. Personally I find this reticence by clergy to be very odd. Stewardship is not only essential for the health and vitality of the church but stewardship is the NUMBER ONE component of our individual identity and spirituality. [pause] To repeat this, stewardship is the NUMBER ONE component of our individual identity and spirituality
In most churches stewardship is a hot potato tightly connected with that always difficult issue of money. Most stewardship efforts in churches amount to a sermon or two in the fall and some effort to contact people in order to raise money. I think it is easier to get people to volunteer for the dunk tank at the county fair than to lead a church stewardship campaign.
Stewardship is much more than what it takes to keep St. Alban's running. Far more important than that , our attitudes about stewardship reflect our relationship with God. Stewardship is intimately connected with our salvation.
Let's visit the Bible to see what it says about the role of a steward – one who manages the business and household affairs for an owner.
Mt:24:45 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.
Is Jesus comparing us to slaves? Absolutely. In fact the word "Christian" literally means "slaves of Christ." In this parable, God is the master and we are the slaves.
Luke 16:1 "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and sai ...
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