Embracing Generosity: Stewardship in God's Kingdom

 

Summary

In our journey through the series "Beyond the Noise," we have explored various spiritual practices that help us deepen our connection with God. Today, we focus on the theme of generosity and stewardship, which are foundational to kingdom living. Generosity is not merely about giving from our excess but involves offering our time, talents, and treasures as a reflection of our commitment to God. Stewardship, as defined by Gregory Balmer and John Cortines, is the active and responsible management of God's creation for His purposes. This concept challenges the traditional views of ownership and non-ownership, presenting a radical third way that Jesus taught—stewardship and caretaking.

In the biblical narrative, God is the ultimate owner of everything, and we are called to be caretakers of His creation. This perspective shifts our understanding of wealth and resources, urging us to manage them responsibly for God's purposes. The Bible is replete with reminders that everything belongs to God, and our role is to steward these resources wisely. Generosity can manifest in various forms, such as sharing material resources, offering our time and energy, and extending forgiveness and service to others.

Our personal journey with generosity began with a shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, recognizing that God is our provider. This transformation involved practical steps like tithing, living within our means, and prioritizing giving. As we embraced this mindset, we experienced God's provision in unexpected ways, reinforcing the truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The purpose of God's blessings is not to increase our standard of living but to elevate our standard of giving.

As we look beyond the horizon, we are called to trust God more deeply, especially in times of financial uncertainty. Our church community will face challenges that require us to rely on God's provision and wisdom. We are invited to give cheerfully and generously, trusting that God will supply all our needs and enable us to be a blessing to others. Let us embrace this call to stewardship, living generously with all that God has entrusted to us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Stewardship as a Radical Third Way: Jesus teaches a radical third way of stewardship, where we are caretakers of God's creation. This challenges the traditional views of ownership and non-ownership, urging us to manage resources responsibly for God's purposes. Stewardship is about aligning our actions with God's will, recognizing that everything we have is ultimately His. [37:50]

2. Generosity Beyond Material Wealth: Generosity extends beyond material resources to include our time, talents, and forgiveness. It involves a commitment to serve others and reflect God's love through our actions. By embracing a generosity mindset, we shift from scarcity to abundance, trusting in God's provision and experiencing peace and joy. [42:51]

3. The Heart of Generosity: The issue is not money itself but the love of money, which can lead us away from faith. A generosity mindset fosters gratitude and joyful giving, while a scarcity mindset breeds anxiety and discontent. By trusting in God's provision, we can replace worry with peace and experience the joy of giving. [46:07]

4. Practical Steps to Cultivate Generosity: Embracing generosity involves practical steps like tithing, living within our means, and prioritizing giving. These actions reflect our trust in God and our commitment to His purposes. As we cultivate generosity, we experience God's provision and opportunities to bless others. [48:18]

5. God's Purpose in Blessing Us: God's blessings are meant to increase our standard of giving, not our standard of living. By being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, we can be a blessing to others and experience true life. Our trust should be in God, not in our riches, as He provides all we need for our enjoyment. [58:42]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [10:50] - Introduction and Acknowledgments
- [32:50] - New Series Announcement
- [37:50] - Understanding Stewardship
- [40:27] - Biblical Foundations of Stewardship
- [42:51] - Ways to Practice Generosity
- [46:07] - Personal Journey with Generosity
- [48:18] - Shifting Mindsets
- [51:30] - Practical Steps to Generosity
- [54:35] - Trusting God in Uncertainty
- [58:42] - The Heart of Giving
- [01:01:58] - Summary and Conclusion
- [01:05:11] - Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries
- [01:08:00] - Closing Prayer and Song

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Beyond the Noise: Generosity and Stewardship"

Bible Reading:
1. Leviticus 25:23 - "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers."
2. 1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains."
3. Acts 20:35 - "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Observation Questions:
1. What are the two traditional views of wealth mentioned in the sermon, and how does Jesus' teaching on stewardship differ from them? [37:50]
2. According to the sermon, what are some ways we can practice generosity beyond just giving money? [42:51]
3. How did the pastor describe the shift from a scarcity mindset to a generosity mindset in his personal journey? [46:07]
4. What practical steps did the pastor and his wife take to cultivate generosity in their lives? [48:18]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of stewardship as a "radical third way" challenge our modern views of ownership and wealth? [37:50]
2. In what ways does a generosity mindset foster gratitude and joyful giving, according to the sermon? [46:07]
3. How does the sermon suggest that God's blessings are intended to increase our standard of giving rather than our standard of living? [58:42]
4. What role does trust in God play in the practice of generosity and stewardship, especially during times of financial uncertainty? [54:35]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current mindset regarding resources. Do you lean more towards a scarcity mindset or a generosity mindset? What steps can you take to shift towards a generosity mindset? [46:07]
2. Identify one area in your life where you can practice generosity beyond financial giving, such as offering your time or talents. How can you implement this in the coming week? [42:51]
3. Consider the practical steps the pastor took to cultivate generosity. Which of these steps could you apply to your own financial management? [48:18]
4. How can you actively practice stewardship in your daily life, recognizing that everything you have is ultimately God's? [37:50]
5. Think about a time when you experienced God's provision in an unexpected way. How did this impact your trust in Him, and how can it encourage you to be more generous now? [51:30]
6. In what ways can you contribute to your church community's efforts to trust God more deeply, especially during times of financial uncertainty? [54:35]
7. How can you ensure that your motivation for giving is rooted in love and not in the expectation of receiving more in return? [58:42]

Devotional

Day 1: Stewardship as a Radical Third Way
Stewardship is a profound concept that challenges the conventional understanding of ownership. In the biblical narrative, God is depicted as the ultimate owner of everything, and humans are entrusted with the responsibility of managing His creation. This perspective invites believers to view their resources not as personal possessions but as tools for fulfilling God's purposes. By embracing stewardship, individuals align their actions with God's will, recognizing that everything they have is ultimately His. This radical third way, as taught by Jesus, encourages a shift from self-centered ownership to a life of caretaking and responsible management of resources. [37:50]

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." (Psalm 24:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your mindset from ownership to stewardship in your daily life, and how might this change your approach to managing your resources?


Day 2: Generosity Beyond Material Wealth
Generosity is often associated with the giving of material resources, but it encompasses much more. It involves offering one's time, talents, and even forgiveness as a reflection of God's love. By adopting a generosity mindset, individuals move from a scarcity mentality to one of abundance, trusting in God's provision. This shift allows believers to experience peace and joy, knowing that their acts of generosity are a testament to their faith and commitment to serving others. Generosity, therefore, becomes a holistic practice that extends beyond financial giving to include all aspects of one's life. [42:51]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a non-material way you can be generous today, whether through your time, talents, or forgiveness. How can you intentionally practice this form of generosity?


Day 3: The Heart of Generosity
The true issue is not money itself but the love of money, which can lead individuals away from their faith. A mindset of generosity fosters gratitude and joyful giving, while a scarcity mindset breeds anxiety and discontent. By trusting in God's provision, believers can replace worry with peace and experience the joy of giving. This heart of generosity is cultivated through a deep trust in God, recognizing that He provides all that is needed. As individuals embrace this mindset, they find freedom from the anxieties of materialism and discover the blessings of a generous life. [46:07]

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with money. How can you cultivate a heart of generosity that prioritizes gratitude and trust in God's provision?


Day 4: Practical Steps to Cultivate Generosity
Embracing generosity involves taking practical steps that reflect one's trust in God and commitment to His purposes. These steps include tithing, living within one's means, and prioritizing giving. By implementing these practices, individuals demonstrate their faith and experience God's provision in unexpected ways. As believers cultivate generosity, they not only bless others but also grow in their spiritual journey, finding opportunities to serve and reflect God's love. These practical steps serve as tangible expressions of a life dedicated to stewardship and generosity. [48:18]

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one practical step you can take this week to cultivate generosity in your life. How can this step help you grow in your faith and trust in God's provision?


Day 5: God's Purpose in Blessing Us
God's blessings are not intended to increase our standard of living but to elevate our standard of giving. By being good stewards of what God has entrusted to them, believers can be a blessing to others and experience true life. Trusting in God, rather than in riches, allows individuals to find contentment and joy in His provision. This understanding of God's purpose in blessing us encourages a life of generosity, where the focus is on giving rather than accumulating. As believers embrace this calling, they discover the fulfillment and joy that comes from living a life aligned with God's purposes. [58:42]

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on how you view the blessings in your life. How can you use these blessings to elevate your standard of giving and be a blessing to others?

Quotes



"Stewardship is the active and responsible management of God's creation for God's purposes. And it really is a radical idea, even in Jesus' day, as it is for us now. And here's the reason why. Back in Jesus' days, there were two basic views of wealth. One was about non-ownership." [00:37:42] (23 seconds)


"And this theme runs throughout the whole Bible. In Leviticus chapter 25, we read, The land must not be sold permanently because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. This is God talking. Or Deuteronomy chapter 10, To the Lord your God belongs the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." [00:40:50] (24 seconds)


"The issue is the love of money, right? It's where we place our trust in money to provide the good life instead of trusting in God and that He will provide for our needs. You know, about 15 years ago, Dee and I, we went through a period where we felt the pain and the stress of debt." [00:44:48] (26 seconds)


"My attitude had to change. Right? I had to change from feeling entitled to being thankful. From, I deserve this to, well, actually, I get the privilege to do this. From, God, you owe me for all the work that I'm doing for you to, God, nothing I could do could ever pay, repay the debt of sin." [00:46:43] (25 seconds)


"A generosity mindset views the world with abundance. Seeing God as a provider and life as a gift. And so this actually fostered in me gratitude and joyful giving. And conversely, a scarcity mindset perceives that there is never enough. So we take whatever we can and then take some more because it will never be enough, right?" [00:47:32] (31 seconds)


"Generosity replaces worry with peace. It experiences enjoyment of what one has. It shifts hearts from scarcity to trust in God's provision. Money and happiness are still related actually by giving money away to others. And so we see money as a service. And as, and here's, the interesting one is this last one." [00:48:23] (24 seconds)


"Some of the things that we did was we committed to tithing, the biblical practice of giving 10 % of our income to God's work. And it was primarily through the local church. that we gave, but also we sponsored children through world vision and compassion. Another practical step that we took, so the first one was to ensure that out of everything that we received, our first fruits, the very first that we received, we put that aside for God." [00:49:35] (29 seconds)


"We became more generous with our time, with our talents and our resources. And God seemed to bless us with greater opportunities to trust Him and to be entrusted with more. Not necessarily more money, but actually entrusted with more joy, with more opportunities to bless others. And this is one of the most counterintuitive of all of Jesus' teachings, that I suppose goes against everything that we hear in this world." [00:51:43] (30 seconds)


"Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7, he says this, each of you should give what you have decided in your heart, to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. God loves a person who isn't coerced into giving a minimum percentage, but who prayerfully, actually prayerfully listens to God, to what is actually stirring in your heart and gives joyfully." [00:58:25] (32 seconds)


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Transcript
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