Living as New Creations: Stewardship and Transformation
Summary
This morning, we explored what it means to live as a new creation, especially in the area of stewardship—how we handle the resources God has entrusted to us. I began with a personal story about finding a $20 note at the supermarket, a simple but real-life test of integrity and stewardship. This led us to the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, a man whose life was marked by disorder—he was a tax collector, wealthy at the expense of others, and despised by his community. Yet, when Jesus drew near to Zacchaeus, He didn’t reject him. Instead, Jesus affirmed Zacchaeus’s identity and called him to a reordered life, one marked by generosity and justice.
We considered how Zacchaeus’s encounter with Jesus led to a radical transformation. He didn’t just feel remorse; he acted, giving away half his possessions and making restitution. This wasn’t because Jesus demanded it, but because love had reordered his heart. The story challenges us to recognize the disorder in our own lives and in our world—whether it’s greed, self-interest, or the ways our culture encourages us to isolate and prioritize ourselves. Jesus steps into our disorder, not to condemn, but to invite us into a new way of living.
We reflected on the Shema from Deuteronomy—“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength”—and how Jesus expanded this commandment: to love our neighbor as ourselves. True stewardship, then, is not just about money or possessions, but about our whole lives—our time, energy, skills, and relationships. It’s about listening to the Spirit’s promptings and responding in love, whether we have much or little.
Stewardship is not a formula or a program; it’s a posture of the heart. Each of us is entrusted with different resources, and the call is to ask God, “How do you want me to steward what you’ve given me?” The Spirit leads us uniquely, and our responsibility is to listen and obey, trusting that God will use our faithfulness—however small—to bless others and glorify His name.
Key Takeaways
- Stewardship Begins with Identity, Not Resources
Zacchaeus’s transformation started when Jesus affirmed his identity as a son of Abraham, not when He gave him a list of rules. Our stewardship flows from knowing who we are in Christ—beloved, redeemed, and called. When we understand our true identity, generosity and justice become natural responses to God’s love. [42:32]
- Jesus Draws Near to Disorder, Not Perfection
Jesus intentionally sought out Zacchaeus, a man whose life was disordered and despised. He does the same with us, stepping into our mess and inviting us to reorder our lives around His love. The presence of Jesus is not a reward for having it all together, but an invitation to transformation. [46:27]
- True Repentance Results in Tangible Change
Zacchaeus didn’t just feel sorry; he made restitution and gave generously. Repentance is more than a change of mind—it’s a change of direction, seen in how we use our resources for the good of others. Our faith is authenticated by the practical ways we love our neighbor. [54:30]
- Stewardship Is About the Heart, Not the Amount
The call to stewardship is not reserved for the wealthy or those with abundance. Even those with little are called to steward what they have—time, skills, relationships—for God’s purposes. What matters is a heart that listens to the Spirit and responds in obedience, regardless of the size of our resources. [59:57]
- The Spirit Guides Us in Everyday Decisions
There is no universal blueprint for stewardship; the Spirit leads each of us uniquely. In moments of decision—big or small—we are invited to pray, “Give me wisdom to know what to do right now,” and then act on what we sense God is prompting. Faithfulness in small things prepares us for greater responsibility and impact. [01:01:24]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[41:03] - The $20 Note: A Test of Integrity
[41:44] - Zacchaeus: The Disordered Life
[42:32] - Jesus Seeks the Outcast
[44:17] - The Corruption of Tax Collectors
[45:26] - Social Ostracism and Jewish Law
[46:27] - The Depth of Zacchaeus’s Disorder
[54:30] - The Shema and Jesus’ Radical Expansion
[55:25] - Jesus’ Kenosis: Love in Action
[56:33] - Repentance and New Creation
[57:45] - God’s Entrustment and Human Failure
[59:03] - The Spirit’s Role in Stewardship
[59:57] - Stewardship for All, Not Just the Wealthy
[01:01:24] - Listening and Obeying the Spirit
[01:02:09] - The Right Call: Faithfulness in Small Things
[01:03:18] - Prayer and Sending Forth
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living as a New Creation—Stewardship and the Reordered Life
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### Bible Reading
- Luke 19:1-10 (The story of Zacchaeus)
- Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (The Shema: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength”)
- Matthew 22:34-40 (Jesus expands the greatest commandment: Love God and love your neighbor)
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### Observation Questions
1. In the story of Zacchaeus, what actions did he take after his encounter with Jesus? What did he say and do in response to Jesus coming to his house? ([41:44])
2. According to Deuteronomy 6:4-5, what does God command His people to do? How does this commandment shape the life of a faithful Jew? ([54:30])
3. When Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment in Matthew 22, how does He respond, and what new element does He add to the Shema? ([54:30])
4. In the sermon, what was the significance of the $20 note story? What did it reveal about the speaker’s understanding of stewardship? ([41:03])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to approach Zacchaeus, a man who was considered a social outcast and “sinner” by his community? What does this tell us about Jesus’ priorities? ([46:27])
2. The sermon says Zacchaeus’s transformation began when Jesus affirmed his identity, not when He gave him a list of rules. Why is identity so important in shaping our actions as followers of Jesus? ([42:32])
3. The speaker describes stewardship as a “posture of the heart” rather than a formula or program. What does it mean for stewardship to be about the heart, and how is this different from simply following rules or giving a set amount? ([59:57])
4. Jesus expands the Shema by adding “love your neighbor as yourself.” How does this change the way we think about what God expects from us in our daily lives? ([54:30])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon began with a real-life test of integrity: finding a $20 note at the supermarket. Have you ever faced a similar situation where you had to decide what to do with something that wasn’t yours? How did you respond, and what guided your decision? ([41:03])
2. Zacchaeus responded to Jesus by giving away half his possessions and making restitution. Is there an area of your life—money, time, skills, relationships—where you sense God inviting you to reorder your priorities or be more generous? What might that look like this week? ([41:44])
3. The speaker mentioned that stewardship is not just for the wealthy, but for everyone, regardless of how much or little they have. What resources (time, skills, relationships, finances) do you have that you could steward for God’s purposes right now? ([59:57])
4. The sermon challenged us to listen for the Spirit’s promptings in everyday decisions. Can you think of a recent moment when you sensed God nudging you to act in a certain way? How did you respond? If you missed the opportunity, what could you do differently next time? ([01:01:24])
5. Jesus draws near to our disorder, not our perfection. Is there an area of “disorder” in your life—something messy, broken, or out of alignment with God’s love—where you need to invite Jesus in? What would it look like to let Him reorder that area? ([46:27])
6. The Shema calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and Jesus adds loving our neighbor as ourselves. Who is a “neighbor” in your life right now that you find difficult to love? What is one practical step you could take this week to show them love? ([54:30])
7. The speaker encouraged us to pray, “Give me wisdom to know what to do right now.” Is there a decision or situation you’re facing where you need God’s wisdom? Would you be willing to share it with the group and pray for each other? ([01:01:24])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for open hearts to the Spirit’s leading, courage to act in obedience, and a deeper understanding of their identity in Christ as beloved, redeemed, and called to steward all of life for God’s glory.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Draws Near to the Disordered Life
No matter how disordered or broken a life may seem, Jesus does not shy away but instead draws near, offering love and restoration where others see only failure or sin. Zacchaeus, despised and ostracized for his choices and actions, experienced this firsthand when Jesus called him by name and chose to stay at his house, affirming his identity and opening the door to transformation. Jesus’ willingness to engage with those considered outcasts reveals the heart of God—a heart that seeks, saves, and restores the lost, inviting everyone into a new way of living. [42:32]
Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Reflection: Who in your life do you tend to avoid or judge as “too far gone”? How might you draw near to them with the love and acceptance of Jesus this week?
Day 2: Loving God with All That You Are
The call to love God is not just a command to be memorized but a way of life that shapes every decision, desire, and resource. Zacchaeus, though he knew the Shema by heart, had lived for himself until Jesus’ love awakened him to true devotion. Loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength means allowing His love to reorder your priorities, your use of time, and your stewardship of what you have, so that every part of your life reflects your relationship with Him. [54:30]
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV)
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life—time, energy, or resources—that you have not fully surrendered to God’s love? What step can you take today to offer it to Him?
Day 3: Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
Jesus extends the greatest commandment by linking love for God with love for neighbor, making it clear that genuine devotion to God is inseparable from practical care for others. This radical teaching calls you to look beyond your own interests and to steward your resources—whether much or little—for the good of those around you. True stewardship is not about the amount you possess but about the posture of your heart and your willingness to respond to the needs of others as an expression of God’s love. [55:25]
Matthew 22:35-40 (ESV)
And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Reflection: Who is one “neighbor” you can serve or encourage today in a tangible way, reflecting God’s love through your actions?
Day 4: Stewardship as an Expression of Love
Stewardship is not reserved for those with abundance but is a calling for every follower of Jesus, regardless of their circumstances. It is about listening for the Spirit’s promptings and using whatever you have—time, skills, finances, or experiences—to participate in God’s ongoing work of love in the world. When you are faithful with small things, you are prepared to be faithful with greater things, and your everyday choices become opportunities to glorify God and bless others. [59:57]
Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Reflection: What is one small act of stewardship—using your time, money, or abilities—that you sense God prompting you to do today? Will you follow through?
Day 5: Listening and Obeying the Spirit’s Prompt
The journey of stewardship is not about following a rigid plan but about cultivating a heart that listens for God’s voice and responds in obedience. The Spirit is present and active, guiding you in real-time decisions—whether it’s what to do with a found $20 note or how to use your influence for good. As you listen and act, you become a living witness to God’s love, and your ordinary moments are transformed into opportunities for His glory. [01:01:24]
James 1:22 (ESV)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Reflection: When was the last time you sensed God prompting you to act, but hesitated? What would it look like to listen and obey the Spirit’s leading today, even in a small way?
Quotes
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