Stewardship and Community: Embracing God's Blessings Together
Summary
In the sermon, I was reminded of the importance of community and the role our church plays in it. Our church is not just a place of worship, but a hub for various activities that cater to different groups within the community. From fitness groups to scout troops, our church is a place that is always bustling with activity. We have opened our doors to the community, not charging rent for the use of our facilities, because we believe in doing things that matter and making our community a better place. This is made possible by the generous giving of our congregation, which allows us to maintain and improve our facilities for community use.
The sermon also touched on the topic of wealth and our attitude towards it. It emphasized that everything we have, including our wealth and opportunities, ultimately comes from God. It challenged us to shift our mindset from viewing what we have as ours to keep, to seeing it as God's and being willing to share it. This shift in perspective changes us from being owners to managers of our wealth, reminding us that we are stewards of God's blessings. It also highlighted the importance of trusting God with our finances and aligning our hearts with His will.
Key Takeaways:
- Our church is a community hub, not just a place of worship. This is a conscious decision to make a positive impact on our community. ([16:21])
- The generous giving of our congregation allows us to maintain and improve our facilities for community use. ([18:30])
- Everything we have, including our wealth and opportunities, ultimately comes from God. ([39:38])
- We are called to shift our mindset from viewing what we have as ours to keep, to seeing it as God's and being willing to share it. ([40:47])
- Trusting God with our finances is crucial, and it starts with aligning our hearts with His will. ([42:59])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. Our church is a community hub, providing a space for various activities and groups, all aimed at making our community a better place. This is a reflection of our commitment to doing things that matter and being a witness for Jesus. [16:21] [16:59] [17:30] [18:01]
2. Giving God our absolute best in all areas of our life is more than just attending service or reading the Bible. It's about how we live our lives every day, how we influence others, and how we make an impact on those around us. [47:17] [47:57]
3. We need to walk by faith, especially in areas where we struggle, such as finances. Trusting God in this area may not be easy, but it's a journey worth embarking on. [48:47] [49:16]
4. Understanding who we are, especially in relation to money, is crucial in getting our hearts in the right place. Whether we are financial nerds, free spirits, savers, or spenders, recognizing our tendencies can help us better manage our resources and trust God more. [43:38] [44:15] [44:49] [45:22]
5. Our giving is an act of trust in God and a way of supporting the work of the church in the community. When we give, we are helping the church do things that matter. [18:58] [19:29] [20:06]
Bible Passages for Group Reading:
1. Mark 12:30-31
2. Hebrews 11:6
3. Matthew 6:19-21
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the ways our church is making an impact in the community?
2. How does the pastor describe giving God our absolute best?
3. What does it mean to walk by faith in the area of finances?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Mark 12:30-31 relate to the idea of giving God our absolute best in all areas of our life?
2. How does Hebrews 11:6 challenge us to trust God more, especially in our finances?
3. In Matthew 6:19-21, what does Jesus teach about our attitude towards money and possessions?
Application Questions:
1. How can you contribute to the church's mission of making our community a better place?
2. In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to give God your absolute best? How can you improve in this area?
3. How can you grow in your faith and trust in God when it comes to your finances?
Devotional
Day 1: Give God the First Part of Every Day
Start each day by acknowledging God's presence and thanking Him for another day. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to do your Bible study first thing in the morning, but it does mean recognizing and acknowledging who God is as soon as you wake up. This sets the tone for the rest of your day and helps you keep God at the forefront of your mind. [54:17]
Bible Passage: Psalm 5:3 - "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
Reflection: How can you incorporate acknowledging God into your morning routine?
Day 2: Give God the First Word in Every Decision
Before making any decision, big or small, consult God first. Don't let your finances or any other worldly concerns be the primary filter for your decisions. Instead, lean on God and seek His guidance in all things. [55:22]
Bible Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What decision are you currently facing that you need to give to God?
Day 3: Give God the First Day of Every Week
Make it a priority to attend church services regularly. This is a way of giving God the first day of every week and being a part of what He's doing in your community. [56:10]
Bible Passage: Hebrews 10:25 - "Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you make attending church a priority in your weekly schedule?
Day 4: Give God the First Place in Your Heart
Don't let anything else, not your job, your career, or anything else take the first place in your heart. That place belongs to God. [57:32]
Bible Passage: Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: What is currently taking the first place in your heart that you need to surrender to God?
Day 5: Give God the First Portion of Your Income
When you give, it demonstrates where your faith is. Do you give after you've met all your other obligations, or do you give to God first? Consider how you can start giving God the first portion of your income. [56:53]
Bible Passage: Proverbs 3:9 - "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops."
Reflection: How can you adjust your budget to give God the first portion of your income?
Quotes
1. "Give God the first part of every day. Whatever it is, when your feet hit the floor, thank God for another day, thank God for another opportunity. That doesn't mean you have to do your Bible say then, but just recognize and acknowledge who he is." 54:48
2. "When we have a billboard up that says we do things that matter it extends all the way to helping the reaching the lost, helping the least and just doing things that make our community a better place so we can be a witness for Jesus and share his love to everybody." 18:01
3. "When it comes to your finances, where is your trust? Do you really trust God or are you putting your trust in something else? Are you trusting the world, our culture, your money, whatever it is that our culture says you should put your trust in, or are you trusting God?" 26:27
4. "How different would your life look, your financial life look, if you begin to get out of debt and all you had was your household finances? I want to tell you it's possible." 28:11
5. "Our hope, faith, significance, security is based on our trust and what's in our bank account, what's in our 401k. The problem is we're putting expectations on money that money can't deliver at least not for the long term. These things hope, faith, significance, security, these are things that can only be found in a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ." 37:00
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