Stewardship, Inclusivity, and Urgency in Christ's Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Holistic Stewardship

Stewardship is not merely about being frugal or wise with money; it's about recognizing that every aspect of life is an opportunity to serve and glorify God. Whether it's time, talents, or treasure, each has been entrusted to individuals by the Creator, and how they are used reflects one's understanding of divine responsibility. It's about aligning one's heart with God's purposes, seeking to invest in what is eternal. This means prioritizing spiritual growth, serving others, and contributing to the work of the church and the broader community. It's a call to view every resource as a tool for ministry and every moment as a chance to display God's love. [01:02:39]

"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:34-36 ESV)

Reflection: How can you use a specific talent or resource you possess to serve someone in your community this week?

Day 2: Shrewdness for the Sake of the Kingdom

The parable of the shrewd manager is a lesson in using earthly wisdom for heavenly purposes. It's not about self-serving cunning but about leveraging one's position, influence, and resources to benefit others and further the kingdom of God. This kind of shrewdness is commendable when it's used to build relationships, help those in need, and ensure that one's actions have an eternal impact. It's a reminder to be intentional and strategic with the resources at hand, not for personal gain but to make a difference in the lives of others and to store up treasures in heaven. [33:52]

"Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings." (Luke 16:9 ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can use your resources this week to build a relationship or serve someone outside of your usual circle?

Day 3: Inclusivity as a Biblical Mandate

The gospel of Christ is a message of inclusivity, breaking down barriers of ethnicity, status, and background. The story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10 exemplifies this, showing that the good news is for all people. This inclusivity should be reflected in the church community, where everyone is welcome and valued. It's a call to actively work towards creating a space where diversity is celebrated and unity is fostered, mirroring the kingdom of God. It's about extending the love of Christ to every person, regardless of their past or present, and inviting them into a relationship with God. [41:06]

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place." (Acts 17:26 ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to making your church or faith community more welcoming to individuals from different backgrounds this week?

Day 4: The Urgency of Gospel Proclamation

Time is fleeting, and the urgency to share the gospel is paramount. Like the shrewd manager who acted quickly to secure his future, believers are called to recognize the brevity of life and the pressing need to share Christ's love and message of salvation. Every encounter is an opportunity to demonstrate the hope found in Jesus, and every day is a chance to guide someone towards eternal life. It's about living with purpose, seizing the moment, and being proactive in evangelism, knowing that the time to act is now. [01:01:10]

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time." (Colossians 4:5 ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can share the gospel with this week, and what is a practical step you can take to prepare for that conversation?

Day 5: Generosity as a Reflection of Christ

Generosity is a defining characteristic of a life transformed by the gospel. It's about giving freely and abundantly, just as Christ has given to humanity. This generosity extends beyond financial contributions to include time, attention, and love. It's about being open-handed with all that one has, serving strangers and those in need, and reflecting the boundless love of God. It's a call to live generously in all areas, demonstrating through actions the grace that has been received. [55:15]

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV)

Reflection: What is one act of generosity you can commit to this week that goes beyond your normal giving, whether it be of your time, resources, or love?

Sermon Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound implications of stewardship and accountability as followers of Christ. We delved into the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16, which Jesus used to teach His disciples about the wise use of resources. The parable tells of a manager who, upon learning of his imminent dismissal, reduced the debts of his master's debtors to secure a future for himself. While the master commended the manager's shrewdness, Jesus used this story to challenge us to use our worldly resources to benefit others and make eternal friends.

We examined the concept of accountability before God, emphasizing that we will all stand before Christ to give an account of our actions, words, and thoughts. We are reminded that every resource we have, whether it be time, health, intellect, or financial means, is a gift from God and should be used for His glory. The message is not solely about financial stewardship but extends to making disciples and building relationships within the church community.

We also discussed the importance of inclusivity in the church, reflecting on the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Peter's vision and subsequent actions demonstrated that the gospel is for everyone, regardless of background or status. This serves as a reminder that we must be willing to share the message of Jesus with all people.

Finally, we were encouraged to live with a sense of urgency, recognizing that our time is limited and that we should use our resources to advance God's kingdom. We were called to be generous, not only with our finances but also with our time and efforts in sharing the gospel.

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the parable of the shrewd manager, what actions did the manager take upon learning of his imminent dismissal? ([32:31])
How did the master react to the shrewd manager's actions, and what lesson did Jesus draw from this reaction? ([33:11])
What vision did Peter have in Acts 10, and how did it challenge his existing beliefs? ([39:24])
How did Cornelius respond to Peter's message, and what was the significance of his response? ([41:51])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus commend the shrewd manager's actions, and what does this teach us about the use of worldly resources? ([33:11])
How does the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10 illustrate the concept of inclusivity in the church? ([41:06])
What does it mean to live with a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel, as illustrated by the shrewd manager's quick actions? ([01:01:10])
How does the parable of the shrewd manager challenge our understanding of stewardship and accountability before God? ([33:52])

Application Questions

Reflect on your current use of resources. Are there areas where you could be more generous or intentional in using them for God's glory? ([55:15])
How can you actively work to ensure that your church community is welcoming and inclusive to all people, reflecting the diversity and unity of the kingdom of God? ([41:06])
Identify one person in your life who may be seeking hope and salvation. What specific steps can you take this week to share the love of Christ with them? ([01:01:10])
Think about a recent situation where you had to make a quick decision. How did your faith influence your actions, and how can you apply the lesson of the shrewd manager to future decisions? ([33:11])
Consider the various gifts and resources you have been entrusted with. How can you better align your heart with God's purposes and invest in the eternal rather than the temporal? ([33:52])
Reflect on a time when you felt excluded or unwelcome. How can that experience inform your efforts to create a more inclusive environment in your church? ([41:06])
What practical steps can you take to live with a greater sense of urgency in your mission to share the gospel? How can you avoid wasting opportunities to share the love of Christ? ([01:01:10])

Sermon Clips

1) "Jesus was given an example on how cleverly the world meets how cleverly worldly people can be when they act in their own interest and he's going to challenge us as managers we've got the interest of God how how good can we be with God's reason how good can we be with God's reason." [51:49]( | | )

2) "If you have accepted Jesus Christ and he's given you a little how well have you used it if you have accepted Jesus Christ and he's given you a good mind how well have you used it if you have accepted Jesus Christ and he's given you good health how well have you used it." [01:03:16]( | | )

3) "This message is not just about your financial resources one of the things I long to see in our church is us continually making disciples for those of you who have been around for a couple of years look at all the fresh faces that are here." [01:04:36]( | | )

4) "There's an urgency the manager the manager absolutely knew the urgency the Pharisees and the religious leaders they did not know oh what's he doing eating with Sinners and tax collectors who else did Jesus come to reach." [01:05:50]( | | )

5) "The message today is not hidden you can all see that now you know what it says you know what's in there same is true with us today the message is this Jesus died for us he's forgiven us and through through the blood of Jesus Christ we are forgiven for our sins." [01:06:34]( | | )

6) "Be generous like the farmer who SWS seeds scatters it everywhere he doesn't care whether it falls on the rocks or the sand or the gravel or the bushes he doesn't care because he knows eventually he's is going to se drop so generous be generous with your time Treasures." [01:07:16]( | | )

7) "Use your money to make Eternal friends use your worldly resources to benefit others and to make friends how generous are you toward other people when you when comes time for your resources and somebody has a need what do you do do you pass that up do you let it go." [55:15](Download clip | | )

8) "How are you doing financially how are you doing with your resources how are you using your resources to advance the kingdom of God see that's number four the fourth one is use what time you have with a sense of urgency." [01:01:10]( | | )

9) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can be also trusted with much if God has given you some resources are you a wise Steward of those resources do you know do you live with a budget do you live within your budget do you live within the means." [58:35]( | | )

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