STEWARDS and their REWARDS

1 Cor 3: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1 Cor 3: each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

1 Cor 3: each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 Key verse: 13 “of what sort it is” not quantityquality

1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

I. The Character of a steward

I. The Character of a Steward The difference between a servant and a steward: r Let a man so consider us, as SERVANTS of Christ and STEWARDS of the mysteries of God.

1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and s tewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and s tewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. Stewards

I. The Character of a Steward The difference between a steward and a servant: The level of responsibility

I. The Character of a Steward The primary qualification of a steward: pistos

I. The Character of a Steward Pistos – First aspect: 1. Full of Faith

I. The Character of a Steward What faith is not: 1. A MAGIC LANTERN

I. The Character of a Steward What faith is not: 2. Hoping really hard

I. The Character of a Steward What faith is not: 3. Positive thinking

I. The Character of a Steward What faith is: Faith is hearing God speak and responding to Him with actions of obedience and attitudes of dependence on Him

I. The Character of a Steward Pistos – Second aspect: 2. Dependable

I. The Character of a Steward How do we develop?

II. The Responsibility of a Steward 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the MYSTERIES of God.

II. The Responsibility of a Steward The “mysteries of God” = New Covenant truth 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the MYSTERIES of God

Colossians. 1:26 The MYSTERY which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. WHAT IS MYSTERY?

Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY kept secret since the world began. WHAT IS MYSTERY?

Ephesians 3:4,5. by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the MYSTERY of the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: WHAT IS MYSTERY?

Mystery Examples

The Kingdom of God Mark 4:11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the MYSTERY of the KINGDOM OF GOD; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

Gentiles are fellow heirs Eph. 3:2-6 3 He made known to me the MYSTERY 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

Church as bride of Christ Eph. 5:25-32 Eph. 5:32 This is a great MYSTERY, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The indwelling Christ Col. 1:27 to make known what are the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

The ministry of the Holy Spirit 1 Cor 2: But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

The church raptured 1 Cor 15:51,52 51 Behold, I tell you a MYSTERY: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—

The blindness of he Gentiles until the fullness of the Gentiles Rom. 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this MYSTERY, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

II. The Responsibility of a Steward 1. Understanding

II. The Responsibility of a Steward 2. Teaching

III. The Role of a Steward

REMEMBER: The steward is not the head of the church

Jesus is

III. The Role of a Steward BUT the steward has... Great responsibility for the church

The steward cannot function well with great authority, if he has not learned to serve…

…and to be FAITHFUL

IV. The Judgment of a Steward

The Judgment of a Steward Not what people think 4:3 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by YOU or by a HUMAN COURT. In fact, I do not even judge myself..

The Judgment of a Steward Not what I think about myself 4:4 4a For I know of nothing against MYSELF, yet I am not justified by this.

The Judgment of a Steward BUT what the Lord thinks 4:4 4b but He who judges me is the Lord..

1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; and then each one’s praise will come from God.

Reward is on the basis of faithfulness to one’s stewardship