Growing Stewardship Or Service Part One

Review Knowing, Growing, Understanding, Living, Giving Structured plans work best God’s plans work best of all. Bible Study Prayer

Stewardship The conducting, supervising, or managing of something; The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care A servant who is given responsibility, and is held accountable

Stewardship 1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. Colossians 1:25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, Paul recognizes that his ministry is a stewardship.

Stewardship God has given us a stewardship. This happened the moment we became a Christian. God gave us a duty to perform, a ministry to serve, and a job to do. What is that job? Help people get to heaven. This is what we call “God’s eternal purpose”.

God’s Eternal Purpose 1 Peter 4:11 “Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen”.

God’s Eternal Purpose 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” God’s purpose is two-fold His own glory Our salvation Our job is to give God glory, and save ourselves and help others to be saved.

Various Ministries 1 Corinthians 12:4-10 (NKJV). “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. {5} There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. {6} And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. {7} But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: {8} for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, {9} to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, {10} to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues”.

Various Ministries Romans 12:3-8 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. {4} For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, {5} so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. {6} Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; {7} or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; {8} he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Various Ministries 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. {29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? {30} Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? {31} But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Our Ministry, My Ministry As a church/congregation we minister to our own, and we try to minister to outsiders. Individually, we each have a ministry or stewardship entrusted to us. While we serve in different ways, our goal should be towards the eternal purpose of God. His glory, and our salvation.

That God be glorified This is the very reason for our existence in the Body of Christ. This is the reason we obey God. This is the reason we keep His commandments, His way. Our very purpose in life has to be and must be to bring glory to God.

That God be glorified We do this when we obey Him. We do this when we cause others to obey God. Jesus talked about our light in Matthew 5:16 as being the guide to show others how to glorify God. God deserves this glory. We must do all that we can to see that He receives it.

Conclusion Paul was given a stewardship We also have a type of stewardship placed upon us when we become Christians. The purpose of our stewardship is twofold. That in all things God may be glorified. That we help each other get to heaven.