1. THE CHRISTIAN AND STEWARDSHIP Presented by Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr.

2. Of what are we to be stewards? A steward is “a manager or superintendent of another’s household.” We are stewards of all that God possesses, and His possessions include our money, our talents, our minds, our bodies and the time we live in this world. God owns everything. He is the creator and sustainer of the universe. “Christ, Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; for by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him; and He is before all things and by Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:15-17). What is a Christian Steward?

3. A Christian steward is one who realizes that as Christians “we live, and move, and have our being” in Christ. The Christian steward recognizes God as his preeminent master, and live for Him. The whole of the Christian’s life – his personality, time, talent, influence, material substance, everything – is dedicated to Christ. This is true Christian stewardship. “Each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). “For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [His pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]” (2 Corinthians 5:10). What is a Christian Steward?

4. So we see that God really does own everything. Therefore we own nothing and are only stewards of what He gives us. God holds the key to every material and spiritual thing, and the only reason that we have had anything, or have it now, or will have it, is that God loves us enough to give it to us. What is a Christian Steward?

5. 1. What does Paul teach about steward in 1 Corinthians 4:2? 2. What are some areas in which God expects you to be a faithful steward? Proverbs 3:9-10___________________________________________________________ Romans 12:6 _____________________________________________________________ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ______________________________________________________ Ephesians 5:15-16 _________________________________________________________ 3. What is the basis on which servants are found faithful? Matthew 25:14-30 THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

6. USE OF TIME Every man, woman, and child has been entrusted with 168 hours each week. Are you investing your time wisely each week, or are you spending it? Spending it is final, while an investment produces a return. How you use your time indicates your real priorities. 4.Read Matthew 6:25-34. a.What two things are believers told to seek? Verse 33 b.Define the kingdom of God. c.Define the righteousness of God. d.Now write Matthew 6:33 in your own words, using your definitions for God’s kingdom and righteousness. THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

7. 5. Read verses 4-5 and 12 of 1 Timothy 3. In God’s value system, what comes before caring for the church? 6. How important did Paul consider work? 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 7. Numbering the following items in order of priority as they currently exist in your life. Then number them again according to what you think are God’s priorities for your life. THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

8. EXISTING PRIORITIES ________Job (your chosen profession or occupation) ________God (developing your relationship with Him) ________Family (your loving care and instruction) ________Ministry (your personal outreach and witness) ________Other (personal emphasis-social activities, hobbies, entertainment) THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD GOD’S PRIORITIES ______

9. 8.After comparing God’s priorities with yours, you may want to make changes in your weekly schedule so that what you do coincides with God’s priorities for your life. Is there any change in your weekly schedule that you believe you should make? If so, write it here: You should continually evaluate how you invest your time, and maintain the right balance in the different activities God wants you to be involved in. 9. Read Ephesians 5:15-21. What does Paul say about making the best use of time? How can you put his advice into practice? THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

10. How to make wise use of your time: Prayerfully planning- List things to be done in order of priorities. (Good things in life can often crowd out the best things.) Obedient selection – Do the most important tasks first, and in faith commit unfinished ones to the Lord. (Many things that initially appear urgent may not be.) Concentration and diligence – Do the task you select wholeheartedly. Do one thing at a time and stay with it until it is finished. THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

11. USE OF GIFTS 10.How should we use the gifts God has given us? 1 Peter 4:10 11. Read Romans 12:3-8 a. List the different gifts God gives to Christians b. How should a believer view himself and his gifts? Verse 3 God has designed each person’s appearance, voice pattern, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and other characteristics, as well as his spiritual gifts. Each person is to share himself in the body of Christ by demonstrating Christlike attitudes, God-given resources.

12. USE OF MONEY 12. Why is it important to have the proper attitude toward money? 1 Timothy 6:10 13. Read 2 Corinthian 9. What principles of giving can you discover in each of the following verses? Verse 6 Verse 7 Verse 8 Verse 12 Verse 13 Verse 15

13. Many Christians have found a regular plan for giving to be both scriptural and practical. Planning ensures against irregular or unwise giving or neglect. In a day when so many demands are made on your time and money, planned giving helps you honor the Lord with your possessions. Your plan should include these steps: 1. Thoughtfully decide what percentage of your income you will return to the Lord; a minimum percentage should be a tenth. 2.Set aside the Lord’s portion first whenever you receive money. Put this aside to be used as He leads; once set aside it is His and should not be used for other purposes. 3. Prayerfully distribute the Lord’s money as He directs. It is usually good to do this at a regular time – weekly or monthly. Make extra gifts and increase your giving as God increases your faith, and as he prospers you. As you trust God with your material resources, He will trust you with his spiritual resources – He has committed himself to this principle (Luke 16:9-12;Philippians 4:17) THE PERSON WHO DEDICATES HIS MOMEY TO GOD IS DEDICATING HIMSELF – THE FIRST FRUIT OF HIS TIME, TALENT, AND ENERGY. ONE WHO FAILS TO DEDICATE HIS MONEY HAS NOT FULLY COMMITTED HIMSELF TO GOD.

14. DEUT. 16:17 II COR. 8:12 MT. 6:1-4 MT 10:8 ROM. 12:8 1 COR. 9:6-8 STEWARDSHIP & TITHING SCRIPTUAL REFERENCES ACTS 5:1 EX. 20:17 LK. 12:15 ROM. 12:1 HEB. 13:16 PS. 107:22 PS. 116:17 JER. 17:26 PS. 34:14 DT. 8:18 ECC. 5:19 PS. 37:3

15. 1.Do I tithe on my gross or net income? A. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 2. Must I tithe every Sunday? A. _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 3. I’m on fixed income, or unemployed, or my income varies, or I’m a young person on allowance: Can I tithe? A.________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ FIFTEEN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON TITHING

16. 4.I have a second source of income in addition to my main one: Do I have to tithe on both incomes? A. _________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 5.Can I give more than ten percent? A. ________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 6.Can I divide my tithe with other churches or other worthy causes? A. __________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ FIFTEEN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON TITHING (cont’d)

17. 7.Can my tithe cover my spouse and myself? A. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 8.I can hardly pay my bills now: How can I afford to tithe? A. ___________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 9.Hardly anyone at church tithes, including ministers and officers: Why should I tithe if they don’t? A. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ FIFTEEN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON TITHING (cont’d)

18. 10. I would hate to start something and then not be able to continue: Should I begin the tithe when I’m not certain? A. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ 11.After I buy all the tickets and attend all the fundraisers at my church, I probably am tithing when you add it all up: Isn’t that enough? A. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 12.If I do tithe, will I still have to give in all those other offerings that Reverend has? A. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ FIFTEEN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON TITHING (cont’d)

19. 13. If I tithe, won’t people be able to figure out how much money I make? A. _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 14.Why should I give more money when I don’t know what they’re doing with the money that I give now? A. _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 15. Will I go the heaven, because I tithe? Will I go to hell because I don’t tithe? A. _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ FIFTEEN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON TITHING (cont’d)