1. GOD EXPECTS YOU TO BE A STEWARD

2. 1. Where did Wall Street Go Wrong?

3. a. Risked loaning mortgages to high risk people.

4. 1. Where did Wall Street Go Wrong? a. Risked loaning mortgages to high risk people. b. Poor stewards of other people’s money.

5. 2. Where did Main Street go wrong?

6. a. Buy more house than they could afford.

7. 2. Where did Main Street go wrong? a. Buy more house than they could afford. b. Assume property value would continue to increase.

8. 2. Where did Main Street go wrong? a. Buy more house than they could afford. b. Assume property value would continue to increase. c. Caught with decreased valued home they couldn’t sell.

9. 3. What were the false attitudes here?

10. Greed & not being aware of the concept of stewardship.

11. 3. What were the false attitudes here? Greed & not being aware of the concept of stewardship. So - what is the biblical plan of stewardship?

12. I Corinthians 4:1-2 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

13. I. What’s a Steward?

14. A. Definition: a steward is a manager - Genesis 39:1-6. I. What’s a Steward?

15. A. Definition: a steward is a manager - Genesis 39:1-6. B. Faithfulness is essential of a good steward. I. What’s a Steward?

16. B. Faithfulness is essential of a good steward. 1. Always be ready to serve. Luke 12:35-36 - Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. I. What’s a Steward?

17. B. Faithfulness is essential of a good steward. 2. You must prove yourself faithful. I Corinthians 4:1-2 - So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I. What’s a Steward?

18. B. Faithfulness is essential of a good steward. 3. You must use your spiritual gifts. I Peter 4:10 - Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. I. What’s a Steward?

19. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

20. A. God owns everything. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

21. A. God owns everything. 1. He owns the world. Psalm 24:1-2 - The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

22. A. God owns everything. 2. He owns you. Exekiel 18:4 - For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

23. A. God owns everything. 3. He owns everything you possess. I Chronicles 29:14 - But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

24. A. God owns everything. B. God holds each of you accountable. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

25. 1. For your very words. Matthew 12:36 - But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

26. 2. God calls a fool those who focus all their efforts into accumulating possessions for themselves. Luke 12:20 - But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

27. 3. God calls worthless the person who doesn’t use his gifts for the Lord. Matthew 12:30 - And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward?

28. I. What’s a Steward? II. Why Does God Expect You to Be a Steward? III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

29. A. You dedicate everything to the Lord. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

30. A. You dedicate everything to the Lord. 1. You are acknowledging His authority over you. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

31. A. You dedicate everything to the Lord. 1. You are acknowledging His authority over you. 2. “Walking in the Spirit” means considering what the Lord would want to be done in every decision. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

32. B. Use wisdom in your spending. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

33. B. Use wisdom in your spending. 1. Get a return on your money. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

34. B. Use wisdom in your spending. 1. Get a return on your money. 2. Remain debt free! Romans 13:8 - Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another... III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

35. C. Steps to achieving biblical stewardship. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

36. C. Steps to achieving biblical stewardship. 1. Decide not to go into debt for a depreciable item. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

37. C. Steps to achieving biblical stewardship. 1. Decide not to go into debt for a depreciable item. 2. Pay off current debts as soon as you can. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

38. 3. What do you do with the left over money? (Thomason’s Opinion) III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

39. 3. What do you do with the left over money? (Thomason’s Opinion) a. Put ½ into savings. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

40. 3. What do you do with the left over money? (Thomason’s Opinion) b. Put ½ into the offering plate (in addition) until you reach the tithe. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

41. Malachi 3:8-10 - “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse — the whole nation of you — because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it”. III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

42. 3. What do you do with the left over money? (Thomason’s Opinion) c. Thank God for His abundant blessings! III. What Does a Good Steward Do?

43. Apply these principles to your life! “You will know the truth & the truth will set you free.” John 8:32