NewLife Book 4: BAPTISM & CHURCH MEMBERSHIP We continue our study on baptism, following the acronym B-A-P-T-I-S-M. We are now looking at the word STEWARDSHIP. Believe Accept Prove Testify Instruct Stewardship Membership LESSON 6 STEWARDSHIP INTRODUCTION MANY people avoid attending church or Bible study because they say, “The church is all about money, it’s a business.” We have to admit: there are many so-called religions and religious leaders who misuse religion for their selfish financial and material gain. In fact, the Bible warns us against this evil, calling it the way or error of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). But Christ teaches clearly that if you want to be a true disciple of His, you need to have a new attitude toward money and wealth. You need to learn to practice STEWARDSHIP – this is the sixth thing you need to know before baptism. STEWARDSHIP 1. In your opinion: (a) What is stewardship? (b) Who is a steward? A steward is a person who has been put in change over someone else’s property. A steward is not the owner; he has been assigned to manage another person’s property according to the instructions of that owner. Stewardship is the work that a steward does. 2. According to the Bible who is the Creator and Owner of everything? (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1-2). 3. Who was placed by God as manager or steward over all creation? (Psalm 8:4-8) 4. When sin entered the world, human beings no longer remained as stewards; they began to act as if they were the owners of God’s creation. Their priorities changed from heavenly to earthly. According to 1 Timothy 6:10 what is a root of all evil? Please note: LOVE of money – not money itself – is a root of all evil. 5. To live as true disciples of Jesus we must overcome this root of all evil. To help us overcome the love of money, what does Christ command us in Matthew 6:19-21? How do we lay up treasures in heaven? By practicing STEWARDSHIP – by living the lifestyle of a steward. As Christian stewards we seek to answer this question: How can I use my life, time, energy, talent, money and everything I own for the glory of God and for the good of others and not only of myself? THE TITHE 6. To learn to be good stewards, we begin with our money, the most symbolic of all material possessions. Since the love of money is a root of all evil, how do we break this love of money? Let’s carefully study Malachi 3:8-11. (a) How much of your income does God command you to bring to His storehouse (in the Old Testament, the temple; in the New Testament, the church – Malachi 3:10) (b) What does God promise when we faithfully give our tithes (ten percent of our income)? (Malachi 3:10-11) (c) If we withhold the tithe, what kind of people do we become? (Malachi 3:8) (d) If we rob God of His tithes, what terrible thing will happen to us? (Malachi 3:9; Haggai 1:6) 7. The Bible uses the picture of sowing and reaping to demonstrate the principle of tithing. When you give the tithe to God, God will return it to you in multiplied blessings. This is like sowing and reaping. When the farmer sows the seed in the earth, the earth gives back the seed in multiplied harvest. But suppose that this year the farmer refuses to sow his seed; instead, he eats all the seeds. Can that farmer expect to harvest again? Please write your answer below. 8. Some people object: “The law of the tithes is only in the Old Testament. It is no longer commanded in the New Testament.” That is true. But the principle of giving and receiving, sowing and reaping never changed in the New Testament. Please summarize meaning of the following verses in your own words: Luke 6:38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. Stewardship begins with money, but stewardship includes everything – our life, time, talents, jobs, everything. What does God command us to do with our life and everything that we have? (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) THREE REASONS 10. There are three reasons why we give: (a) To support the needs and ministries of the church; (b) To support missions and missionaries; (c) To supply the needs of people, specially of fellow Christians. PERSONAL APPLICATION 11. When you give your tithes and offerings, you are telling God the following (please underline the statements that agree with): • God, I acknowledge that You are the Creator and Owner of everything. • God, I admit that I don’t own anything; I am only Your steward and manager. • God, I recognize that You give me life and health and strength and the ability to work and to earn a living. • God, I believe in Your promise that when I am faithful in giving the tithes and offerings, You will multiply Your blessings upon my life. • God, I believe that even when my income is small, when I give the tithes and offerings I will not run out but You will surely supply what I lack. 12. MEMORIZE: Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. – Luke 6:38 Note: You will learn more about STEWARDSHIP in NewLife Book 6, Lesson 3.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 22:44:10 +0000
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