THE PULPIT: giving his gifts so his work can be done
The last three weeks, we have been looking at the great why question. We believe the why question is answered for us in four words: bow, share, grow, give. Last week we looked at the metaphor of the church as the volunteer fire department. They have a purpose, a mission and training. Their purpose is to protect people and property in the City of Toronto from loss due to fire. Their mission is putting out and preventing fires. And they must be trained to carry out their mission and fulfill their purpose.
Likewise, the church has a purpose, mission and training. Our purpose is worship: bowing our lives at the feet of the Father. Worship is all about God and God’s story. We gather together, we hear the Word of God, we respond to the Word, and we are sent into the world in mission. Our mission is outreach: sharing salvation from the cross of the Son. We care for and meet the needs of the bodies and souls of our neighbors. Our training is discipleship: growing in grace by the power of the Spirit. Discipleship is a Spirit-led community that equips, encourages and empowers worshippers to be whole and holy persons.
Let’s say those three phrases together, again they are bowing our lives at the feet of the Father, sharing salvation from the cross of the Son, growing in grace by the power of the Spirit. Let’s say those three together.
However, our metaphor is missing a piece. How are the firefighters to put out the fires? They have tools! But how do they get those tools? This morning we will be again be turning to the early church as an example of our church. Hear the Word of the Lord from Acts chapter 2.
READ ACTS 2:41-47
There once was a great king. As the king was preparing for a great journey, he called his most trusted servants to his throne room. He told them of the great adventure he would be undertaking in the very near future. They were stunned. “Who,” they asked, “will look over your kingdom while you are off on such an adventure?”
“Well,” he responded, “I am glad you asked. Really, that is exactly why I have called you here tonight. While I am gone, you will be in charge.” He divided his resources among them so that they each had ample resources to care for the kingdom. Then he left. The two stewards stood there pinching themselves, wondering if it had all been a crazy dream.
The first began chomping at the bit. She could not wait to start implementing some of the plans she had always made. She was a dreamer and her dreams were titanic. She left immediately with a spring in her step. She went to her half of the kingdom and began working. She had roads built and invested in many small businesses. She brought in experts to help the people learn better ways to farm. Since the sky was the limit, she aimed for the stars.
The second was far less decisive. He was very conservative. He was not a risk taker. He knew much could be done, but was afraid he might fail and squander the Kings great kingdom. So quietly, the second steward went to his half of the kingdom. He noted how it looked so he could make sure that when the king returned he found everything just as he had left it. He kept up on all the maintenance, made sure things didn't become too run down, and did a great job protecting the king’s valuable resources.
One early morning, the two stewards were again summoned to the king’s throne room. The king asked them how things went while he was away. The second steward spoke first. “I think you will find things exactly as you left them.” He gave back to the king the same resources he himself had been given some time ago. The king thought for a moment and replied, “Thank you for your service, you can go now.”
Then he turned to the second steward. “And how are things on your half of the kingdom,” he asked. She simply gave a whistle and two servants entered the throne room carrying ten times the resources the steward had been given. The king’s jaw hit the floor. “Where did all this come from?” he asked her. “Well, your majesty, I took what you gave and put it to use. We built roads and industry, agriculture and trade.”
“Very well done,” the king said as his smile beamed from ear to ear. “You will continue to oversee your half of the kingdom…and you will begin overseeing the other half!”
Last week we looked at the church as a volunteer fire department. This week I’d like to shift gears a bit and look at the church as a common clover. Clovers are fairly simple with just three leaves, and are yet very profound. St. Patrick made them famous as an illustration of God’s three-in-one nature. I think they serve us as a very good image of the church. The clover has three leaves, the church has three ministries: worship, outreach and discipleship. Our text is found in 1 Peter 4. Stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. 1 Peter 4:7-11. Hear the word of the Lord.
READ 1 PETER 4:7-11
Clovers are simple and beautiful, but they are not that way magically. They become three leaves…they become beautiful. They get that way through a life nourished by the nutrients in the ground. They become clovers by the sustaining resources of the ground. And how do those nutrients and resources get to the clover? They get to the leaves, through the stem. We can’t just show up and expect worship or outreach or discipleship to happen any more than we expect the three-leafed clover to just float around. Worship, outreach and discipleship don’t just exist. They happen only by the resources God gives. God doesn’t just pour his resources into worship and outreach and discipleship, God pours his resources into people. We are the roots that receive God’s many blessings and stewardship is the stem by which we give His gifts for His use. God’s resources are only used for ministry when we practice good stewardship. The church is only the church when we are giving His gifts so His work can be done. Again, giving His gifts so His work can be done. Say that with me three times: giving His gifts so His work can be done, giving His gifts so His work can be done, giving His gifts so His work can be done.
The first thing we notice about stewardship is the source. Every gift has a giver. Peter talks specifically about God’s words and God’s strength. Abram was not just somehow made great; rather God made him great. God is the source and owner of all things. The second thing we notice about stewardship is the receiver. Every gift is given to someone. Peter notes gifts given to each of [us]. In Genesis, God was not randomly blessing, but rather God blessed Abram. This concept of giver and receiver is the primary foundation of any biblical understanding of stewardship. Nothing we have is ours. Everything we have is God’s. I have been asked, more than once since coming here, about tithing. How much should we give? Should we give 10% before taxes or after taxes? Can we give more than 10%? The problem with such a question is that it assumes we are giving away our money. We are not giving our money; we are giving God’s money. The question we should be asking is, “God, how much of your money do you need?” We should not be trying to find out how to give as little as possible while still meeting some kind of standard, but rather we should be working hard to figure out how we can give as much as possible. It is ALL God’s. Stewardship begins with a thorough understanding that EVERYTHING is God’s and NOTHING is ours.
The third thing we notice is the gift itself. So often we hear the word stewardship and think to ourselves, “Here he goes again. Why does the preacher have to always go meddling in my money?” Stewardship is about money, but it is not only about money. It is about gifts. It is about blessings. It is about resources. Peter specifies only, “whatever gift each of you has received.” Abrams blessing is not specified. Only that he would be made great. Other places we find lists of gifts, but none are exhaustive. None is a complete list of gifts. Gifts are many and we each have a unique set of gifts.
Two of my roommates in college were business majors and I learned much from them. I recently was talking to one of them about this very issue. It was mentioned that in business there are many types of resources: capital resources, or money; real resources, or property; and human resources, or people. They also deal with time resources. For a business to do good business they have to manage all of these resources well. They have to use the money wisely. They have to put their properties to wise use. They have to have the right people doing what they are best suited for. They have limited time and it has to be used efficiently. The church can learn much from this view of stewardship. We have a set amount of time, property, money and people. Good stewardship asks how we can best use what we have been given. We must find our niche. We must determine what our gifts are and be the best at what we can be good at. Stewardship certainly includes money, but it is really all encompassing. ALL we have is a gift, a blessing with which God has entrusted us.
The last thing we notice is why the gift is given. If ALL we have is a gift, and it is a gift entrusted to us, then why was it entrusted to us? How should we respond to being entrusted with so many of God’s resources? We respond by giving – giving His gifts so His work can be done. ALL we have is a gift, a blessing with which God has entrusted us for the building of God’s kingdom.
Peter shows us that good stewards us their gifts to serve one another. Good stewards give God’s gifts back to others so that God may be glorified. Abram was promised a blessing. He was promised greatness. But he was not promised a blessing of greatness so Abram could be great, but that others, through Abram might also be great. “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing to others.” We see this concept lived out in the early church. “All were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” They all held all things in common. All their gifts were used as needed for the work of Christ.
While we have all these teachings and examples, this idea goes beyond teachings and examples to the very person of Christ the King! Christ is our King. Christ is a benevolent and gracious king putting all his gifts, blessings, and resources to use meeting the needs of the people of his kingdom. This is seen most clearly in His death. The most precious gift Christ has given is his very life. He did not hoard even his life. He gave it for our benefit. Stewardship is rooted in the very nature of Christ. It is understanding neither I nor my gifts are my own. They are God’s – for God to use as God sees fit. Stewardship is the stem of the clover that moves the necessary nutrients from the roots that receive them to the leaves that grow. Stewardship is giving His gifts so His work can be done. To the glory of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Likewise, the church has a purpose, mission and training. Our purpose is worship: bowing our lives at the feet of the Father. Worship is all about God and God’s story. We gather together, we hear the Word of God, we respond to the Word, and we are sent into the world in mission. Our mission is outreach: sharing salvation from the cross of the Son. We care for and meet the needs of the bodies and souls of our neighbors. Our training is discipleship: growing in grace by the power of the Spirit. Discipleship is a Spirit-led community that equips, encourages and empowers worshippers to be whole and holy persons.
Let’s say those three phrases together, again they are bowing our lives at the feet of the Father, sharing salvation from the cross of the Son, growing in grace by the power of the Spirit. Let’s say those three together.
However, our metaphor is missing a piece. How are the firefighters to put out the fires? They have tools! But how do they get those tools? This morning we will be again be turning to the early church as an example of our church. Hear the Word of the Lord from Acts chapter 2.
READ ACTS 2:41-47
There once was a great king. As the king was preparing for a great journey, he called his most trusted servants to his throne room. He told them of the great adventure he would be undertaking in the very near future. They were stunned. “Who,” they asked, “will look over your kingdom while you are off on such an adventure?”
“Well,” he responded, “I am glad you asked. Really, that is exactly why I have called you here tonight. While I am gone, you will be in charge.” He divided his resources among them so that they each had ample resources to care for the kingdom. Then he left. The two stewards stood there pinching themselves, wondering if it had all been a crazy dream.
The first began chomping at the bit. She could not wait to start implementing some of the plans she had always made. She was a dreamer and her dreams were titanic. She left immediately with a spring in her step. She went to her half of the kingdom and began working. She had roads built and invested in many small businesses. She brought in experts to help the people learn better ways to farm. Since the sky was the limit, she aimed for the stars.
The second was far less decisive. He was very conservative. He was not a risk taker. He knew much could be done, but was afraid he might fail and squander the Kings great kingdom. So quietly, the second steward went to his half of the kingdom. He noted how it looked so he could make sure that when the king returned he found everything just as he had left it. He kept up on all the maintenance, made sure things didn't become too run down, and did a great job protecting the king’s valuable resources.
One early morning, the two stewards were again summoned to the king’s throne room. The king asked them how things went while he was away. The second steward spoke first. “I think you will find things exactly as you left them.” He gave back to the king the same resources he himself had been given some time ago. The king thought for a moment and replied, “Thank you for your service, you can go now.”
Then he turned to the second steward. “And how are things on your half of the kingdom,” he asked. She simply gave a whistle and two servants entered the throne room carrying ten times the resources the steward had been given. The king’s jaw hit the floor. “Where did all this come from?” he asked her. “Well, your majesty, I took what you gave and put it to use. We built roads and industry, agriculture and trade.”
“Very well done,” the king said as his smile beamed from ear to ear. “You will continue to oversee your half of the kingdom…and you will begin overseeing the other half!”
Last week we looked at the church as a volunteer fire department. This week I’d like to shift gears a bit and look at the church as a common clover. Clovers are fairly simple with just three leaves, and are yet very profound. St. Patrick made them famous as an illustration of God’s three-in-one nature. I think they serve us as a very good image of the church. The clover has three leaves, the church has three ministries: worship, outreach and discipleship. Our text is found in 1 Peter 4. Stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. 1 Peter 4:7-11. Hear the word of the Lord.
READ 1 PETER 4:7-11
Clovers are simple and beautiful, but they are not that way magically. They become three leaves…they become beautiful. They get that way through a life nourished by the nutrients in the ground. They become clovers by the sustaining resources of the ground. And how do those nutrients and resources get to the clover? They get to the leaves, through the stem. We can’t just show up and expect worship or outreach or discipleship to happen any more than we expect the three-leafed clover to just float around. Worship, outreach and discipleship don’t just exist. They happen only by the resources God gives. God doesn’t just pour his resources into worship and outreach and discipleship, God pours his resources into people. We are the roots that receive God’s many blessings and stewardship is the stem by which we give His gifts for His use. God’s resources are only used for ministry when we practice good stewardship. The church is only the church when we are giving His gifts so His work can be done. Again, giving His gifts so His work can be done. Say that with me three times: giving His gifts so His work can be done, giving His gifts so His work can be done, giving His gifts so His work can be done.
The first thing we notice about stewardship is the source. Every gift has a giver. Peter talks specifically about God’s words and God’s strength. Abram was not just somehow made great; rather God made him great. God is the source and owner of all things. The second thing we notice about stewardship is the receiver. Every gift is given to someone. Peter notes gifts given to each of [us]. In Genesis, God was not randomly blessing, but rather God blessed Abram. This concept of giver and receiver is the primary foundation of any biblical understanding of stewardship. Nothing we have is ours. Everything we have is God’s. I have been asked, more than once since coming here, about tithing. How much should we give? Should we give 10% before taxes or after taxes? Can we give more than 10%? The problem with such a question is that it assumes we are giving away our money. We are not giving our money; we are giving God’s money. The question we should be asking is, “God, how much of your money do you need?” We should not be trying to find out how to give as little as possible while still meeting some kind of standard, but rather we should be working hard to figure out how we can give as much as possible. It is ALL God’s. Stewardship begins with a thorough understanding that EVERYTHING is God’s and NOTHING is ours.
The third thing we notice is the gift itself. So often we hear the word stewardship and think to ourselves, “Here he goes again. Why does the preacher have to always go meddling in my money?” Stewardship is about money, but it is not only about money. It is about gifts. It is about blessings. It is about resources. Peter specifies only, “whatever gift each of you has received.” Abrams blessing is not specified. Only that he would be made great. Other places we find lists of gifts, but none are exhaustive. None is a complete list of gifts. Gifts are many and we each have a unique set of gifts.
Two of my roommates in college were business majors and I learned much from them. I recently was talking to one of them about this very issue. It was mentioned that in business there are many types of resources: capital resources, or money; real resources, or property; and human resources, or people. They also deal with time resources. For a business to do good business they have to manage all of these resources well. They have to use the money wisely. They have to put their properties to wise use. They have to have the right people doing what they are best suited for. They have limited time and it has to be used efficiently. The church can learn much from this view of stewardship. We have a set amount of time, property, money and people. Good stewardship asks how we can best use what we have been given. We must find our niche. We must determine what our gifts are and be the best at what we can be good at. Stewardship certainly includes money, but it is really all encompassing. ALL we have is a gift, a blessing with which God has entrusted us.
The last thing we notice is why the gift is given. If ALL we have is a gift, and it is a gift entrusted to us, then why was it entrusted to us? How should we respond to being entrusted with so many of God’s resources? We respond by giving – giving His gifts so His work can be done. ALL we have is a gift, a blessing with which God has entrusted us for the building of God’s kingdom.
Peter shows us that good stewards us their gifts to serve one another. Good stewards give God’s gifts back to others so that God may be glorified. Abram was promised a blessing. He was promised greatness. But he was not promised a blessing of greatness so Abram could be great, but that others, through Abram might also be great. “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing to others.” We see this concept lived out in the early church. “All were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” They all held all things in common. All their gifts were used as needed for the work of Christ.
While we have all these teachings and examples, this idea goes beyond teachings and examples to the very person of Christ the King! Christ is our King. Christ is a benevolent and gracious king putting all his gifts, blessings, and resources to use meeting the needs of the people of his kingdom. This is seen most clearly in His death. The most precious gift Christ has given is his very life. He did not hoard even his life. He gave it for our benefit. Stewardship is rooted in the very nature of Christ. It is understanding neither I nor my gifts are my own. They are God’s – for God to use as God sees fit. Stewardship is the stem of the clover that moves the necessary nutrients from the roots that receive them to the leaves that grow. Stewardship is giving His gifts so His work can be done. To the glory of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
posted by EF + at 10:00 AM
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