# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S297 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLES 295 What does God’s Word say about this? Rom. 12:4—-5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member be- longs to all the others. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Each one should use whatever gift he has re- ceived to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who be- long to the family of believers. (cf. 6:7-10) 1 Cor. 12:12-13 1 Peter 4:10 2 Cor. 8:13-14 Gal. 6:10 How is this done? As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will * emphasize the privilege and the accountability this privilege entails of being unique children of God with specific gifts that honor the Lord and bless others; recognize the personal and sensitive nature of the steward’s response; emphasize the truth that Christian stewards are members of the body of Christ and are in kingdom work together with fellow Christians; remind Christian stewards that God showers blessings upon those who manage them wisely and well for the common good. As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will not * emphasize one aspect or area of church work to the exclusion or detriment of others; * teach or influence in ways which minimize the stewards’ connections to and need for the rest of the body of Christ; * equate stewardship with merely meeting an organization’s budget or financial goal. V. GOD’S STEWARDS ARE IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD What does this mean? God’s stewards recognize that the Lord sets them apart from the world and by the transforming power of the Gospel sends them into the world to live out the Gospel. What does God’s Word say about this? Rom. 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and ap- prove what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (cf. John 20:21—23) The Lorb ... said to Abram, “Leave your coun- try, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I wil! show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I John 17:15~18 Gen. 12:1-3 Scripture quotations NIV® By permission of Zondervan will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” “T have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 How is this done? As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will emphasize how the Gospel transforms stewards’ attitudes in, about, and toward the world; emphasize the Christian witness of stewards in the decisions that are made; encourage the support of appropriate projects and activities both within and outside the church. As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will not * limit the scope of Christian stewardship only to “church related” proj- ects and activities; * use spiritually defective approaches and motivations from the world that are based mainly and primarily on the criterion that they “work”; ¢ forget the daily tensions and struggles of being God’s stewards in but not of the world. VI. GOD’S STEWARDS ARE LOVED AND LOVING What does this mean? God’s stewards recognize that their stewardship flows out of God’s act of love for them in Christ, which empowers them, in turn, to love others in acts of Christlike love. What does God’s Word say about this? 1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us. (cf. 1 John 4:11) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ jaid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. “A new command I give you: Love one an- other. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” The only thing that counts is faith expressing it- self through love. 1 John 3:16-18 John 13:34—35 2 Cor. 5:14-15 Gal. 5:6b How is this done? As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spint’s help, we wiill * emphasize that all activities of Christian stewards done in faith and love are properly Christian stewardship; * honor the choices God's people make as they exercise Christlike love; * use only those approaches, strategies, and methods that reflect the Gospel and build up the stewards’ faith active in love.