LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Sheet 310

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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.