59 Stewardship seems to be a particularly Presbyterian emphasis. Your personal experience of this word may be annual, during your congregation’s fall “stewardship campaign” designed to invite your financial pledge for the coming year. You may be familiar with the idea that Christians are called to steward “time, talent, and treasure,” which in common usage refers to the giving or sharing of all three with the church. But the concept of stewardship is far richer and more encompassing than these interpretations. There are at least two catalysts for a broader view of stewardship: The first scenario goes back to the Garden of Eden, in which God gives Adam and Eve the charge to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, tend “the garden,” and have dominion over creation (Genesis 1:28, 2:15). As representatives of the Creator, human beings are charged with managing everything God possesses (which is the entire earth, Psalm 24:1), enacting God’s will for creation’s benefit, and sustaining God’s resources. If God owns everything and even we are his, then as stewards we are entrusted with our children, our homes, gardens, workplaces, and neighborhoods. These people and things are not ours, but God’s, and that is going to make a big difference in how we relate to them. Take our children, for instance. When Mary’s first daughter was born, she and her husband were overwhelmed with the gift God had given them. In fact, within minutes of her birth, Andy lifted the baby high and presented her to God, even as we gratefully took her into our care. Who would know that within eight days her health would be threatened by a condition that needed immediate medical intervention? As Mary sat in the hospital cafeteria exhausted and weeping, the only true consolation was the knowledge that this infant was truly in God’s hands and we were doing everything in our power to take care of her. The next scenario is the Church, where stewardship implies that even our ministry calling is a gift and a charge, to enjoy what has been given and to use it faithfully according to Christ’s call. The ministry of the church is not shaped by our imaginations or organizational savvy, but by Christ’s own ministry and commission to us. Christ ministered as prophet, priest, and King. If we are to represent Christ in our community and world, we too are going to engage in ministry that is prophetic, priestly, and Kingdom-centered. This would move us to exercise our stewardship in the world by telling the truth about God and humanity, by demonstrating compassion amidst the world’s suffering, by shepherding people and movements toward obedience to God, and by standing for justice and righteousness in all things.
Transcript
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Stewardship seems to be a particularly Presbyterian emphasis. Your personal experience of this word may be annual, during your congregation’s fall “stewardship campaign” designed to invite your financial pledge for the coming year. You may be familiar with the idea that Christians are called to steward “time, talent, and treasure,” which in common usage refers to the giving or sharing of all three with the church. But the concept of stewardship is far richer and more encompassing than these interpretations. There are at least two catalysts for a broader view of stewardship:
The first scenario goes back to the Garden of Eden, in which God gives Adam and Eve the charge to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, tend “the garden,” and have dominion over creation (Genesis 1:28, 2:15). As representatives of the Creator, human beings are charged with managing everything God possesses (which is the entire earth, Psalm 24:1), enacting God’s will for creation’s benefit, and sustaining God’s resources. If God owns everything and even we are his, then as stewards we are entrusted with our children, our homes, gardens, workplaces, and neighborhoods. These people and things are not ours, but God’s, and that is going to make a big difference in how we relate to them.
Take our children, for instance. When Mary’s first daughter was born, she and her husband were overwhelmed with the gift God had given them. In fact, within minutes of her birth, Andy lifted the baby high and presented her to God, even as we gratefully took her into our care. Who would know that within eight days her health would be threatened by a condition that needed immediate medical intervention? As Mary sat in the hospital cafeteria exhausted and weeping, the only true consolation was the knowledge that this infant was truly in God’s hands and we were doing everything in our power to take care of her.
The next scenario is the Church, where stewardship implies that even our ministry calling is a gift and a charge, to enjoy what has been given and to use it faithfully according to Christ’s call. The ministry of the church is not shaped by our imaginations or organizational savvy, but by Christ’s own ministry and commission to us. Christ ministered as prophet, priest, and King. If we are to represent Christ in our community and world, we too are going to engage in ministry that is prophetic, priestly, and Kingdom-centered. This would move us to exercise our stewardship in the world by telling the truth about God and humanity, by demonstrating compassion amidst the world’s suffering, by shepherding people and movements toward obedience to God, and by standing for justice and righteousness in all things.
– Participant’s Guide Lesson 8: STEWARDSHIP The Essential Tenets
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Going back to the lesson on Election, we were reminded that the church does not exist merely for its own wellbeing. We are “blessed to be a blessing.” That blessing takes many forms in the life and ministry of the Church. A study of stewardship certainly invites us all to consider how our congregation’s ministry might embody Christ’s three-fold ministry more comprehensively.
But the plot thickens. To do this requires heart, mind, soul, and strength. By committing ourselves to loving God with all that we have, we are taking the first step toward this kind of all-inclusive stewardship. But we also realize that unless our hearts, minds, souls, and wills have undergone the thorough overhaul of the Holy Spirit, our oversight of God’s creation can degenerate into tyranny or exploitation. Presbyterians are quite clear on this: every aspect of human existence—body, mind, emotions, spirit—is in need of God’s redeeming power. But just think, the more we experience the gracious work of Jesus in our midst, the more we have to share as a blessing to others. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). In other words, we are good stewards of the blessing we have received when we pass those blessings along to the next person who needs them. Have we been blessed with the word of truth? Then we proclaim it with conviction. Have we been met with the tender mercies of God’s forgiveness? Then we forgive others and foster reconciliation. Have we experienced the healing release characteristic of God’s kingdom? Then we advocate for justice. Anything is possible when the Church exercises its prophetic, priestly, and Kingdom service in humble reliance upon Jesus, Lord of all, Head of the Church, and Shepherd of our souls.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CLASS
1. Have you ever served as an elder or deacon? What did you enjoy? What would you like to have done differently?
2. Have you ever participated in a mission project outside of your community? What did you do? How did it benefit others? How did it affect you?
3. Have you ever shared the gospel with anyone and invited him/her to surrender to Christ’s Lordship? Describe you experience.
GOT QUESTIONS?
After completing the reading homework on the next page, what questions would you like to hear addressed during the class time? Write them here:
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Day One: MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH. Mk 1:9-11; Matt 28:16-20; Jn 17:1-5; Lk 21:5,6. Mk 2:1-12
Day Two: MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH (cont.). Acts 6:2-4; I Tim 3:1, 8; Acts 2:17-18; Acts 16:13-15.
Day Three: MINISTRY TO THE WORLD. Matt 28:16-20; Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4; Phil 1:29; I Tim 2:13; Phil 2:5-11.
Day Four: MINISTRY FROM THE HEART AND MIND. Mk 12:30; Lk 14:26-27; Rom 8:5-8; Col 2:6-8 I Cor 1:20; Rom 12:1-2
Day Five: 2nd Helvetic, Ch. XVIII (5.146); C67, Part II, Section A (2) (9.39–9.40)
Day Six: Barmen, II (8.14); Westminster, Ch. XXXV, 4 (6.190).
– Participant’s Guide Lesson 8: STEWARDSHIP The Essential Tenets
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I. MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH
Scriptures :
Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 28:16-20
John 17:1-5; Luke 21:5-6
Mark 2:1-12
Acts 6:2-4; I Timothy 3:1 & 8
Acts 2:17-18; Acts 16:13-15
Creeds, Confess ions , and Catechisms:
SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION, CHAPTER XVIII; Of the Ministers of the Church, Their Institution and Duties (BOC, 5.146)
CHRIST THE TEACHER. After these the heavenly Father even sent his only-begotten Son, the most perfect teacher of the world; in whom is hidden the wisdom of God, and which has come to us through the most holy, simple, and most perfect doctrine of all. For he chose disciples for himself whom he made apostles. These went out into the whole world, and everywhere gathered together churches by the preaching of the Gospel, and then throughout all the churches in the world they appointed pastors or teachers according to Christ’s command; through their successors he has taught and governed the Church unto this day.
WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM (BOC, 7.023–7.026)
Q23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.
Q24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
Q25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.
Q26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king
A. Christ executeth the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
THE CONFESSION OF 1967, PART II, THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION, Section A. The Mission of the Church, 2. Forms and Order (BOC, 9.39–9.40)
In recognition of special gifts of the Spirit and for the ordering of its life as a community, the church calls, trains, and authorizes certain members for leadership and oversight. The persons qualified for these duties in accordance with the polity of the church are set apart by ordination or other appropriate act and thus made responsible for their special ministries.
The church thus orders its life as an institution with a constitution, government, officers, finances, and administrative rules. These are instruments of mission, not ends in themselves. Different orders have served the gospel, and none can claim exclusive validity . . .
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BRIEF STATEMENT OF FAITH. (BOC, 10.4 [58-64])
We trust in God the Holy Spirit, . . . The same Spirit who . . .calls women and men to all ministries of the Church.
Essential Tenet
The ministries of the church reflect the three-fold office of Christ as prophet, priest and king—reflected in the church’s ordered ministries of teaching elders, deacons, and ruling elders. We affirm that men and women alike are called to all the ministries of the Church, and that every member is called to share in all of Christ’s offices within the world beyond the church.”
II. MINISTRY TO THE WORLD
Scriptures :
Matthew 28:16-20
Acts 1:8; 2:1-4
Philippians 1:29
I Timothy 2:1-3
Philippians 2:5-11
Creeds, Confess ions , and Catechisms:
THEOLOGICAL DECLARATION OF BARMEN (BOC, 8.14)
2. . . . As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures.
CONFESSION OF 1967, PART II, THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION, Section A. The Mission of the Church, 1. Direction (BOC, 9.32)
The life, death, resurrection, and promised coming of Jesus Christ has set the pattern for the church’s mission. His life as man involves the church in the common life of men. His service to men commits the church to work for every form of human well-being. His suffering makes the church sensitive to all the sufferings of mankind so that it sees the face of Christ in the faces of men in every kind of need. His crucifixion discloses to the church God’s judgment on man’s inhumanity to man and the awful consequences of its own complicity in injustice. In the power of the risen Christ and the hope of his coming, the church sees the promise of God’s renewal of man’s life in society and of God’s victory over all wrong.
Essential Tenet
Every Christian is called to a prophetic life, proclaiming the good news to the world and enacting that good news. Every Christian is called to extend the lordship of Christ to every corner of the world. And every Christian is called to participate in Christ’s priestly, mediatorial work, sharing in the suffering of the world in ways that extend God’s blessing and offering intercession to God on behalf of the world. We are equipped to share in these offices by the Holy Spirit, who conforms us to the pattern of Christ’s life.
– Participant’s Guide Lesson 8: STEWARDSHIP The Essential Tenets
Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man, since the Fall, is able, in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them, in thought, word, and deed.
WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH, CHAPTER XXXV; Of the Gospel of the Love of God and Missions (BOC, 6.190)
4. Since there is no other way of salvation than that revealed in the gospel, and since in the divinely established and ordinary method of grace faith cometh by hearing the Word of God, Christ hath commissioned his Church to go into all the world and to make disciples of all nations. All believers are, therefore, under obligation to sustain the ordinance of the Christian religion where they are already established, and to contribute by their prayers, gifts, and personal efforts to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ throughout the whole earth.
Essential Tenet
Jesus teaches us that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. There is no part of human life that is off limits to the sanctifying claims of God. Historically, the Presbyterian tradition has been especially called to explore what it is to love God with all our minds, being committed to the on-going project of Christian education and study at all levels of Christian life.
NOTES ON CLASS DISCUSSION
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QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION
1. “The ministries of the church reflect the three-fold office of Christ as prophet, priest, and king—reflected in the church’s ordered ministries of teaching elders, deacons, and ruling elders.” What benefits come into the world because Christ fulfilled his ministry as prophet, priest, and king (Mark 1:9-12; Mark 2:12; Mark 2:23-27)?
2. What are some of the challenges and blessings that have come to the Church of Jesus because he sends the gift of his Spirit to both men and women (Acts 2:17, 18), young and old, Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48)?
3. “Every Christian is called to a prophetic life, proclaiming the good news to the world and enacting that good news.” How do you see Christians functioning as prophets, priests, and kings in the world today?
4. “We are equipped to share in these offices by the Holy Spirit, who conforms us to the pattern of Christ’s life” (Ephesians 4:7-7-13; Romans 12:4-8). What do spiritual gifts contribute to the ministry and mission of the Church?
5. How do you think the exercise of mission and ministry would be different if there were no spiritual gifts?
6. Which spiritual gifts do think you have and which would you like to have?
7. The modern world creates a secular/sacred dichotomy in which the business world, the academic world, and many other realms of life are seen as “out of bounds” for the exercise of the Christian Faith. Give several reasons for what’s wrong with this way of thinking.
8. What’s wrong with the belief that love alone justifies a person’s attitudes and actions?
9. What’s wrong with thinking that some part of the world or some part of a human being is immune from the infection of sin?
10. What problems are created if we separate the heart from the mind in the exercise of faith (Romans 12:1-2)?
11. The Reformers in the sixteenth century put pews in churches and made extended instructional sermons the essential element of Christian worship. How have you experienced this thoughtful and educational approach to Christian life as a Presbyterian?
