BIBLICAL

STEWARDSHIP
 Stewardship Today
Biblical stewardship is misunderstood by
many of our church members to mean “tithe
and offerings.” This misconception, and our
focus on “giving” has created the following
problems:
 Mistrust of church leaders and systems
 Diversion of tithe and offerings by members
to other persons & groups
 Project giving replacing systematic giving
 Resistance to stewardship by pastors and
church members
 Redefining Stewardship
 Stewardship starts with God as Creator
 It recognizes Him as owner of all things
(life, time, abilities, resources etc)
 Acknowledge Him as the sustainer of
life, and is in control of His creation
 Accepts Him as the provider of every
good gift and blessing
 Redefining Stewardship
 Stewardship understands God as the
initiator of relationships with people
 Teaches that Jesus is Saviour and Lord
 Recognizes the church, the body, as an
extension of Christ Himself
 Christianity is a lifestyle of the
believer in partnership with God
 Biblical Stewardship
Stewardship is the lifestyle of one who
has a living relationship with Jesus,
accepts Christ’s lordship, walking in
partnership with God and acting as His
agent to manage His affairs on earth.
 Stewardship and Creation
The Creator God
“In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth.” Gen 1:1 (NIV)

“So God created man in his own image, in

the image of God he created him; male and
female he created them.” Gen 1:27 (NIV)

The Biblical Principle: God is Creator and Owner

 Stewardship and Creation
A Giving God
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the
east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had
formed.” Gen 2:8 (NIV)

“Then the Lord God made a woman from the

rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought
her to the man.” Gen 1:22 (NIV)
The Biblical Principle: God is giver of ALL good gifts
 Stewardship and Creation
A God of Blessings
“God blessed them and said to them, “Be
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth
and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air and over every living
creature that moves on the ground”
Gen 1:28 (NIV)

The Biblical Principle: God’s blessings precedes

human stewardship and responsibility
 Stewardship and Creation
A God of Partnership
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our
image, in our likeness, and let them rule over
… over all the earth.” Gen 1:26 (NIV)

“The Lord God took the man and put him in

the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of
it.” Gen 2:15 (NIV)

The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is a spiritual

response to God’s invitation of partnership
 Stewardship and Creation
A God of Relationships
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound
of the Lord God as he was walking in the
garden in the cool of the day, and they hid
from the Lord God among the trees of the
garden. But the Lord God called to the man,
“Where are you?” Gen 3:8,9 (NIV)

The Biblical Principle: God always initiates

relationship and community with His creatures
 Stewardship and Redemption
Jesus is Savior and Lord
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give
him the name Jesus, because he will save his
people from their sins.” Matt 1:21 (NIV)

“Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou

shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Matt 4:7 (KJV)

The Biblical Principle: Jesus is both Savior and Lord

Stewardship and Redemption
God gave Jesus for the world
“For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (NIV)

“Who gave himself for us, that he might

redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.” Titus 2:8 (KJV)
The Biblical Principle: The good news of salvation
is God giving all in Jesus Christ
 Stewardship and Redemption
Stewardship is loving God fully
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment.” Matt 22:37,38 (NIV)

The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is a love response

(full and complete) from the human heart to God
Stewardship and Redemption
Humans are God’s stewards
“Again, it will be like a man going on a
journey, who called his servants and entrusted
his property to them.” Matt 25:14,15 (NIV)

“After a long time the master of those servants

returned and settled accounts with them.”
Matt 25: 19 (NIV)

The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is a matter of

faithfulness and accountability to God
Stewardship and Redemption
Stewardship is lifestyle of service
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly
so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord
and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
should wash one another's feet. I have set you
an example that you should do as I have done
for you.” John 13:14-16 (NIV)

The Biblical Principle: Stewardship is living the life of

a servant in community every day
“Stewardship is all of me in response to all of God”

NARROW VIEW BROAD VIEW

Tithes & Offerings Lordship of Christ

Church Member God as God

Behavior Values

Pocket and Wallet Heart

Program Lifestyle
Jesus Is Lord Of All

Religion

Political Structures

Social Structures

Technology

Economy

Language
 Financial Stewardship
 Commitment to Lordship of Christ
 Expression of partnership with God
 Believers response of love
 Recognition of God’s blessings of
grace

“Stewardship is the human response of

the heart to the lordship of Jesus
Christ.”
“Stewardship is the human side of the Lordship of
Jesus Christ”

LORD STEWARD

Master/Leader Servant/Follower

Creator Creature

Owner Manager

Giver Receiver

Redeemer Redeemed
 Expressions of Financial
Stewardship
TITHE OFFERINGS
Belongs to God Belongs to God
It is holy It is holy
God specifies it Believer sets it
Act of worship Act of worship
Spiritual response Spiritual response
Express loyalty Express gratitude
 Tithe Restated
1.Tithing acknowledges God as Creator & Owner
2. Tithe is an expression of personal worship
3. Tithe is to be returned to God first
4. Tithe is to be returned to the storehouse
5. Tithe is returned by tithe recipient as well
6. Tithe is holy at all times (OT, NT, and beyond)
7. Tithe is not tied to the Levitical system only
 Giving Paradigm
OLD NEW
Financial Matter Spiritual Act

Focus on Self Focus on God

Work oriented Grace oriented

Emphasize obligation Emphasize lordship

Maintenance driven Mission driven

Members are Donors Members are Stewards
 DONORS or STEWARDS
DONORS STEWARDS
It’s About Me It’s About God

It’s My Money It’s God’s Gifts

It’s My Project It’s God’s Work

I’m In Control God’s In Control

Giving Is In-frequent Giving Is A Lifestyle

The Amount Matters The Heart Matters
Seventh-day Adventist Practice

Tithe 10% or 1/10th

Freewill + More than Tithe

= Equal to Tithe
Offerings - Less than Tithe

Charity and + More than Tithe

= Equal to Tithe
Project Giving - Less than Tithe
 Systematic Giving
1.Is planned giving NOT impulse giving
2.It starts with the return of tithe
3.Follows with giving of offerings
4.Make allowance for project giving
5.Understands global and local needs
6.Is regular giving
7.Always focus on God and mission
Stewardship Education
Objectives
Doing

Being
Knowing
 Stewardship Strategy
Stewardship
Education Information and
Offering Systems Communication
Strategy

Pastor

Local Church
 Pastoral Leadership
1.Preaches on biblical stewardship
2.Teaches financial stewardship
3.Promotes world and local giving
4.Reports on mission activities
5.Models leadership integrity
6.Encourages church involvement
7.Creates environment of openness
 Biblical Stewardship
Stewardship is the lifestyle of one who
accepts Christ’s lordship, walking in
partnership with God and acting as
His agent to manage His affairs on
earth.