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10 Commandments of Teaching Stewardship in the Local Church

 

by John Maxwell

(Outline prepared by G. Edward Reid)

  Commandment #1 Stewardship Training Produces Spiritual People Emphasis on the person not the purse. The next few messages are going to help you to be a greater Christian. God is the Owner; I am the manager. Stewardship begins with loving not giving. Stewardship begins with our present resources. Become a channel not a reservoir.   Commandment #2 Find More Pockets   Many are not good stewards and need help. People are different and give to different projects. New members must be educated. Different Pockets: Light and heat Missions Brick and mortar Social needs – welfare Education – student assistance – ivy halls "Let’s change the world." (Some folks are just waiting for a challenge but they don’t want to paint the restrooms.) Major factors here: Money in one pocket will usually not go for projects of another pocket. Money not collected from each of the pockets will be lost. You don’t know who has the money in their pockets until you ask for it. Once a pocket is open it will open again and again for that same cause.       Have a dream? Share it!Big dreams attract big dollars. The most important thing you can have in a church is a dream. Tell you dream: Have a statement of mission/purpose for the church. In membership class I.D. Banquet for prospective members Lunch appoints Mailings/newsletters Laminated cards – 10 goals for the year Board meetings If we have a vision and begin to tell it, people with resources will come around to fund the projects. Dreams will become reality. Commandment #4 Develop Leaders Who Are Givers Leadership = influence People do what people see – precept and example Commandment #5 Become a Generous Church We are to be a channel. God will bless a church that wants to pass money on to others. It starts with the pastor. Commandment #6 Stress Tithing At Membership Get a commitment from people before membership. Stewardship is NOT automatic. Sign them up for ministries at baptism. If you don’t ask for a commitment, you won’t get it. People will rise to the commitment level you ask for at time of membership.     Church bulletin Big Offering Day – Thanksgiving Christmas offering – not for ourselves Layperson’s 2-minute testimony Motto or slogan – "High Hopes" Work with individuals. Be sure to thank for large gifts. All tithe month Monthly tithe envelope mailings Annual stewardship month Say it visually Commandment #8 People have a tendency to be down on what they are not up on.Keep the People Informed – The facts – where we stand What are the goals –focus Who benefits from the money – results Commandment #9   Keep morale highPeople are happy when they give Pastoral credibility = church credibility Church growth Check up on people when they check out (When people stop giving, that’s a symptom of a problem.) Commandment #10 Each year an entire month should be devoted to teaching stewardship. Why?Schedule an Annual Stewardship Month – Proven successful in other churches; it works! More is taught than just financial management: Four sermons (only one on money) – time, talents, temple, treasures Minimal cost: Develop four sermons and maybe a bulletin insert. No banquet necessary. Minimal work: Pastor can handle a church program, himself, for several years. Stewardship month creates "first time" givers. Stewardship month gives regular givers the opportunity to re-commit annually. Stewardship month makes appeals for finances unnecessary. Stewardship month gives each person the opportunity to commit. Commitment is NOT automatic. Annual Stewardship Month Essentials Prayerful planning time Theme needed: ABC’s of Stewardship or Stewardship is a choice, etc. Timing – First of the year is best for changes. Sermon series – sermons should be built on each other. Testimonies – should be given by lay people Handouts for each message Commitment cards DON’T EMPHASIZE FINANCIAL NEEDS – EMPHASIZE SPIRITUAL GROWTH. The bottom of this page shows the backside of a suggested commitment card. On the next page the front side is shown – with a tear-off response card on the bottom. This card should be used in connection with the annual stewardship commitment month. 3. LOVEIn John 14:15 Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." Nothing that will loosen the purse strings like good, old fashioned Christian love! We give the best gifts to those we love! 4. GRATITUDE  In Psalm 116:12-14 the Lord reminds us that since we have received so much, We should respond by giving much! We have received God’s Son, His salvation, His presence, His blessings and we will receive His heaven…How can we think of giving Him less than a tithe? 5. FAITH God has promised a blessing to those who are faithful in the Stewardship of Giving! See Malachi 3:10, 11; Proverbs 3:9, 10; Matthew 6:33; Luke 6:38. Faith in God’s promises is reflected by obedience to His Word!

REQUIREMENT

 

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…"

 

RESPONSE

 

"…and test me now in this…"

 

REWARD

 

"…open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing

until it overflows." (Malachi 3:10)

If God Owns All…What Am I doing With It?

 

Today we have learned that God owns EVERYTHING. Our unwillingness to tithe certainly is a contradiction to this truth. The Lord spoke through Moses and said, "The tithe…is the Lord’s!" (Leviticus 27:30) Exclamation point – not a question mark. That statement means that 10% of our income should be given each week, or each month to the work of the Lord through His church. The other 90% should also be managed wisely. 5 Biblical Reasons Every Christian Should Be A Tither 1. OBEDIENCE Genesis 14:20 tells us that Abraham tithed before the Law was given by Moses at Sinai. Malachi 3:10 summarizes what the Law required. Everyone was required to tithe everything they had. Matthew 23:23 shows us that our Lord Jesus recommended everyone to tithe. 1 Corinthians 16:2 indicates that tithing is still a part of God’s expectations from His children. HONESTY  

    belongs to God.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Response –   God owns every (my tithe is returned, not given). God expects me to tithe (Malachi 3:10). God promises to meet the needs of a faithful steward (tithing is an issue of trust). Therefore, I commit the first 10% of my income to the Lord through Emmanuel Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Church.     I will begin tithing I already tithe  Name _____________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ______________________________________________________________ Giving Number _________________________________ I need giving envelopes Commandment #3