Monday, February 11, 2013

5 T's of Biblical Stewardship


Stewardship Series: TITHING
“A Joyful Plan That Cannot Fail”

Preaching Portion: Selected Scriptures
Subject: Tithing
Theme: Biblical Giving

INTRO: Becoming a joyful Biblical giver requires a PLAN! The old adage is true; “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there. If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.”
  • Consider our current national attitude:
    • By a margin of 3 to 1 Americans believe that spiritual development is absolutely important.
    • By the same 3 to 1 margin Americans will pursue their own spiritual system and reject established denominational systems.
    • Eli Lilly Endowment in a research report entitled; “Pastors: The Reluctant Stewards” discovered that 90% of pastors had never been taught stewardship principles in seminary.
    • One national study discovered that 85% of pastors did not feel prepared through their seminary or denomination.
    • 80% of pastors surveyed indicated their church has no active vision to advance biblical stewardship teaching in their churches.
    • 90% of the denominations in the National Association of Evangelicals they had no minimal effective programs or resources to assist pastors.
    • In a recent survey of Christian College libraries found that the books available on biblical stewardship were written between 1889 and 1945. There has been no real advancement made in Christian writing on this subject in the last fifty years.
    • The “Empty Tomb Inc.” has completed a thirty-year study on the decline of Christian giving. Their discovery has shown that 2 of 10 Christians actively give 10% or more of their income to the Lord’s work in America.
  • Being a joyful Biblical giver in the face of a negative American economy is the goal. You need a plan of action. Not a shot-gun blast approach, rather a rifle shot approach. A plan that will not fail.

PROP: Every Christian can become a biblical giver.
T.S: Every Christian can become a biblical giver by gleaning insights on the biblical pattern that God instituted through various scriptures.

1)    A Required Plan: The Ancient Hebrews – Selected Scriptures
a)     Tithing Before The Law – Genesis 14:17-20
i)      Tithing (returning one-tenth of one’s income to God) was the normal practice in the Old Testament. While it was prescribed in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:26), it started long before God chiseled his commandments into stone at Sinai.
ii)    Abraham had just defeated the King that sacked Sodom and Gomorrah and captured Abraham’s nephew Lot. Abraham gave a tenth of all which was recognized by King Melchizedek.
iii)   Abraham’s grandson, Jacob also offered tithes to the Lord in Genesis 28:20-22. The morning after God had revealed himself in a dream to Jacob at Bethel, the patriarch set up a sacred stone to commemorate the event.
b)    Tithing Under The Law – Numbers 18:24
i)      “For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.’”
ii)    The Levites had no inheritance of land among the Israelites. There job was to care for the tabernacle. Their sustenance came from the tithe. The Levites in turn gave a tenth to support the High Priest.
iii)   They honored God by giving back a portion that God had given to them. Tithing was a law with heart and purpose.
c)     Tithing was not the only provision for giving under the Mosaic Law. They were encouraged to give on special occasions, such as building the tabernacle and freewill offerings as their heart moved them.
d)    God Took Tithing Serious
i)      “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” Malachi 3:8
ii)    Christians in Malachi’s day had stopped obeying this part of the Law, of which tithing was part. In dismissing that part of the Law, they were not only robbing God materially, they were robbing Him of his rightful place within the community.
2)    A Similar Plan: The First-Century Church – Selected Scriptures
a)     Christ renounced the pharisaic method of tithing – which had become heartless, legalistic obligation. He never rescinded tithing as a legitimate method of consistent giving. The New Testament clearly supports planned systematic giving.
b)    Systematic Giving – 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
i)      Paul is not prescribing a percentage of gross income here. But he is supporting the deliberate, consistent setting aside of funds for the work of the ministry.
c)     Spontaneous Giving – The early church gave from time to time special offerings to help other churches that were struggling.

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Friday, February 8, 2013

5 T's of Biblical Stewardship


Stewardship Series: Temple

Preaching Portion: Philippians 3:10
Subject: Paul
Theme: Passionate Knowledge of Christ

INTRO: If you don’t know where you are going then any road will take you there. If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time!

  • We are reminded of Jim Elliot’s words: “He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”[1]
  • Excellence carries a price-tag. Everyone desires it, but few are willing to pay.
  • The “tyranny of the urgent” robs people from achieving excellence and settling for mediocrity!
  • Do you know where the most valuable piece of real-estate is located? It is not gulf-side, or lake-side. It is not mountain-top or valley. It is not east, west, north or south. It is the burial plots of man-kind. The untapped potential that was never harnessed.
  • I do not believe that “determination is our problem. We are fiercely independent and determined to do pretty much what we please. The real problem lies in our determined focus to do what is most important instead of what is most urgent.
Explanation
  • Only the Apostle Paul could say to us; “My determined purpose is that I may know Christ” while sitting in jail.
  • Yes Paul is imprisoned while writing to the saints at Philippi. The theme of this letter is “Count it all joy!” You can’t help but notice the contrast of ideas with Paul: Prison Vs. Joy. The last time I checked, I would not naturally associate these two concepts in the same sentence.
  • The sense of over-whelming joy from Paul spills out into his writing to this church. By the time you get to the third chapter it becomes clear that Paul is focused and is directing his passion to a single purpose: “…that I might know him…”
  • He includes some items that probably don’t excite us too much; namely suffering and death. These principled beliefs are not what the average seeker is looking for when selecting a belief system or church to join.
  • When considering this aspect of our stewardship series, the temple in the Bible is that place where the worshipper and God intersect. It is a place where we can adore and receive life’s marching orders.
  • We cannot ignore this valuable facet of the Christian journey.

PROP: Every Christian must participate in a focused devotional life.
T.S: Every Christian can participate in a focused devotional life by gleaning the insights from the Apostle Paul’s losses in Philippians 3:7-11

1)    My Determined Purpose: The Knowledge of Christ – v.8
a)     8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of cthe surpassing worth of dknowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ehave suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ[2] (emphasis added)
b)    Paul describes a sense of loss that is encased in the phrase; “ALL THINGS.” There is not sense of sorrow over this loss and what was lost is not missed. Something has taken its place as being more superior.
c)     What is it that Paul lost? He has lost all prior knowledge of what he thought about the Messiah and how he thought the Messiah would act and perform. He surrenders all previous understanding and comprehension so that nothing can get in the way of what he now understands to be his determined purpose: “The excellent knowledge of Christ as Savior.”
d)    Mankind cannot know everything. Perhaps that is why the Bible hints at those who always strive toward knowledge and never coming to the knowledge of the Savior. Keep in mind that Paul is writing from the context of a prison. He instructs us from these confines that his determined purpose is to gain the knowledge of Christ. He gets rid of all else to focus upon the quest for the knowledge of the savior. Only in a dedicated devotional life will this ever be true.
2)    My Determined Purpose: The Righteousness of Christ – v.9
a)     9 and be found in him, not having fa righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but gthat which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith[3]
b)    Paul suggests that he desires to “be found in Him…” This suggests the future meeting with the Lord at judgment. He desires this meeting to reveal that without question he had lived a righteous life according to Christ’s righteousness.
c)     Paul’s determined purpose was to have a righteousness not based upon the principles of man, “…but that which comes…” or has its source in God.
i)      This is where the real challenge is for us – we must get rid of that which does not have its source in Christ alone.
ii)    This righteousness of God is received through faith/on the basis of faith in Christ alone.
iii)   This is not based upon man’s achievement as though he has perfectly obeyed the law and all of its requirements. Faith is opposite of human works. It is the reception of God’s work by those who acknowledge that it is futile in their efforts to earn righteousness.
3)    My Determined Purpose: The Fellowship of Christ – v.10
a)      10 hthat I may know him and ithe power of his resurrection, and jmay share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death[4]
b)    Paul picks up on his earlier thought in verse eight, “to know Him.” Here he gives a more fuller explanation of what is involved. There are four things that Paul will say about this fellowship that he is determined to know.
i)      A Personal Experience – “That I many know him…” can be translated, “My determined purpose is that I may know him…” There comes a time when our devotional; walk and relationship with the Almighty must be personal, purposeful, and deliberate.
ii)    A Powerful Experience – The power of his resurrection indicates that Christ was alive and at work inside Paul. Notice Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:13-19; 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering ufor you, vwhich is your glory.14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom wevery family2 in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to xthe riches of his glory yhe may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit zin your inner being, 17 aso that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being brooted and cgrounded in love, 18 may have strength to dcomprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and eheight and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ fthat surpasses knowledge, that gyou may be filled with all hthe fullness of God.[5]
iii)   A Painful Experience – Paul knew that it was a privilege to suffer for Christ. As we grow in Christ we experience a buffeting of Satan. There are battles that we must conquer.  This death resulted in a spiritual resurrection so that Paul could walk in the newness of life.
iv)   A Practical Experience – There is a very real outcome for the person who practically applies himself devotionally to Christ. Paul took up his cross and followed passionately after Christ. “It is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” Gal 3:20.

Conclusion

Yes, Paul gained far more than he lost. In fact, the gains were so thrilling that Paul considered all other “things” nothing but garbage in comparison! No wonder he had joy—his life did not depend on the cheap “things” of the world but on the eternal values found in Christ. Paul had the “spiritual mind” and looked at the “things” of earth from heaven’s point of view. People who live for “things” are never really happy, because they must constantly protect their treasures and worry lest they lose their value. Not so the believer with the spiritual mind; his treasures in Christ can never be stolen and they never lose their value. Maybe now is a good time for you to become an accountant and evaluate in your life the “things” that matter most to you.[6]


[1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Php 3:7). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
e Luke 9:25 (Gk.)
[2]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Php 3:8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[3]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Php 3:9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[4]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Php 3:10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
2 Or fatherhood; the Greek word patria is closely related to the word for Father in verse 14
[5]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Eph 3:13-19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[6]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Php 3:7). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

5 T's of Biblical Stewardship


Stewardship Series: Testimony
HEAVEN Vs. HELL

Preaching Portion: Luke 23:39-43; 2 Peter 2:4-10
Subject: Eternity
Theme: Heaven or Hell

INTRO: As a pastor in the year 2013 of our Lord I am faced with what appears to be an impossible task. Only one third of believers feel that it is important to share their faith testimony with those who have no faith declaration at all. Another one third feels very strongly that in fact it is not their place to share their faith with others. The remaining one third has only slight feelings – this is the lukewarm group.
  • As a child I personally witnessed the power of great revivals. I watched the transformation of hard-hearts that yielded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Lives were changed.
  • I grew up in a revivalist era. That meant the preaching was “Heaven or Hell” or “Revival or Perish.”
  • A passion for the lost has molded me and shaped my thirty plus years of ministry. Do I doubt it? A thousand times NO! But I am faced as a 21st century preacher of the gospel with what looks like an impossible task.
  • My task is simply this: As a God called preacher I am eat-up with a desire for revival – the lost coming to Christ! But I preach in a time-era in which only 33% of believers in America believe that it is important to share their faith. On any given week in America I face the realty that 66% of church attending believers has no real sense of urgency to share their faith with the lost. I am swimming upstream!
Explanation
  • This sermon will focus upon the reality of what this life is all about and what awaits all of humanity at the end of time.
  • There is a Paradise and there is a place called Tartaros. The reality of distinctions should be enough motivation to move people into action. Perhaps the more piercing question is one of belief; “Do we believe there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun?”
  • We will see the hope of God in His desire for men and women to make it to paradise. God is not in the business of turning people away, but rather receiving people into paradise even under the most difficult of circumstances.
  • We will see that Tartaros is equally real for the hard-hearted and unmotivated human. There is a place of punishment for all who do not confess the name of Christ. The seeming delay of this reality does not diminish the certainty of this punishment.
  • The real challenge of this sermon is to awaken the believing community to action. Heaven is real! Hell is real! I want my family to make it!

PROP: The believing community of faith must face the challenge of sharing our faith.
T.S: The believing community of faith can face the challenge of sharing our faith by examining the reality of paradise and Tartaros.

1)    The Reality of Tartaros – 2 Peter 2: 4-10
a)     4 For if God did not spare uangels when they sinned, but vcast them into hell2 and committed them to chains3 of gloomy darkness wto be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but xpreserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought ya flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by zturning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, amaking them an example of bwhat is going to happen to the ungodly;4 7 and cif he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, dhe was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then ethe Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,5 and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially fthose who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and gdespise authority.[1] (Emphasis Added)
b)    Peter saw no hope for these apostates; their doom was sealed. His attitude was different from that of “tolerant” religious people today who say, “Well, they may not agree with us, but there are many roads to heaven.” Peter made it clear that these false teachers had “forsaken the right way” (2 Peter 2:15), which simply means they were going the wrong way! Their judgment was sure, even though it had not yet come. The trial was over, but the sentence had not yet been executed. It would not linger or slumber, Peter affirmed; it would come in due time. In this section, Peter proved that judgment finally does come, no matter how secure the sinner might feel. He used three examples to verify this truth (see also Jude 6–8).[2]
i)      Fallen Angels – Isa 14:12-15; Eze. 28:11-19; Rev.12:4 are scriptural references for the fall of Satan and those he took down with him. The Apostle Peter states they are in a place called Tartaros – the lowest element of place of hell; a place of torment, darkness and profound gloom. The reality of Tartaros is not a place of hope.
ii)    The Old World – Genesis 6:3 indicates that 120 years elapsed before the flood came. The point of the report is that judgment is certain no matter how long it takes to arrive. The moral of this story focuses upon the folly of delay.
iii)   Sodom & Gomorrah – Genesis 18-19 reports God’s perspective of sinful behavior: He sees it and judges it.
c)     With the over-whelming evidence of the reality of a place called hell in which suffering is unending and unyielding; does this not motivate us to reach our family for Christ?
2)    The Reality of Paradise – Luke 23:39-42
a)     39 hOne of the criminals who were hanged irailed at him,3 saying, “Are you not jthe Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me kwhen you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in lParadise.”[3] (Emphasis Added).
b)    It was providential that Jesus was crucified between the two thieves, for this gave both of them equal access to the Savior. Both could read Pilate’s superscription, “This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews,” and both could watch Him as He graciously gave His life for the sins of the world. The one thief imitated the mockery of the religious leaders and asked Jesus to rescue him from the cross, but the other thief had different ideas. He may have reasoned, “If this Man is indeed the Christ, and if He has a kingdom, and if He has saved others, then He can meet my greatest need which is salvation from sin. I am not ready to die!” It took courage for this thief to defy the influence of his friend and the mockery of the crowd, and it took faith for him to trust a dying King! When you consider all that he had to overcome, the faith of this thief is astounding. The man was saved wholly by grace; it was the gift of God (Eph. 2:8–9). He did not deserve it and he could not earn it. His salvation was personal and secure, guaranteed by the word of Jesus Christ. The man hoped for some kind of help in the future, but Jesus gave him forgiveness that very day, and he died and went with Jesus to paradise (2 Cor. 12:1–4).[4]
c)     What was this paradise that Christ offered the dying thief? It is a place of incomprehensible bliss, peace, safety, no threat of harm or suffering. Who would not want this for any family member or anyone that we would meet throughout our life? How could we resist such an opportunity? Go against the tide of popular opinion –embrace paradise.
d)    The Thief in this passage and Noah and Lot in 2 Peter give us hope for eternity. Lord move us with a passion for the lost!

2 Greek Tartarus
3 Some manuscripts pits
4 Some manuscripts an example to those who were to be ungodly
c Gen. 19:16
d Ps. 119:136, 158; [Ezek. 9:4]
5 Or temptations
[1]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (2 Pe 2:4-10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[2]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (2 Pe 2:3). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
3 Or blasphemed him
[3]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Lk 23:39-43). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[4]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Lk 23:32). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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