Good Stewards Focus

Galatians 5:22

Faithfulness flows from faith in God.

I Corinthians 4:2, Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Faithfulness is process, not a point in time

I. Faithful servants (slaves)

Romans 6:22 - Slaves to God
Galatians 5:13 - Slaves to Others
I Corinthians 9:19 - Slaves to Unbelievers

II. Faithful students - II Timothy 2:15

Search scripture
Meditate on scripture
Obey scripture

III. Faithful stewards - I Corinthians 4:2

Steward their abilities
Steward their opportunities
Steward their resources

Giving Account for Life's Investment

Matthew 25:14-30, Haggai 2:8

Biblical Stewardship is a spiritual mindset.
Stewardship without accountability leads to inactivity. All of us are called to be Stewards!

WAYS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE

I. We are accountable to God.
Romans 14:12; I Corinthians 4:1-4

II. We are accountable to Others.
Exodus 20: to parents
Hebrews 13: to leaders
Romans 13: love one another

III. We are accountable for Our Words.
- Apply your words with the fragileness of a tea cup, not a tin cup.
- What you say is important to God.
- What you say is important to Others. Psalm 19:14 (David), Proverbs 8:8 (Solomon), Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 15:4

IV. We are accontable for Our Actions.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
You can live by the Golden Rule or by Self Rule.

V. We are accountable for Our Opportunities.
Accountability demands honesty and honesty makes us vulnerable.

Stewarding Spiritual Gifts

Romans 12:4-8

"The Church" should operate as a unified community of servants stewarding their spiritual gifts.

I. Believers receive three gifts:

A. Eternal Life - Romans 6:23
B. Holy Spirit - I Corinthians 6:19
C. Spiritual Gifts - Romans 12:6 and I Corinthians 12:11

II. The importance of spiritual gifts:

A. Shows God's plan for my life - I Corinthians 12:4-6
B. Shows self worth - I Corinthians 12:27
C. Shows how to be fulfilled - John 15:8;11

III. What's expected of me?

A. Discover it - I Corinthians 14:1
B. Develop it - I Timothy 4:14
C. Deliver it (use it) - I Peter 4:10-11