Atlantic District LCMS Pre-Convention Workshop - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Atlantic District LCMSPre-Convention WorkshopJune 8, 2018

Whole Life

StewardshipSlide2

Rev. Dr. Richard J. Wolfram

Michigan District LCMS

rick.wolfram@michigandistrict.orgSlide3

Mine, Mine, MineTake my life and let it be

Consecrated Lord to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I with-hold;

Take my intellect and use

Every power as thou shalt choose

.Slide4

Begin with the end in mind. Steven CoveyGod is the owner.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. 1

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Article

God calls us to be stewards entrusting us with His gifts.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us for all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 2

nd

Article

Stewards are accountable to the Owner.

Hebrews 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 3

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ArticleSlide5

Whole Life StewardshipOikonomia

ESV / NIV

Luke 16:2-4 Manager/manager

1 Corinthians 9:17 Discharging the trust/stewardship

Colossians 1:25 Stewardship/commission

1 Timothy 1:4 Stewardship/God’s workSlide6

A Steward’s Life-It’s a journey!

A journey takes time.

There is a starting place and a destination.

There are surprises along the way.

The choices we make have consequences.Slide7

ObstaclesCompartmentalization

—separating the parts of our lives.Slide8

Situations for Service

Home

Church

Occupation

SocietySlide9

Troubling Research

“Our research indicates that churchgoers are more likely to see themselves as Americans, consumers, professionals, parents, and unique individuals than zealous disciples of Jesus Christ. Until that self-image is reoriented, churches will not have the capacity to change their world.” -George

BarnaSlide10

Stewardship from the Beginning“And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and

have dominion

over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

Gen. 1:28 ESV

“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 NIVSlide11

Steward

One who manages or takes

care of what belongs to

someone else.Slide12

Christian

“A Christian is a child of the Holy Spirit, an heir of eternal life, a companion to the holy angels, a ruler of the world and a partaker of God’s divine nature. He is a wonder of the world, a terror of Satan, an ornament of the church, a desirable object of heaven with a heart full of supplications and with hands full of good works.” –Martin LutherSlide13

Disciple

Disciple means simply, “one who follows Christ and learns from him.”

“What we do as Christians is always secondary to, and a result of, who we are as children of God. Our actions flow from our attitude, an attitude of trust in Jesus Christ.”

--Robert KolbSlide14

Christian Steward

A child of God who realizes his/her role in life as a partner, a trustee, a manager, a caretaker or temporary custodian of gifts that belong to God. The Christian steward

receives

God’s precious gifts gratefully,

manages

God’s precious gifts carefully and responsibly

,

shares

God’s precious gifts with others generously, and

returns

God’s precious gifts joyfully with increase.Slide15

Steward - StewardshipBeing – IdentityDoing – Works

Not about what we do, but what God has done, is doing, and continues to do for us and through us.

“To try to establish our own ultimate identity upon what we do, rather than upon what God has done for us, always ends up in idolatry.”

Robert KolbSlide16

StewardshipThe free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family the church in managing all of life and life’s resources (God’s blessings) for God’s purposes

.Slide17

We Are God’s StewardsA Christian steward is like a tree planted by water (Psalm 1:3).

With a good root system, nourishment, sunlight, and water, fruit trees bear good fruit.

When believers are grounded in the Word, participate in the Sacraments, and taught the importance of Christian stewardship, they become fruitful stewards.Slide18

We Are God’s StewardsA

steward is the

manager of another’s property/stuff for

the benefit of the owner.

The Holy Spirit molds and shapes us during a lifetime journey into stewards who faithfully live for Christ. The steps in our journey are sometimes large, sometimes

s

mall, sometimes even backwards.Slide19

We Are God’s Stewards

We can too easily become obsessed with “doing’ over “being.” The focus needs to be on

“who”

we are and

“whose”

we are letting it inform

“how we are to live.”

As God’s stewards, we understand:

Everything belongs to God (Psalm 24:1).

Everything depends on God (Deuteronomy 8:17).

Everything is to praise God (Psalm 150:6)Slide20

Key Steward Question

Who am I?

(The identity question)

1 Peter 1:1-12Slide21

ReviewJustification – SanctificationPassive Righteousness – Active Righteousness

Gospel - LawSlide22

Righteousness Passive Righteousness

God

______________________________________________

Others Us Others

Active Righteousness Slide23

Law1. Curb2. Mirror

3. Rule

Teaches us Christians which works we must do to lead a God-pleasing life.

Our chief work is to share the Gospel… Slide24

Relationships

Living as faithful stewards involves relationships between:

God and you

You and yourself

You and others

You and creation

(Rev. Scott Rodin)

Until the fall (Genesis 3), Adam and Eve had a

p

erfect relationship with God and with each other, and with creation. After the fall, the relationships were broken.Slide25

A Spiritual Issue

“If we are not willing to teach ourselves and our fellow believers how to manage our lives for the Savior, the sinful world is more than willing to teach its brand of self-centered living.”Slide26

So… ?What kind of stewards are you forming in your congregation? Identity/Being

What are the stewardship challenges the members of your congregation face? Doing

Just do something!Slide27

Building Blocks

for Effective

Stewardship

Ministry

“Moreover, it is required

of stewards that they be

found trustworthy”

1 Corinthians 4:2

Slide28

Building Blocks

for Effective

Stewardship

Ministry

In order for your stewardship education ministry

t

o be effective, it needs to be grounded in God’s Word, not simply in the needs of the church.

Giving is to be seen as an act of discipleship, not as a duty of membership.

Money/stuff should be talked about openly.Slide29

Building Blocks“Building Blocks” are tools and resources to be used in your stewardship ministry to help your members grow in their relationship with Jesus and in their commitment to be God’s stewards.

The focus of your stewardship

ministry is to help members

live out their changed lives

in Christ. Slide30

Building Blocks

The goal of the Building Blocks is to build up and raise people not just raise money. It is about making and growing disciples and helping

God’s people grow in their

relationship with Jesus.

People built up in Christ and

educated as stewards will

grow in their commitment,

service, and generosity.Slide31

The Five Building BlocksSlide32

Building Block 1: Annual EmphasisAn essential part of a congregation’s stewardship ministry is the annual stewardship growth challenge. Not having a program as part of your stewardship ministry is like making bread without flour. Annual programs help people

grow spiritually as they respond

to Jesus’ love and grace by

making commitments of His

gifts to them. Slide33

Annual EmphasisItems to be considered:

Time of the year

Number

of

Sundays (weekends)

Theme or

emphasis (develop your own program or purchase a program)

Money available for program

Activities (celebration lunch, every member visit, cottage meetings, etc.)

The importance of commitments

Keep it separate from the budgetSlide34

Annual EmphasisSuggestions

:

New Consecration Sunday – Herb Miller

Consecrated Stewards

www.lcef.org

“Living Each Day as a Steward”

“Empowered by Grace to Tithe”

“Financial Counsel from God’s Word”

“The Lifestyle of Faithful Stewards”

“Ten for Ten”Slide35

Building Block 2: Year-round Education

A year-round approach is an effort to strengthen and support members of the church in the knowledge and understanding of their roles as God’s Stewards.

Year-round education helps

m

embers understand stewardship

as a whole-life response of gratitude

to God’s love, mercy, and grace

.

(Addresses the nonfinancial

dimensions of stewardship)Slide36

Year-round EducationYear-round education enables members to connect the meaning of Christian stewardship to other ministries of the congregation.

How is serving on a worship committee an act of stewardship?

How is being involved in teaching Sunday school a part of my stewardship life?

If stewardship is talked about only once a year or only during an annual emphasis people see it as less than important, an interruption of what is important.Slide37

Year-round EducationUse Biblically-based, grace-centered materialEngages an active and involved Stewardship

Committee

(Enthusiastic cheerleaders)

Year-round calendar

Pastor’s leadership and involvement

Mission-focused

Keep it positiveSlide38

Year-round EducationWays to communicate

:

Sermons

Bible studies (strongly encouraged)

Testimonials/ lay reader talks

Oral

Written

Video

Power points

Bulletin messages/ insertsSlide39

Year-round EducationNewsletter articlesLetters of thank you and encouragement accompanying giving statements

Seasonal letters

Bulletin boards

Emails/Facebook/Webpage

Dramas

Ministry fairsSlide40

Year-round EducationSuggestions:

Stewardship Primer

www.michigandistrict.org/congregations/stewardship/resources

“12 Months of Congregational Stewardship”

www.stewardshipadv@aol.com

LCMS website

www.lcms.org

LCMS Center for Stewardship

www.godsstewards.com

Parish Publishing

Thrivent

Slide41

Year-round EducationIn order for our youth to understand stewardship and to help them develop life-long,

God-pleasing habits, we need to spend time educating them.

Helping our youth understand

t

hat, although much comes

from their parents, God is the

u

ltimate source and owner.Slide42

Year-round Education

Educating different age groups:

Nursery/Preschool

Elementary

Confirmation

High school

Teaching our youth that they are God’s stewards whether they are at school, home, church, or in the neighborhood.Slide43

Year-round EducationResources

:

“Discussing

Stewardship with Confirmands

”

www.stewardshipadv.com

Thrivent FinancialSlide44

Building Block 3: Capital NeedsProviding an “Over and Above” opportunity for extending ministry

Capital campaigns are beneficial for two reasons. Because the focus is based on Biblical stewardship principles, your members will grow in their understanding of what it means to be a Christian steward.

In addition, your congregation will receive funding that is needed to expand mission and ministry.Slide45

Building Block 4: Christian Estate PlanningEducating and helping people to be faithful stewards of their accumulated possessions.

Wills (bequests)

Revocable Living Trusts

Gift annuities

Charitable remainder trustsSlide46

Christian Estate PlanningResources:

LCMS Foundation

Set up meeting times with local attorneys at your church

Thrivent FinancialSlide47

Building Block 5: Personal Money Management

Why a financial education program?

We are to preach and teach the full counsel of God’s Word.

Over 2,000 verses in Scripture relate to money and possessions.

Many parables relate to

money and possessions.

There is an intimate connection

between faith and finances, a

connection that can either

threaten or strengthen faith.Slide48

Personal Money ManagementGod knows that money is one of Satan’s best tools to separate us from a relationship with Jesus.

“It is easier for a camel

to

g

o through the eye of a

n

eedle than for a rich person

to enter the kingdom of God”

Matthew 19:24Slide49

Personal Money ManagementPreaching and teaching about money will…

Help God’s people understand how faith should and does impact how we view and handle the money God entrusts to us.

Help God’s people become more responsible in caring for God’s property.

Help God’s people understand that they are stewards of their money, not owners.

Help God’s people grow in their generosity.Slide50

Personal Money ManagementA personal money management or a financial education program will address some problems:

Many members believe their personal money management is unrelated to their spiritual lives.

Many members are mismanaging their money, which reduces their ability to give.

Many members believe that more money will bring them happiness and security.Slide51

Personal Money ManagementResources:

Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace”

Crown Financial

“Financial Counsel from God’s Word”

“Financial Wisdom for a Lifetime”

Thrivent FinancialSlide52

Change

Technical, Adaptive or both?

T

echnical changes

are the kinds of changes we make on the outside. They are intended to “fix” something quickly.

Adaptive changes

are the internal changes in our attitudes, beliefs, and feelings.Slide53

Luke 16:1-13Parable preceded by:1. Jesus teaching on the cost of being a disciple (14:25-35)

2. Parable of the Lost Sheep (15:1-7)

3. Parable of the Lost Coin (15:8-10)

4. Parable of the Lost Son (15:11-32)Slide54

Parable of Shrewd ManagerWho is teaching this parable?

Who is receiving this teaching and why is it relevant to them?

V 1-9 Dishonest manager shrewdly understood his world and how to use it… he used his master’s stuff for himself and against his master.Slide55

Vs 1. Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man who had a manager and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.”

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

It’s not yours! We’ve got nothing, it’s God’s stuff. (Is there bad stuff?) It is good.

Wasting God’s possessions… how don’t we waste God’s stuff? Lose your purpose and not change your lifeSlide56

Vs 2. “And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’”

Understand the rules for the stuff of the world and the rules for God’s stuff.

Example: Don’t try and use God’s stuff without prayer.Slide57

VS 3 “And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.’”

We need to know how to use “stuff” the way the manufacturer intended. (people of the world use it under their own directions/instructions)

How do we answer the question:

What is the purpose of the stuff we have?Slide58

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”Slide59

Vs 4. “I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.”What is the goal of this world, and what is the goal of our world?

Then learn how to use Law and Gospel

appropriately in each.

Whose house are we hoping to be welcomed

into

?

This is not a works righteousness question.

What is the goal of this world?

What is the goal of God’s world?Slide60

Vs 5-7 “So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’”Slide61

Vs 5-7.But God says only 10% to Him. (OT)

Note the shrewd manager is not concerned

with percentages

.Slide62

Vs 8. “The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.”

The Sons of this world understand their world, what resources they have to use, and how to use them better than the Sons of God know their world, what resources they have to use, and how to use them!

Shrewd guy is commended because he understood his world! He knew what he had and knew how to use it for survival.Slide63

Vs 8.Manager commended for being shrewd (not good) with regard to the world.

People of this world

Of this world vs in this world

People of the light

Do not know the world

Do not know how to use this worldSlide64

Vs 9. “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into eternal dwellings.”

Figure out our contextual place as sons of God in the world. We have lost our focus and purpose… and how and why we got lost in the first place.

Use stuff of this world.

Goal of this world vs goal of the light

Law vs GospelSlide65

VS 10-12 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,

w

ho will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”Slide66

Vs 10-12What is the difference between:

The “I” world

The “I AM” world

Takes away “If only …”Slide67

Vs 13. “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

You just can’t serve two masters. (Jesus himself said so! Try, try that we may.)

Two masters. Two sets of directions.

Can’t go east and west at the same time. (Polar opposites)

You cannot manage the things of God and the things of this world at the same time and in the same way.Slide68

Vs 13.You cannot follow two masters means:

-You cannot follow two different sets of

directions. You must read and follow the

Manufacturer’s recommended instructions for

the use of His stuff. The world’s instructions will

not work on God’s stuff. Try and put together

IKEA products on your own, without the

instructions, and see what happens.

-If your life isn’t fitting together right… try reading the Manufacturer’s instructions first!Slide69

Vs 13.Use by the worlds standards not manufacturer’s directions.If you don’t follow directions you can’t get it right.Slide70

Key Takeaways1. A master is master. It’s all his.

None is ours to use our way, but His.

Our job is to constantly monitor ourselves

Exposure to the truth (World vs Light) brings us back… or not.

2. Don’t wait for the Master to come to you…

It will be over. Repent!

(Dr. Martin

Scharlemann

: Don’t allegorize every parable.)Slide71

LegacySlide72

Millennials and Stewardship:What is the real question?Slide73

ContextSilent Generation (1928-1945) 69-86

Boomers (1946-1964) 50-68

Gen X (1965-1980) 34-49 Narcissism begins

Millennials (1981-1996) 18-33

#1 at thinking they’re #1

False sense of reality

Self-absorbedSlide74

MillennialsStrause

& Howe (1982-2004)

Pew (1980-2004)

Impact Report (1981-1998)

Bookends (1978-2004)Slide75

MillennialsNon-affiliatedFinancially burdened

Slow to marry due to lack of econ foundation

Racially diverse

Less trusting

Yet, optimistic of the futureSlide76

Tragedy

Christianity has become a “

yes man

” for the culture.

Woodford

Slide77

MillennialsTechnology natives.

Groupies (peers/singles)

Volunteers

For them stewardship = “we want your money.”

Especially true for the young.

They are environmentally concerned.Slide78

MillennialsQuestion: Do they come from an environment of shame/guilt/fear regarding finances?

-Home/ChurchSlide79

MillennialsThey give…-Where they are passionate

-In the moment

-To have impact

-Are cause oriented

-Prefer direct support (no middle man/church)

-Want to get dirtySlide80

What to do? 1. Technology natives

Pristine web sites

2. Groupies

Social networks (connect/with peers)

3. Volunteers

Inspire themSlide81

TRUTHThe average Millennial – is a myth.

Part of the issue: Millennials are being looked at as two groups, the

older

and

younger

.

Younger millennials – born in the 90’s and later

Defined by technology –

iY

iPod/iBook/iPhone/iChat/iMovie/iPad/iTunes

Life is about “I”.

Tim ElmoreSlide82

Identity QuestionWho am I. What am I here for?

This is a challenge for young adults.

The culture/world rejects the certainty of

knowledge/absolute truth.

-virtues out, values in (therefore, no meaning)

We live in a universal(global) story w/o a

universal story teacher.

WoodfordSlide83

ResultsGod is not necessary.

Entertainment is a cultural superpower.

Truthiness – it sounds true but is not.Slide84

ResourcesThe 2013 Millennial Impact Report

The Narcissism Epidemic

-

Twenge

& Campbell

Generation

iY

– Tim Elmore

UnChristian

–

Kinnaman

& LyonsSlide85

God be praised!We give thee but thine own

What-

e’er

the gift may be;

All that we have is thine alone,

A trust O Lord from Thee.

May we they bounties thus

As stewards true receive

And gladly, as Thou bless-

est

us,

To Thee our first-fruits give!And we believe Thy Word, Though dim our faith may be; Whate’er for Thine we do, O Lord, We do it unto Thee.