Study guide to John Vogts:

Grace Received is Grace to Share

PART 1 – God’s Mission for his Church

I. Jesus clearly stated his mission, his reason for coming to earth.

The mission was set by God.

John 6:38: I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

Christ’s mission was to glorify God.

John 12:27-28: Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!

Christ’s mission was to save the lost.

Luke 19:10: The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

John 3:17: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Mark 2:17: It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Jesus would save the lost through his righteous life and innocent death as our substitute.

Matthew 3:15: Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

Matthew 5:17: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Mark 10:45: The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 16:21: From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

His work of saving the lost included getting the message of salvation to them.

Mark 1:38: Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Luke 4:43: But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

His work of saving the lost included teaching the Word to nurture the saved.

Matthew 5:1-2: He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,and he began to teach them, saying….

Luke 10:41-42: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The mission will not be completed until all the elect have been safely gathered into Heaven.

John 6:39: And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

Going, teaching, preaching and serving are blended together in the ministry of Jesus.

Matt 4:23: Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Jesus’ mission was to glorify God through his work of saving lost sinners. Part of that saving work was to call sinners to faith, and the second part was then to care for them. His work will not be completed until all the elect stand safely in Heaven.

II. Jesus spells out what the believer’s mission is to be. It is the reason that we have been left in this world.

The goal in all the believer does is to glorify God

1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Jesus clearly sets forth our mission in the Great Commission. We are to share the Gospel, the Good News of God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

Matthew 28:19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

As the Great Commission shows, there are two parts to our mission – GO and GROW.

GO – reach out to the lost and share God’s grace with them.

Mark 16:15-16: He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved….

Go out – into our community and into our world.

Acts 1:8: You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 8:1-4: On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Gather in.

John 17:20-21: I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

The link between Going and Growing –

1 Pet 3:15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

GROW – feed yourself and others with God’s nourishing word.

John 21:15-17: Feed my lambs… Take care of my sheep… Feed my sheep.

Grow up – through worship and Bible study.

2 Peter 3:18: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:42: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Luke 11:28: Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

Grow together – through fellowship, encouragement, service.

Acts 2:44-46: All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

Hebrews 10:25: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

John 13:14-15: 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.

Many Swedes regularly head for the gym or exercise hall in hopes of building healthy bodies. They have a double motivate. They hope their bodies grow stronger and their weak muscles bigger. We share the grace which we have received for a similar double reason. We hope to build up Christ’s body, the Church, so that it is stronger spiritually and also larger numerically.

In a sense, our calling is to carry on and complete what Jesus began, namely the seeking and saving of the lost.

III. Write a mission statement for the LBK and/or your congregation.

IV. Discussion

1. Are we to be fishers of men or keepers of the aquarium?

2. Evaluate this statement: The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

3. How well are the LBK and your congregation carrying out their mission?

4. What suggestions do you have for ways the LBK and your congregation can improve?

5. How can each of us help our church and congregation carry out its mission?

Grace Received is Grace to Share

PART II -- The individual Christian’s role in carrying out the Church’s mission

I. The Bible uses the term stewardship to refer to the Christian’s role in the Church’s mission.

The New Testament uses two Greek words for steward.

The first, ejpivtropo", is used two times. Ejpivtropo" has the meaning one to whom a thing has been entrusted. It carries the thought of accountability to the higher authority from whom the trust was received.

The second Greek word, oijkonovmo", is used 12 times. Oijkonovmo" refers to service within a household. It referred to one who managed a household in matters such as food and drink. An oijkonovmo" often was a slave who was given responsibility over his owner’s money, property or other slaves. (Remember Joseph in Potiphar’s house.)

In the case of both words, the steward never owned the things with which he worked. A steward had much freedom and discretion in the use of the items entrusted to him, but he was accountable to his master for how he used them.

Christian stewardship, then, is the believer using himself and what God has given him to accomplish God’s saving purpose in the world. It is faithful management of God’s property to carry out the mission he has given us.

On the following lines list every possession you have which God has not given you.

In the left-over space list all the possessions you will take with you when your leave this world.

Psalm 24:1-2: The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Psalm 50:9-12: I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

In a special way God is the owner of the Christian because he purchased us with Christ’s blood.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

2 Corinthians 8:9: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Psalm 139:13-14: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 145:15-16: The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

1 Chronicles 29:12: Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

Romans 12:6-8: We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

All Christians have received gifts from God’s grace for us to manage faithfully.

1 Peter 4:10: Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

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

Isaiah 43:21: …the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

1 Chronicles 29:10-14: David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O LORD…, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

III. The Law serves as mirror and curb for the steward.

Exodus 20:3-5a: You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.

Matthew 22:37-38: 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.

Exodus 20:5: I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me….

Isaiah 42:8: I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.

Luke 9:59-62: He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 14:26: If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

1 Timothy 6:9-10: People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Luke 12:15-21: Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Romans 1:21: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Martin Luther: Thanks is all we can give to God; everything else is his already.

Malachi 1:8,13b-14: “When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty…. “When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the LORD. “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.

Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Matthew 6:21,24: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…. No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.

Haggai 1:9-11: “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.”

Malachi 3:8-9: Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.

Luke 16:10-12: Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Stewardship is often an uncomfortable subject because the law is at work as a mirror and a curb. The mirror of the law points out our sinfulness and the eternal judgment we deserve because we have not been faithful stewards. The curbing power of the law helps to control and beat down our Old Man.

IV. The Gospel is the Christian steward’s motivation and power

The message of the gospel is not “This do,” but “This happened” – not “You must do this,” but “Look what God has done for you.”

Through the preaching of the Gospel, God brings us to faith and gives us the forgiveness Christ has won. We are justified by faith because of the grace of God.

Galatians 3:13: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Romans 3:28: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

The Gospel says that God is the one who heals you (Exodus 15:25). He resolved to redeem, renew, restore and reuse sinners. He sanctifies us, that is, he sets us apart for his service .

1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Our gracious God promises power. This is not power from within ourselves, but pure gospel power. We are now able to live a life of good works because God has made us new holy, godly creatures. We are empowered to live our lives to God’s glory.

John 15:5: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 4:22-24: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;to be made new in the attitude of your minds;and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Christian stewardship, like all phases of sanctification, never reaches perfection on earth. The Old sinful Man and the New Christian Man continue to fight within us for the mastery. Paul does not say that there will be no sin, but that sin will not rule. Christ will deliver us.

Romans 7:14-25. Notice especially these verses: Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15: Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Titus 2:11-14: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Romans 12:1: I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Ephesians 5:1-2: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15: For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

2 Corinthians 8:5: …they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

We are encouraged to faithful stewardship also by God’s gracious promises of blessing and reward. All such blessings flow from God’s grace, not our merit.

Psalm 145: 13-19: The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them..

Proverbs 3:9-10: Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Malachi 3:10-11: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food

in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not

will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops,

and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.

sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously….And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way….

Galatians 6:8-9: …the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Beware of using the law for motivating. The law can produce results, but only the Gospel can produce fruit. There is a big difference between duty giving and thanksgiving.

When is even a large offering displeasing to the Lord? Consider Hebrews 11:4 and Matthew 15:8.

The Christian, motivated and empowered by the Gospel, turns back to God’s law for guidance. We want to serve our God out of love and gratitude for the grace he has shown us. The law shows us what attitudes and actions are pleasing to our God.

The guidelines which the law gives us for Christian stewardship do not apply only to money, but to managing faithfully our whole lives -- our time, talents, energy and all other gifts of God’s grace.

The law’s guidelines do not apply only to our responsibilities to our church. Giving time, money and effort to our congregation is one part of Christian stewardship. Caring for our family, helping our neighbor in need, or doing a good job at our secular employment are also stewardship issues which fall under the law’s guiding principles.

The desire to be a faithful steward and the ability to carry out that good intention are gifts of God’s grace.

Philippians 2:13: It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

2 Corinthians 8:1,7,9: And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches…. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving…. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

God has placed many responsibilities and opportunities before us. The Christian steward will need to set priorities.

1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 8:2-5: Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

2 Corinthians 9:7: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

1 Corinthians 16:2: On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

2 Corinthians 9:7: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give….

Genesis 4:4: But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

Proverbs 3:9: Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.

Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

2 Corinthians 9: 6,11,13: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God…. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

1 Timothy 6:17-18: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Two factors are involved in measuring our prosperity. One is the size of our income, the other consists of the financial responsibilities God has imposed on us. A smaller income with fewer responsibilities may result in greater prosperity than a larger income with heavy financial responsibilities.

1 Corinthians 16:2: …each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income….

2 Corinthians 8:12: For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

Luke 21:1-4: As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

God-pleasing stewardship is encouraged by the example of others and gives encouragement to others.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2,8: And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity….I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

2 Corinthians 9:2: For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.

1. Should our giving be sacrificial? Consider the fact that it hurt Judas’ covetous flesh when Mary anointed Jesus (John 12:3-7), but Mary was happy to do it. The encouragement is not “give until it hurts,” but “give until it feels good.”

Faithful stewardship means using God’s gifts for the purpose for which he intended them. A faith plan or spiritual budget can help us do that.

It takes prayer and planning to develop a faith plan. The faithful steward’s spiritual budget is conscious of the Christian mission to grow and go. It plans for the use of time, talents and energy as well as treasure.

Colossians 3:17: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Matthew 5:16: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

This is not just an issue of how much money he is going to place in the offering. A faithful steward budgets time to be present at worship to welcome visitors and encourage fellow-members. He budgets time and energy to study Scripture, to maintain the church building, to help with outreach to the community, etc.

Luke 24:46-48: He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these things.

To help those in need.

This is not just money. The faithful steward budgets time to visit the sick, comfort the grieving, pray with those who are suffering, etc.

Ephesians 4:28: He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Acts 20:35: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

This includes the time and energy to be good citizens, to work on community projects, etc.

Romans 13:6-7: This is also why you pay taxes, for the (governing) authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

This includes faithfulness at our secular employment, which ordinarily is the means through which God supplies the money we need to support our family.

1 Timothy 5:8: If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Discussion: What help does Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 give us as we try to develop a well-balanced faith plan?

VII. Some practical applications for us today in the LBK

We don’t view what we do and give as giving TO, but as giving FROM . Our stewardship is a spiritual transaction. We are more interested in the giver than the gift. Our goal is to raise people, not money. We strive for long-term spirtiual growth.

Psalm 51:10,17,19: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me….The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.… Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

1. Does a fruit tree produce fruit because the farmer needs it, or because it is

Ephesians 4:11-12: It was he who gave some to be… pastors and teachers,to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

1 Peter 5:2-3: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Congregational practices can encourage or discourage the members’ faithfulness.

1. What benefits come from a unified budget in a congregation, rather than a series of special purpose offerings?

2. How much should the congregation be paying its pastor? (See 1 Corinthians 9:13-14; Galatians 6:6.) How much should it be sending away for mission work beyond the congregation?

3. How can the way we gather the weekly offering encourage or discourage stewardship?

5. The Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple (a 10 meter cube) was covered with 23 tons of gold. What does that say about your congregation’s budget?

VIII. Discussion

2. What special difficulties for practicing faithful stewardship do we face in Sweden?

4. How can you help the LBK and your congregation keep focused on its mission to GO and GROW?

5. Which Bible passage most encourages you to faithfully carry out your Christian mission?

Grace Received is Grace to Share

PART 1 – God’s Mission for his Church

The link between Going and Growing –

IV. Discussion