WHAT IS THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE GOSPEL?

Adam and Eve, the original stewards, fell into sin and shattered their relationships with God, each other, and creation. Through His death and resurrection Christ redeemed the world and gives us the Holy Spirit. When we recognize that we have nothing except what the Lord entrusts to us, we can joyfully return a portion to the owner, our heavenly Father. In our response to God’s love, forgiveness, and grace we use the Creator’s gifts for His purposes and seek ways to glorify God. Stewardship is sanctification — the work of the Holy Spirit through us, using our gifts as God intended.

A LIFE OF THANKS-LIVING

Stewardship isn’t about how much the steward gives or serves. It is about what the Lord gives and how the steward is called to share those blessings for the sake of those who don’t know Jesus. Stewardship is not a subcategory of the Christian life; it is the Christian life. It is a joyous lifestyle rooted in gratitude for all God has done for us and generously lived out through growing in His Word, serving the Lord, and sharing the Gospel message with others — this is Thanks-Living.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP?

The heart of stewardship is the task of sharing the Gospel for the purpose of making disciples. Not only does it benefit the recipient, but also strengthens the faith of the steward. In short, the purpose of stewardship aligns with the mission of St. Paul’s: strengthen the saved; save the lost.

WORSHIP | God blesses us with His gifts of Word and Sacrament. It is God who serves us (“divine service”) in worship. Worship is not about “doing something for God.” It is allowing God to do something wonderful for each of us frequently and on a regular basis! We also give praise and thanks to God, encourage one another, and pray for and with one another as God gathers us together. 

• Matthew 26: 26-28 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
• Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 
  
• Luther: “As God at first gives faith through the Word, so He thereafter also exercises, increases, confirms, and perfects it through the Word.” (What Luther Says, vol. 3, CPH, 1959, p. 1545). 

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BIBLE STUDY | The baptismal faith given to each of us is nurtured and strengthened through hearing, reading, and studying God’s Word. 

• 2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
• Isaiah 55:10  For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 
  

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TIME | God’s stewards recognize that their stewardship flows out of God’s act of  love for them in Christ which empowers them, in turn, to love others in acts of Christ-like love. As members of the body of Christ we are called to make disciples of all nations. We can support our church by giving our time to help one (or several) of St. Paul’s outreach ministries. Share your time and help share the eternal joy found in God’s forgiveness, grace and love.  

• 1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.  
• 1 John 3:16-18  This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.   
  
• 2 Corinthians 5: 15 and He [Christ] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised. 

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TALENT | God blesses us with talents not to keep them to ourselves, but to share with others, giving glory to God for the purpose of making more disciples. 

• 2 Corinthians 5: 15  and He [Christ] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 
• Romans 12:4-5  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  
  
• Romans 12:6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 
  
• 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. 

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TREASURE | Stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God, not done out of obligation but rather from faithful response to God's generosity in the gift of Jesus Christ. Just as God generously gave His only Son to die and rise so that we live with Him, God calls us to give generously. In response to God’s grace and mercy to us, and through the Holy Spirit, we thankfully and cheerfully give back to His church. If God is faithful in our eternal salvation, we can also trust Him to provide our daily bread.  

• Deuteronomy 8:17-18    You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 
• 2 Corinthians 9:7  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  

circlerightarrow  Visit St. Paul's secure giving page | Overview of ways to give below.

circlerightarrow   See our at-a-glance page listing all stewardship opportunities for sharing time and at talent at St. Paul's.

THANKS-LIVING | In response to God's love, grace and mercy we live a life of Thanks-living. Faithful stewards have an attitude of gratitude, giving thanks to God for the redemption and gift of eternal life with Him in paradise.

• Colossians 3:1  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.  
  
• Psalms 28:7  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I give thanks to him.  
  
• Philippians 4:6-7   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   
  
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  

GOSPEL | In the Scriptures we see God’s radically generous grace poured out in Jesus Christ. Faithful stewards give of themselves and what they have received from the Lord so that the proclamation of the Gospel can go forward. The Church is called to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel to all who will hear and administering the Sacraments to the faithful. Again, this reiterates the mission of St. Paul's: strengthen the saved; save the lost.  

• John 20:21  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 
• Mark 16:15  He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.” 
  
• 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.