Did You Know? (Part 1)

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Written by The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry

Created: August 27 2010 August 27 2010

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod adopted eight Stewardship principles at its 1998 national convention. These principles reflect a definition of stewardship commonly used throughout the LCMS. Each principle stands alone as an important guide for the church, yet all eight principles stand together as a summary of how we live our lives of stewardship.

Stewardship Preamble

Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.

Principle One—God’s Stewards are God’s Stewards

God’s stewards are stewards by virtue of creation and their recreation in Holy Baptism; therefore, they belong to the Lord.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8–10

Principle Two—God’s Stewards Are Managers, Not Owners

God’s stewards have been entrusted with life and life’s resources and given the privilege of responsibly and joyfully managing them for Him.

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. 1 Chronicles 29:14

Continued in “Did You Know? (Part 2).”

Saint John’s Stewardship Board promotes the development of good stewardship and giving patterns among the members of Saint John’s.

Re-Dedicated to Stewardship

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Written by The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry

Created: August 27 2010 August 27 2010

September normally marks the return to the full range of mission and ministry activities in congregations. Schools have started again, vacations are largely over and it’s time to resume normal congregational activities. We have just celebrated “Rally Day” Sunday, August 29, which provides an encouragement to move forward as God’s people, regardless of age. So, why not a “Rally Day” for Christian stewards?

Christian stewardship is not like a hundred yard dash. It’s more like a marathon. Good marathon runners have learned to cope with the grueling aspects of the course. They know that sudden bursts followed by periodic let-ups will not win a marathon. If you are going to be successful in a marathon, you must realize that you are in it for the long haul. It takes persistence and perseverance. So does living the Christian life.

It is no wonder that we find passages in the Bible like 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” St. Paul wrote something similar in Galatians 6:9–10: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

There is no higher calling in life than to be maturing Christian stewards who do the right things for the right reasons and strive for excellence in all they do.

September, the beginning of a new year of ministry, is a great time to re-dedicate ourselves to using all that we are and have (talents, abilities, money, opportunities) to make a difference in the kingdom of God. And, as St. Paul reminded us in Galatians 6:10, let’s start right where we are with those closest to us and then keep on going from there.

Isn’t it an exciting thought to know that the world can be a better place because we are here?

Saint John’s Stewardship Board promotes the development of good stewardship and giving patterns among the members of Saint John’s.

Who Needs August?

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Written by The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry

Created: July 25 2010 July 25 2010

We often find ourselves in “waiting rooms”, whether real or of our own making. When we are in a“waiting room” ours lives seem like they are put on hold. So, “waiting” can be pretty boring. August is perhaps the most boring month of the year. Summer vacations are winding down. Children are getting bored with summer and looking forward to the start of a new school year.

Life is sometimes like that. We often find ourselves “in between.” In the Bible the terms “wait or waiting”can mean many things. Some of these include: “wait quietly, wait and watch, wait patiently, wait impatiently or wait with hope and expectation.”

The bottom line is that God has given us each day as an opportunity to “rejoice and be glad in it” and use it in the best way we can to bring honor to God and blessings to others. Since each day is a gift from God there is really no such thing as “a useless, boring day” unless we choose to make it that!

As God’s children by grace through faith in Jesus, we are also stewards or managers of all that God has entrusted to us. Good stewards seek to use all that they are and have according to the will of God, the owner. As St. Paul wrote to the Galatians: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” In this way, “we let our lights shine before men, so that they may see our good works and praise our Father in heaven.”

So, there is really no such thing as boring time. Time is God’s gift to us to use. With the Lord’s blessing let’s make the most of our time as well as all of life and life’s resources.

Saint John’s Stewardship Board promotes the development of good stewardship and giving patterns among the members of Saint John’s.

A Free and Joyous Activity

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Written by The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry

Created: June 30 2010 June 30 2010

July 4, 1776, was a memorable day in the history of the United States of America. On that day, the founding fathers of our nation declared their independence from England and English rule. Each year we pause to remember the freedoms we enjoy and give thanks for all those brave men and women who, since 1776, have risked their lives for the sake of freedom and independence. We enjoy the freedom of religion, of gathering in public, of oppression from the government or any other agency. We have the freedom of electing our national, state, and local leaders into office as our leaders.

In November, we will have the opportunity to exercise that freedom one more time. It is our privilege and duty to vote whenever we have the opportunity. History teaches us that national apathy has destroyed numerous empires and America can also flounder and fail if we citizens do not exercise our freedoms in a responsible way.

Not only are we citizens of probably the greatest nation in the history of mankind, but we are also citizens of the Kingdom of God! Because of that citizenship, we enjoy countless freedoms and blessings, like the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. These freedoms and blessings come to us at a great cost—not on our part, but on the part of our gracious Savior Jesus who offered Himself up to death as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Even though we can never adequately express our thanks to Jesus, we can by the power of the Holy Spirit live each day more and more like the children of God.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.Colossians 3:12–17

God’s children are stewards—or managers—of the many blessings that God has bestowed upon us. Stewardship is not meant to be an oppressive response to God’s grace and goodness, but a joyful response. At Saint John’s, we have defined stewardship this way: “Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.” What a beautiful definition for our Christian stewardship!

Because Christ has redeemed us to be the children of God and heirs of salvation, we have the privilege and responsibility to give evidence of this precious freedom through our words and actions. Jesus changes everything in our lives (relationships, use of money, time, talents, and so much more) so that we practice our stewardship not in order to gain salvation, but rather as a free and joyous response because of what God has already done for us through the sacrifice of Jesus and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

What a joy to freely and joyfully practice Christian stewardship not because we have to but because we get to! Enjoy your freedom as a citizen of the United States of America and a citizen of the kingdom of God and let your life show it!

Saint John’s Stewardship Board promotes the development of good stewardship and giving patterns among the members of Saint John’s.

May Flowers

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Written by The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry The LCMS Office of National Mission, Stewardship Ministry

Created: April 23 2010 April 23 2010

In the month of May in many parts of our country the fields, gardens and orchards are green and growing, giving us the promise that seedtime and harvest will again prevail, and, with God’s blessing, the earth will yield its increase and provide food for all God’s creatures. According to God’s design the sun will warm the fertile soil and the rains will cause the seeds to sprout and grow into healthy, productive plants, vines, trees and bushes. We are seeing evidence that the old saying “April showers bring May flowers” is true!

In May we also be celebrating two special church year events: Ascension Day and Pentecost. These two very important holy days help to encourage and empower us as God’s stewards.

On Ascension Day our Lord returned to the right hand of the Father, not to escape from the world, but to serve as our Advocate to the Father. It is so encouraging for us to know that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father pleading for the forgiveness of our sins which results in fresh starts for us as God’s stewards. At the price of His own life, Jesus earned for us the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. His resurrection was proof positive that the Father accepted His suffering and death on the cross as the perfect and complete sacrifice, and His ascension provided proof positive that just as He came from heaven to be our Savior so He returned to heaven to rule all things for the sake of His church—that is, the sake of us—His stewards.

Pentecost Day reminds us of when the Holy Spirit descended upon the first apostles and empowered them to be renewed servants of Jesus who became bold and effective witnesses of the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus. Pentecost Day also reminds us of the new birth of faith in us through the marvelous, yet mysterious, working of the Holy Spirit. For most of us, that started with our baptisms. That new life continues as the Holy Spirit works through His Word and the sacrament of Holy Communion to strengthen and equip us to be effective stewards. As God’s stewards, we have the promise that the Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we otherwise could not do.

The seventh Biblical Stewardship Principle states that “God’s stewards are served and serving.” This means that “God’s stewards recognize that their stewardship involves a Gospel-powered style of life which is demonstrated in servanthood within all the arenas of life.” By the grace of God we are reminded that we are to serve our Lord with personal acts of compassion and service as well as financial gifts. Some people seem inclined to think that stewardship is just about money. Yes, it is about money and how we manage it, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Stewardship involves our wise management and use of all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.

What a blessing and encouragement it is to know and believe that Christ died for us, rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven as the divine conqueror of sin, death and the devil, and now sends His Holy Spirit to be the Lord and Giver of life. May the Holy Spirit enable us to use our time, talents, relationships, treasure and all the other special gifts and blessings in a way that honors our God and blesses our neighbors.

Saint John’s Stewardship Board promotes the development of good stewardship and giving patterns among the members of Saint John’s.