1 WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF STEWARDSHIP

1. WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF STEWARDSHIP? 2. WHY IS STEWARDSHIP IMPORTANT? 3. WHAT DOES OUR STEWARDSHIP SAY ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD? 4. WHAT IS THE CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC OF STEWARDSHIP?

CHARLES THOMAS (C. T. ) STUDD BORN: DECEMBER 2, 1860, SPRATTON, ENGLAND DIED: JULY 16, 1931, IBAMBI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Spouse: Priscilla Studd (m. 1888– 1929) Siblings: George Studd, Kynaston Studd, Herbert Studd, Reginald Studd, Arthur Studd Education: Trinity College, Cambridge, Eton College

1. WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF STEWARDSHIP? GEN 2: 8 -9, 15 -17, 1 COR 4: 7 a, DT 8: 17 -18

GENESIS 2: 8 -9 (NASB) [8] THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN TOWARD THE EAST, IN EDEN; AND THERE HE PLACED THE MAN WHOM HE HAD FORMED. [9] OUT OF THE GROUND THE LORD GOD CAUSED TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASING TO THE SIGHT AND GOOD FOR FOOD; THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.

GENESIS 2: 15 -17 (NASB) [15] THEN THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN AND PUT HIM INTO THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO CULTIVATE IT AND KEEP IT. THIS CHURCH IS THE BEGINNING OF STEWARDSHIP

[16] THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, SAYING, “FROM ANY TREE OF THE GARDEN YOU MAY EAT FREELY; [17] BUT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL YOU SHALL NOT EAT, FOR IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT FROM IT YOU WILL SURELY DIE. ”

HEREIN LIES THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP, IN FACT THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF ALL CHRISTIANITY: WE OWN NOTHING. GOD OWNS EVERYTHING; WE ARE SIMPLY MANAGERS.

1 CORINTHIANS 4: 7 a (NASB) FOR WHO REGARDS YOU AS SUPERIOR? WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE?

DT 8: 17 -18 17 BE CAREFUL NOT TO SAY, “MY OWN ABILITY AND SKILL HAVE GOTTEN ME THIS WEALTH. ” 18 YOU MUST REMEMBER THE LORD YOUR GOD, FOR HE IS THE ONE WHO GIVES ABILITY TO GET WEALTH;

2. WHY IS STEWARDSHIP IMPORTANT? LK 16: 1 -2, LK 12: 46 -48,

LUKE 16: 1 -2 (NASB) [1] NOW HE WAS ALSO SAYING TO THE DISCIPLES, “THERE WAS A RICH MAN WHO HAD A MANAGER, AND THIS MANAGER WAS REPORTED TO HIM AS SQUANDERING HIS POSSESSIONS.

[2] “AND HE CALLED HIM AND SAID TO HIM, ‘WHAT IS THIS I HEAR ABOUT YOU? GIVE AN ACCOUNTING OF YOUR MANAGEMENT, FOR YOU CAN NO LONGER BE MANAGER. ’

LUKE 12: 46 (NASB) [46] THE MASTER OF THAT SLAVE WILL COME ON A DAY WHEN HE DOES NOT EXPECT HIM AND AT AN HOUR HE DOES NOT KNOW, AND WILL CUT HIM IN PIECES, AND ASSIGN HIM A PLACE WITH THE UNBELIEVERS.

[47] “AND THAT SLAVE WHO KNEW HIS MASTER'S WILL AND DID NOT GET READY OR ACT IN ACCORD WITH HIS WILL, WILL RECEIVE MANY LASHES, [48 a] BUT THE ONE WHO DID NOT KNOW IT, AND COMMITTED DEEDS WORTHY OF A FLOGGING, WILL RECEIVE BUT FEW.

[48 b] FROM EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN MUCH, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED; AND TO WHOM THEY ENTRUSTED MUCH, OF HIM THEY WILL ASK ALL THE MORE.

WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN YOU STAND BEFORE THE LORD AND HE ASKS YOU WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE GIFTS, RESOURCES AND TIME THAT I HAVE ENTRUSTED TO YOU? YOU MAY IGNORE IT NOW, BUT THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THERE WILL BE AN ACCOUNTING. THERE ISN’T A DO OVER.

3. WHAT DOES OUR STEWARDSHIP SAY ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE LORD? 1 PET 4: 10, MT 6: 21

1 PETER 4: 10 (NLT) [10] GOD HAS GIVEN GIFTS TO EACH OF YOU FROM HIS GREAT VARIETY OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. MANAGE THEM WELL SO THAT GOD'S GENEROSITY CAN FLOW THROUGH YOU.

WE ALL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME 24 HOURS IN A DAY 168 HOURS IN A WEEK 8736 HOURS IN A YEAR =525, 600 MINUTES

SOME PEOPLE TAKE THEIR TIME AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, DREAMS AND MAKE PLANS, CULTIVATE THEIR WALK WITH GOD, DEVELOP NEW SKILLS AND LIVES OF ADVENTURE. SOME PEOPLE WATCH A LOT OF TV.

WHERE DO YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE? YOUR KINGDOM or GOD’S KINGDOM? Matthew 6: 21 (NASB) for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

THAT’S WHAT STEWARDSHIP IS ALL ABOUT: FAITHFULLY DEVELOPING AND USING OUR GIFTS, TALENTS AND RESOURCES WITHIN THE AMOUNT OF TIME GOD HAS ALLOTTED TO US HERE ON EARTH.

4. WHAT IS THE CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC OF STEWARDSHIP? 1 CO 4: 1 -2, LK 16: 10 -13, MT 25: 23

1 CORINTHIANS 4: 1 -2 (KJV) [4: 1] LET A MAN SO ACCOUNT OF US, AS OF THE MINISTERS OF CHRIST, AND STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD. [2] MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED IN STEWARDS, THAT A MAN BE FOUND FAITHFUL.

LUKE 16: 10 -11 (NLT) [10] “UNLESS YOU ARE FAITHFUL IN SMALL MATTERS, YOU WON'T BE FAITHFUL IN LARGE ONES. IF YOU CHEAT EVEN A LITTLE, YOU WON'T BE HONEST WITH GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES.

[11] AND IF YOU ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY ABOUT WORLDLY WEALTH, WHO WILL TRUST YOU WITH THE TRUE RICHES OF HEAVEN? [12] AND IF YOU ARE NOT FAITHFUL WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, WHY SHOULD YOU BE TRUSTED WITH MONEY OF YOUR OWN?

MATTHEW 25: 23 (NASB) [23] “HIS MASTER SAID TO HIM, ‘WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SLAVE. YOU WERE FAITHFUL WITH A FEW THINGS, I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY THINGS; ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER. ’

FAITHFUL-COMPASSIONATE CONTENT-GENEROUS GRATEFUL-LOVING LOYAL-OBEDIENT PRAYERFUL-RESPONSIBLE SACRIFICIAL-SHARING

WHAT KIND OF STEWARD ARE YOU?

C. T. STUDD'S ANSWER TO CRITICS WHO SAID HE WENT OVERBOARD IN HIS ZEAL WAS SIMPLE. "HOW COULD I SPEND THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE IN LIVING FOR THE HONORS OF THIS WORLD, WHEN THOUSANDS OF SOULS ARE PERISHING EVERY DAY? "

ONLY ONE LIFE, TWILL SOON BE PAST Poem by C. T. Studd

TWO LITTLE LINES I HEARD ONE DAY, TRAVELING ALONG LIFE’S BUSY WAY; BRINGING CONVICTION TO MY HEART, AND FROM MY MIND WOULD NOT DEPART; ONLY ONE LIFE, TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

ONLY ONE LIFE, YES ONLY ONE, SOON WILL ITS FLEETING HOURS BE DONE; THEN, IN ‘THAT DAY’ MY LORD TO MEET, AND STAND BEFORE HIS JUDGEMENT SEAT; ONLY ONE LIFE, ’TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

ONLY ONE LIFE, THE STILL SMALL VOICE, GENTLY PLEADS FOR A BETTER CHOICE BIDDING ME SELFISH AIMS TO LEAVE, AND TO GOD’S HOLY WILL TO CLEAVE; ONLY ONE LIFE, ’TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

ONLY ONE LIFE, A FEW BRIEF YEARS, EACH WITH ITS BURDENS, HOPES, AND FEARS; EACH WITH ITS CLAYS I MUST FULFILL, LIVING FOR SELF OR IN HIS WILL; ONLY ONE LIFE, ’TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

WHEN THIS BRIGHT WORLD WOULD TEMPT ME SORE, WHEN SATAN WOULD A VICTORY SCORE; WHEN SELF WOULD SEEK TO HAVE ITS WAY, THEN HELP ME LORD WITH JOY TO SAY; ONLY ONE LIFE, ’TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

GIVE ME FATHER, A PURPOSE DEEP, IN JOY OR SORROW THY WORD TO KEEP; FAITHFUL AND TRUE WHAT E’ER THE STRIFE, PLEASING THEE IN MY DAILY LIFE; ONLY ONE LIFE, ’TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

OH LET MY LOVE WITH FERVOR BURN, AND FROM THE WORLD NOW LET ME TURN; LIVING FOR THEE, AND THEE ALONE, BRINGING THEE PLEASURE ON THY THRONE; ONLY ONE LIFE, “TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

ONLY ONE LIFE, YES ONLY ONE, NOW LET ME SAY, ”THY WILL BE DONE”; AND WHEN AT LAST I’LL HEAR THE CALL, I KNOW I’LL SAY “TWAS WORTH IT ALL”; ONLY ONE LIFE, ’TWILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST. ”