Reviving Stewardship Transforming Stewards Erika F Puni Ph

Reviving Stewardship Transforming Stewards Erika F Puni, Ph. D Stewardship Ministries Director General Conference

Stewardship Today Biblical stewardship is misunderstood by many of our church members to mean “tithe and offerings” only. This misconception, and our constant focus on “giving” (calendar of offerings) has created the following problems: Ø Mistrust of church leaders and systems Ø Diversion of tithe and offerings by members to other persons & groups Ø Project giving replacing systematic giving Ø Resistance to stewardship by pastors and church members

“Stewardship is ALL of me in response to ALL of God” NARROW VIEW BROAD VIEW Tithes & Offerings Lordship of Christ Church Member God as God Behavior Values Pocket and Wallet Heart Program Lifestyle

Total and Full Commitment 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. ” Matt 22: 37, 38 (NIV) “You shall have no other gods before me. ” Exodus 20: 3 (NIV)

JESUS IS LORD OF ALL

Human Life in Two Levels Surface Level Expressive Behavior SEEN Temporary Views Activities & Products Deep Level Peoples Worldview NOT SEEN Core Beliefs Values and Principles

Jesus and the Two Levels “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. ” Matthew 23: 27, 28 (NIV)

Stewardship In Two Levels Surface level Temporary views Deep level Core Beliefs Expressive behavior Programs & Products Peoples Worldview Values and Principles

Values Inform Behavior Surface Level Expressive Behavior Returning of Tithe and SEEN Giving of Offerings Temporary Views Activities & Products Deep Level Peoples Worldview Lordship, Relationship, NOT SEEN Worship, and Lifestyle Core Beliefs Values and Principles

Life Without Jesus Christ Surface Level Expressive Behavior SEEN Hoarding, Greed Temporary Views Activities & Products Deep Level Peoples Worldview NOT SEEN Self (I/Me/You) Core Beliefs Values and Principles

Value Transformation “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. ” Galatians 2: 20 (NIV) “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7: 24, 25 (NIV)

Life With Jesus Christ Surface Level Expressive Behavior SEEN Faithfulness, Sacrifice Temporary Views Activities & Products Deep Level Peoples Worldview NOT SEEN Jesus Christ: Savior and Lord Core Beliefs Values and Principles

Competing Values Self-indulgence Self-gratification Self-seeking Self-centeredness Self-serving Jesus Christ Service Simplicity Sacrifice Surrender Submission

Stewardship Values Lordship of Jesus Christ u Lifestyle of daily submission u Living the will of God u Life time partnership with God u Personal relationship with Jesus u Servant leadership in community u Commitment to spirituality u Care and service to the poor u Devotion and worship of God u Involvement in discipleship u

What are your values? SECULAR SPIRITUAL Perishable Infinite Self-centered Christ-centered Body Spirit Short-term Long-term Self-control Spirit-controlled

Gospel Behaviour Values Stewardship is the breaking in of the rule of Jesus Christ into the deep level of our human culture and experience, and transforming our belief systems into His kingdom values