Stewardship

I am scheduled to preach on the subject of stewardship for the next two Wednesday Evening services at Del Rio Christian Fellowship.

Over the next two and a half weeks, I will be posting some blog entries on the subject. Please feel free to give me feedback on what I write!

At this point, the plan is to teach on:

Stewardship Part 1: A Living Sacrifice - 01/09/08
Stewardship Part 2: A Lifestyle Sacrifice - 01/16/08

The way it works is that we have sort of an informal, question and answer kind of deal. Much of my own life experience will come into play and be included in these discussions. These both look to be among the most personal sermons I have prepared to date.

I am really excited about where God is taking me this year, and I really do hope you can join us!

12 August, 2003

In one of our staff development things today, we were looking over the TAKS scores from last year. Being a band director, I was sort of told to go with whatever group I wanted. So I stayed at the table where I was and just stayed with the group that decided to go to that table. So I got to analyze the 8th Grade Reading scores. As we looked at the data, it became clear that one of the trends was that they seemed to do really well on the basic fact-finding questions. Such as, “what happened after Joe went to the kitchen” or something. But the problems seemed more evident in the higher-level critical thinking kinds of questions like “what did the author mean by…” or “what was the meaning of paragraph five” or whatever. In one of the other groups, they noticed that the 8th graders (same students) did remarkably well in the critical thinking questions on the Social Studies test.

This disparity struck me as being very odd. These children can grasp these kinds of concepts in History, but not when they read an article. Why in the world is that? Then it struck me…

This is a problem that we all have. We compartmentalize our lives. We can concentrate for hours on end when it comes to video games or movies, but when we try to read a book, our mind wanders. We can be compltely disciplined with our organizational skills and have a calendar that is jam-packed yet still make every appointment; but on the other hand, we cannot maintain discipline to remain on a diet longer than three days!

It often gets even worse when we begin to consider spiritual matters. I can read a book for fifteen minutes at a time, but it is so terribly hard to pray for fifteen minutes sometimes. Think of it, the Creator of the universe wants to talk to me, and yet I cannot find it in me to even talk to Him (let alone listen to Him) for half of a television program. Why such lopsidedness?

Jesus said, “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” I think that the key is that we are to crucify the flesh. This is not a one-time thing, either. Because our flesh is so strong. We want to be free from its power, and we can be, but that freedom is not long-lived. Like when you leave a wonderful worship service and the guy cuts you off on the highway. Where’s that holy character we just learned about? Where’s that teachable spirit we just portrayed? We must crucify the flesh daily. But even that is not enough. Denial of self is so terribly hard to do! It must be a continual process. Moment-by-moment living to please the Father. Jesus said He did only those things which please the Father. Oh how I wish that could be my true condition! I wish I could know my own true condition.

Hope Amidst Hopelessness (9/11/01)

Today was a day full of confusion in our nation. Flurries of news reports filled the airwaves all day long. Uncertainty reigned supreme in the hearts and minds of many Americans. Some of us were so filled with rushing torrents of emotion that we knew not what to do with it. Children cry out with questions while parents grasp for answers. With seemingly no solid informational sources to hold onto, panic and fear fill the lives of many.

Where does that leave us? What kind of a hope can we share with others? As Christians, we are reminded that we are indeed the light of the world! The picture of a lighthouse can be applied here, in that we are to serve as a beacon to those around us. Many men, women, and children are going through a storm of emotional insecurity as a result of the string of terrorist attacks. I pray that we disciples of Jesus Christ are not going through those storms with them!

The God who spoke the world into existence from nothing is the very same One who spoke “peace” to the winds and waves. He is the same God who has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He has promised to send His Holy Spirit to us as a Comforter. The One who walked the hill of Golgotha is the same One who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. “And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

By spending time with God, we are given a mere glimpse of His absolute wonderful nature! The more we sit at His feet as did Mary, the more of His awesome majesty we become partakers of.

As we listen to Him and study His Word, we are given what Peter calls “the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2), by which we may grow and take counsel from the Lord of lords.

When God calms the storms in our lives, He proves Himself mighty. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according the to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

“I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). “Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called; I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last” (Isaiah 48:12). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen” (Revelation 1:17-18). Throughout the Word of God, He clearly shows Himself to be everlasting!

With the realization and understanding of God’s glory, wisdom, power, and eternity, we can have the ultimate peace that passes all human comprehension. With this revelation, we can gladly and confidently sing with the angels, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:12).

God is ultimately sovereign in all of the affairs of man. Last night, I was studying the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelation. God specifically brought out to me the idea of the grave importance of not leaving my first love, as they did. It’s so easy to have all of the right external ingredients (Bible study, prayer, church attendance, ministry, etc.) and still become more and more distant from the throne of God. Indeed, knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. I don’t know about you, but I found myself listening more to news reports or looking on websites today than searching the Word of God for answers that truly matter.

When those in our lives who have no eternal hope look to us, how do they view us? Are they coming away with a taste of the Prince of Peace, or are they seeing someone who is just as worried about the things that don’t matter as they are? “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” I am again reminded that there is quickly coming a day where every knee will bow and acknowledge God, every tongue will confess Him as God. I pray that my light of hope will so shine before my friends and family that they will bow their knee to Him before that Day!