Time, Talent & TreasureWhen we are born again, we are adopted into the family of God. We are His children, and He is our Heavenly Father. In any family the children have responsibilities, and in this study you are going to learn about your own responsibilities as a member of God's family.
PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIP.
Before you progress into this lesson, it is absolutely vital that you see and understand the following four Biblical principles.
PRINCIPLE #1: Everything Belongs To ________.
Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the ________."
Haggai 2:8 "The ______ is mine, and the ________."
Exodus 19:5 "...for all the __________ is __________.”
PRINCIPLE #2: Stewardship Is Properly Managing The Affairs of Another (Genesis 39:l-6).
1. Who was the master in this story?
2. Who was the servant in this story?
3. According to verse 4, what was Joseph made?
4. According to verse 4, what was put into Joseph's hand?
PRINCIPLE #3: Every Christian Is A Steward (Matthew 25:14-15). To whom did the Lord entrust His wealth?
PRINCIPLE #4 : It Is Required of Stewards That They Be Found Faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
AREAS OF STEWARDSHIP.
Stewardship is often misunderstood. Many think it relates only to money. Money is part of God's plan for stewardship, and it is important enough to be considered in detail, but it is only part of God's overall plan for you.
Every good thing we have is called a ________ which comes from God (James 1:17). As stewards, you and I are responsible to God in the use of such things. Below are some of the more obvious areas over which we have been made stewards.
A. Stewardship of our TIME.
1. According to Ephesians 5:16, we are to __________ the time. This means to make every minute count for God.
2. According to James 4:14, our time on earth is compared to a __________ (in the light of eternity).
3. From reading Romans 13:11-12, what kind of Christian do you think the Lord wants you to be?
4. According to 2 Timothy 2:4a, what is one of the greatest stumbling blocks for Christians in the management of God-given time?
5. According to Hebrews 10:25, what is one area in which we are to give back to God the time He gives to us?
6. How much time do you really give to God? Consider the opportunities presented in our Church.
Sunday School – 1 hour
Morning Worship – 1 hour
Evening Worship – 1 hour
Mid-week Prayer & Bible Study – 1 hour
Visitation – 1 hour
TOTAL – 5 ½ hours
Six to eight hours per week is less than 5% of the total time God gives us. It is about 7% of our total hours awake, and if we have a 40-hour-a-week job, it is about 10% of our "available" time.
B. Stewardship of our TALENTS. Read Matthew 25:14-30. This is a parable the Lord Jesus told about stewardship.
1. What did the Lord give to His servants? __________. In Bible days a talent was an expensive coin, but metaphorically it refers to natural God-given abilities.
2. Did every servant receive a talent? ______.
3. Did every servant receive the same number of talents? _______.
4. What was the basis of the Lord's dispensing of responsibility to His servants? See v15. "...each man according to his several __________.”
5. According to v19, what did the Lord do when He came back?
6. What did the Lord say to those who had been good stewards?
7. Answer the following questions as either TRUE or FALSE.
a. I have been given at least one talent.
b. I am to use my talent(s) for Christ.
c. I will not have to give an account to the Lord for my talents.
d. If I don't use it, I'll lose my it.
e. I should give attention to using the talents I have been given.
8. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. This passage likens our Church to a "body," calling it the "Body of Christ." Each individual member is like a part of the human body.
a. We cannot all be the same thing ( v19).
b. God has put you into a church for a definite function (v 18).
c. Every member of our Church is ___________(v 22).
C. Stewardship of our TESTIMONY.
1. According to Philippians 2:15, we are to "shine as __________ in the world."
2. According to Matthew 5:14-16, good stewardship involves
3. According to 1 Peter 3:15, we are to “be __________ always to give an __________ to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.”
STEWARDSHIP OF OUR TREASURE.
The same principles of stewardship which apply to our Time, Talents, and Testimony are given for the management of our Treasures.
Look up Deuteronomy 8:18. Even though we may earn our money through the labor we put forth, this verse tells us it is the ________ thy ________ who gives us power (ability) to get it. The stewardship of God's money is usually referred to in the Bible as Tithes and Offerings
The following Scriptures will teach you what the Bible says concerning tithes and offerings.
A. Look up and compare Genesis 14:20 with Hebrews 7:2. What is a tithe?
B. Is the practice of tithing for New Testament Christians?
1. Some people say tithing was an Old Testament practice for Jews only. It was given under the Law; and the Christian is not under the Law, but under Grace (Romans 6:14). Look up the following Scriptures and identify the persons who endorsed the tithe and offerings.
_______________ = Commenced it (Genesis 14:18-20)
_______________ = Continued it (Genesis 28:20-22)
_______________ = Confirmed it (Leviticus 27:30)
_______________ = Commanded it (Malachi 3:10)
_______________ = Commended it (Matthew 23:23)
_______________ = Commissioned it (1 Corinthians 9:14)
_______________ = Conformed it (1 Corinthians 16:2)
2. A study of these Scriptures shows that tithing is a Scriptural Principal. Abraham and Jacob tithed 500 years BEFORE the Law was instituted. Moses, Malachi, and Jesus spoke of tithing DURING the period of the Law. The Apostle Paul explained tithing AFTER the Law.
C. How should Christians practice tithing? Look up 2 Corinthians 5:14. Under the Law tithing was commanded. Under Grace, we do not tithe legalistically, but because we love the Lord. "For the __________ of Christ ______________ us..."
D. Where should a Christian place The Tithe?
1. According to Malachi 3:10, the tithes were to be brought into the _____________. For the Jews, this storehouse was the treasury of the Temple at Jerusalem.
2. According to Acts 4:35,37 and Acts 5:2, the Christians brought their tithes and offerings to the __________ _________.
3. According to 1 Corinthians 16:2, we are to lay up our giving in _________. Subsequent verses show this storehouse was the church at Corinth, to whom the Epistle was initially addressed.
4. Today the storehouse for your tithe is your CHURCH. It is not God's plan for you to give your tithe wherever you decide.
E. Why are we to place our tithe into our Church?
1. Malachi 3:10 says, "...that there may be _________ in my __________." The tithes and offerings were used for the Temple and the Temple ministry.
2. Read 2 Corinthians 9:13,14. Verse 13 relates to the Old Testament practice, and verse 14 carries this principle over to New Testament churches. Your tithes and offerings are for the support, upkeep, and ministry of your church.
F. What does God call us if we do not tithe? Malachi 3:8
G. What is the promise God gives to those who faithfully tithe? Malachi 3:10
H. To whom does the tithe belong? Leviticus 27:30. The ________. According to the Bible, 10% of your gross income belongs to God.
I. How can I please my Lord when tithing?
1. Matthew 6:33. Give the Lord _________ place in everything.
2. Proverbs 3:9. Honor the Lord with my ________ fruits. This means to set aside the tithe first. If you leave the tithe until last, God usually misses out.
3. 2 Corinthians 16:2. Bring the tithe on the _______ day.
WHAT ABOUT GIVING AN "OFFERING"?
Many people would feel they have done God a great favor just by tithing! But we do not GIVE the tithe — it's not ours to give. Only after we have faithfully tithed can we give an offering unto the Lord.
A. Malachi 3:8 speaks of "tithes and ___________."
B. Tithing requires an obedient heart, but giving requires a __________ heart. Exodus 35:5
C. Study Ezra 1:4; 3:5; 7:16; 8:28. The Bible refers to offerings as _________ _________ offerings.
D. According to 2 Corinthians 8:5, the people in the churches of Macedonia first _______ _____________ to the Lord.
E. According to 2 Corinthians 9:7, what kind of giver does God love?
F. If we tithe and also give an offering, will the Lord allow us to suffer and go without the necessities of life? 2 Corinthians 9:8
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.