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STEWARDSHIP:
THE MISSING PIECE TO SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING
FALL 2008 STEWARDSHIP SERMON SERIES
MESSAGE #1 OF 4:
"THE BENEFITS OF LIFESTYLE STEWARDSHIP"

DAVE RING, PASTOR
LOS ALAMOS 1ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 19, 2008

SCRIPTURE TEXT: 27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:27-38 (New Int'l. Version)

FOUR OBSERVATIONS ON THE TEXT
1. This behavior is to be our lifestyle as Christians.
2. This behavior sets us apart from the world. (Vss. 32-34)
3. This behavior is modeled by our Heavenly Father. (Vs. 36)
4. This behavior will reap many benefits. (Vss. 35, 37-38)

HOW TO DEVELOP A "GIVING" LIFESTYLE
1. Totally give yourself to God.
2. Learn the Biblical principles of giving. (Today's message)
3. Apply these principles to your life.

One thing is clear throughout both the Old and New Testaments: God desires to bless His people and provide them with the necessities of life. For this to happen, two conditions must be met:
1. Ask God to provide for and meet your needs.
2. Be generous in your giving.

THE BENEFITS OF A "GIVING" LIFESTYLE

1. _________________________________________________
Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

God has never promised that he will give us more than we need. However, He has promised to give us what we need.

2. __________________________________________________
Matthew 5:23-24 "…first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

The test of stewardship is not what our money is doing for us, but what our money is doing to us.

3. __________________________________________________
Luke 16:11 "If you are untrustworthy with worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of Heaven?"

A checking account statement is a theological document. It indicates who and what we worship.

4. __________________________________________________
Matthew 6:24 "You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around." (No further commentary required!)

5. __________________________________________________
I Timothy 6:17-19 "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches,

but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

Each time we give it breaks the materialism syndrome of "I've got to have more."

6.___________________________________________________ Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of Heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need."

7. __________________________________________________
I Chronicles 29:9 "Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly."

8. __________________________________________________
Luke 6:38 (part of today's text) "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return."

9. ___________________________________________________
Luke 16:1-2 "Now He was also saying to the disciples, 'There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him was squandering his possessions. And he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.''"

God will give to us what He knows will flow through us.

10. _________________________________________________
II Cor. 8:7-8 "But just as you abound in everything, in father and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also."

We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.

11. _______________________________________________
Matthew 6:19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…but lay up treasures in heaven."

12. _______________________________________________
Phil. 2:29 "Welcome him back in the Lord with great joy and honor men like him."

13. _______________________________________________
Mark 12:43-44 "I tell you the truth," He said, "this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in everything -- all she had to live on."

14. _______________________________________________
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave…"

"There are two kinds of people on earth today,
Just two kinds of people, no more I say.
Not the good and the bad, for 'tis well understood
That the good are half-bad and the bad half-good
No! The two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean."

Are you a "lifter" or a "leaner?" Are you a giver or a taker?
Have you found the missing piece to successful Christian living? Are you experiencing - and enjoying - the benefits of lifestyle stewardship?

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return." Amen

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