Dear Church Family,

It was a privilege for us to share with you this week, continuing the theme of stewardship, with a focus on our wealth - our finances, money, riches, and material possessions. The Bible has over 2,350 verses that talk about money and possessions. We shared references of a few specific topics to briefly highlight the breadth of God’s wisdom on finances, including planning and budgeting (Proverbs 21:5), saving (Proverbs 6:6-8 and Proverbs 21:20), investing (Ecclesiastes 11:2), debt (Proverbs 22:7), and cosigning on debt (Proverbs 6:1-5).

We are convinced that the Bible covers this topic in such great detail because God knows how important finances are in our daily lives. God knows how our money and possessions represent both a threat in the form of idolatry and an opportunity for deeper relationship by submitting to Him.

“Master Money:” Last week, Stuart mentioned how our checkbook and our calendar show our true priorities. The right and disciplined use of our time and money is reflective of our knowledge of God’s will and His Word. But sometimes our choices to indulge ourselves in ways we can’t afford allow money to control us instead of us controlling our money. Chuck Bentley, the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, uses the expression “Master Money,” illustrating how money is constantly trying to be our master. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 (NIV), “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

God has a part – He is our provider (Matthew 6:25 and 26; Philippians 4:19); we have a part – to faithfully manage what He has entrusted to us. Debt is a presumption on the future and consumer debt, may be us demonstrating that the level of provision that God has determined for us, at that point in time in our lives, is inadequate and we have to take things into our own hands. We often hear teaching about our highly sexualized culture, but we do not as often consider our highly materialistic culture and its influence on us. What can set us free so that we may serve and worship God freely?

Point #1 - God owns it all Consider these scriptures regarding God’s ownership of everything:

o “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (ESV)

o “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalm 24:1 (NIV)o Also see 1 Chronicles 29:16, Colossians 1:16 and 17, Leviticus 25:23, Haggai 2:8, Psalm 50:10-12,

James 1:17

Why are these truths of God’s ownership so fundamental to our view of stewardship? Our natural

July 28, 2015

CHRIST Our Shepherd Church . 801 North Carolina Avenue S.E. . Washington, D.C. 20003 Tele: 202-544-9599Fax: 202-544-9605 . www.christourshepherd.org . office@christourshepherd.org

response, the tendency of our sinful nature, is to want our stuff to be ours. If we own our stuff, then we do not have to be accountable to anyone for how we manage it. In the Parable of the Dishonest Manager in Luke 16, Jesus tells of a rich man who asks a steward to give an account of his management because this steward was accused of wasting possessions. Like this man entrusted with his owner’s possessions, we too are accountable for how we manage what God has given to us. What then is our part as stewards? How are we to behave?

Point #2 - We are called to be faithful stewards 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV) says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Using the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) as a reference, we made the following observations:

o Whether given much or given little, the amount did not matter to the master. It was how each steward behaved – what he did with the money – that mattered.

o It would seem as if the wicked servant didn’t do anything bad. At least he didn’t spend the talent on himself or lose it! However, he did not honor his master and his master’s expectations and that was why he was punished.

o The servants knew the expectations of the master and they were judged on how they acted according to those expectations. As Christians, we should be seeking to learn and understand the expectations given to us in the truths and principles of God’s Word.

Does this leave us in a place where we are not ever able to spend money on ourselves without some sense of guilt? The Scriptures say no (see Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19). God gives us resources for us to enjoy, to remember His goodness to us, and to celebrate His goodness. But, we are not to trust or find our security in our riches, and we are to be generous.

Point #3 – Stewardship is about our heart What impresses you? What grabs your attention? The answers to these questions are going to impact how we manage the resources God has given us. Comparison can be a thief of our joy, as well as worry, selfishness, and false guilt. These are matters of our heart that we need to take to God in prayer, allowing Him to change our hearts. Two attitudes, or “guardrails,” for our heart are contentment and generosity. These attitudes open up our perspective and change our focus.

o Contentment: While in jail, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV). A couple exercises that we have found helpful with regards to contentment include waiting (not acting to purchase something immediately and putting items on a wish list for a set period of time) and shifting our focus to gratitude (listing what we enjoy about the gifts that God has given us).

o Generosity: Briefly, by being generous, we can direct our treasures and thereby direct our hearts toward things of the Kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not

break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Also, we discussed 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Malachi 3:6-12, with emphasis on God’s statement in verse 7, “Return to me”. We would offer to you that we should not wait for God to change our hearts before we start giving; we should give our treasures and see the change – the work – that God does in our hearts.

As we consider the heart, we should remember the caution of 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV): “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” We as stewards are called to live our lives in a way that shows the world that money is not our God.

Additional Encouragement:

1. Howard Dayton, the founder of Compass Financial Ministries, encourages married couples that money should be glue in a marriage and not a wedge that drives a couple apart. He encourages parents to be an MVP parent: model these truths and principles, verbalize them to your children, and give opportunities for your children to practice them.2. This series on spiritual disciplines is about connecting you to the Lord – the application is up to you, guided by the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord, “What do I need to do?” “What area of my finances do I need to take action on?”3. We are not on this journey alone –encourage and spur one another on. Seek accountability in this area.4. The phrase “financial freedom” is not about being financially free from God or of being independent of Him; it is about being even more dependent on God as we seek to be faithful stewards of what He has given us.5. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9, two chapters in the New Testament that provide an in-depth look at generosity, ends with the statement, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” [2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)] Our generosity is an act of worship to God and to what He has done for us!

Your brother and sister in Christ,John and Andi Ramsey

CHRIST OUR SHEPHERD CHURCH

Dear Church Family,

It was a privilege for us to share with you this week, continuing the theme of stewardship, with a focus on our wealth - our finances, money, riches, and material possessions. The Bible has over 2,350 verses that talk about money and possessions. We shared references of a few specific topics to briefly highlight the breadth of God’s wisdom on finances, including planning and budgeting (Proverbs 21:5), saving (Proverbs 6:6-8 and Proverbs 21:20), investing (Ecclesiastes 11:2), debt (Proverbs 22:7), and cosigning on debt (Proverbs 6:1-5).

We are convinced that the Bible covers this topic in such great detail because God knows how important finances are in our daily lives. God knows how our money and possessions represent both a threat in the form of idolatry and an opportunity for deeper relationship by submitting to Him.

“Master Money:” Last week, Stuart mentioned how our checkbook and our calendar show our true priorities. The right and disciplined use of our time and money is reflective of our knowledge of God’s will and His Word. But sometimes our choices to indulge ourselves in ways we can’t afford allow money to control us instead of us controlling our money. Chuck Bentley, the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, uses the expression “Master Money,” illustrating how money is constantly trying to be our master. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 (NIV), “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

God has a part – He is our provider (Matthew 6:25 and 26; Philippians 4:19); we have a part – to faithfully manage what He has entrusted to us. Debt is a presumption on the future and consumer debt, may be us demonstrating that the level of provision that God has determined for us, at that point in time in our lives, is inadequate and we have to take things into our own hands. We often hear teaching about our highly sexualized culture, but we do not as often consider our highly materialistic culture and its influence on us. What can set us free so that we may serve and worship God freely?

Point #1 - God owns it all Consider these scriptures regarding God’s ownership of everything:

o “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (ESV)

o “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalm 24:1 (NIV)o Also see 1 Chronicles 29:16, Colossians 1:16 and 17, Leviticus 25:23, Haggai 2:8, Psalm 50:10-12,

James 1:17

Why are these truths of God’s ownership so fundamental to our view of stewardship? Our natural

response, the tendency of our sinful nature, is to want our stuff to be ours. If we own our stuff, then we do not have to be accountable to anyone for how we manage it. In the Parable of the Dishonest Manager in Luke 16, Jesus tells of a rich man who asks a steward to give an account of his management because this steward was accused of wasting possessions. Like this man entrusted with his owner’s possessions, we too are accountable for how we manage what God has given to us. What then is our part as stewards? How are we to behave?

Point #2 - We are called to be faithful stewards 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV) says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Using the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) as a reference, we made the following observations:

o Whether given much or given little, the amount did not matter to the master. It was how each steward behaved – what he did with the money – that mattered.

o It would seem as if the wicked servant didn’t do anything bad. At least he didn’t spend the talent on himself or lose it! However, he did not honor his master and his master’s expectations and that was why he was punished.

o The servants knew the expectations of the master and they were judged on how they acted according to those expectations. As Christians, we should be seeking to learn and understand the expectations given to us in the truths and principles of God’s Word.

Does this leave us in a place where we are not ever able to spend money on ourselves without some sense of guilt? The Scriptures say no (see Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19). God gives us resources for us to enjoy, to remember His goodness to us, and to celebrate His goodness. But, we are not to trust or find our security in our riches, and we are to be generous.

Point #3 – Stewardship is about our heart What impresses you? What grabs your attention? The answers to these questions are going to impact how we manage the resources God has given us. Comparison can be a thief of our joy, as well as worry, selfishness, and false guilt. These are matters of our heart that we need to take to God in prayer, allowing Him to change our hearts. Two attitudes, or “guardrails,” for our heart are contentment and generosity. These attitudes open up our perspective and change our focus.

o Contentment: While in jail, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV). A couple exercises that we have found helpful with regards to contentment include waiting (not acting to purchase something immediately and putting items on a wish list for a set period of time) and shifting our focus to gratitude (listing what we enjoy about the gifts that God has given us).

o Generosity: Briefly, by being generous, we can direct our treasures and thereby direct our hearts toward things of the Kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not

Christ Our Shepherd Church . 801 North Carolina Avenue S.E. . Washington, D.C. 20003 Tele: 202-544-9599Fax: 202-544-9605 . www.christourshepherd.org . office@christourshepherd.org

break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Also, we discussed 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Malachi 3:6-12, with emphasis on God’s statement in verse 7, “Return to me”. We would offer to you that we should not wait for God to change our hearts before we start giving; we should give our treasures and see the change – the work – that God does in our hearts.

As we consider the heart, we should remember the caution of 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV): “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” We as stewards are called to live our lives in a way that shows the world that money is not our God.

Additional Encouragement:

1. Howard Dayton, the founder of Compass Financial Ministries, encourages married couples that money should be glue in a marriage and not a wedge that drives a couple apart. He encourages parents to be an MVP parent: model these truths and principles, verbalize them to your children, and give opportunities for your children to practice them.2. This series on spiritual disciplines is about connecting you to the Lord – the application is up to you, guided by the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord, “What do I need to do?” “What area of my finances do I need to take action on?”3. We are not on this journey alone –encourage and spur one another on. Seek accountability in this area.4. The phrase “financial freedom” is not about being financially free from God or of being independent of Him; it is about being even more dependent on God as we seek to be faithful stewards of what He has given us.5. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9, two chapters in the New Testament that provide an in-depth look at generosity, ends with the statement, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” [2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)] Our generosity is an act of worship to God and to what He has done for us!

Your brother and sister in Christ,John and Andi Ramsey

Dear Church Family,

It was a privilege for us to share with you this week, continuing the theme of stewardship, with a focus on our wealth - our finances, money, riches, and material possessions. The Bible has over 2,350 verses that talk about money and possessions. We shared references of a few specific topics to briefly highlight the breadth of God’s wisdom on finances, including planning and budgeting (Proverbs 21:5), saving (Proverbs 6:6-8 and Proverbs 21:20), investing (Ecclesiastes 11:2), debt (Proverbs 22:7), and cosigning on debt (Proverbs 6:1-5).

We are convinced that the Bible covers this topic in such great detail because God knows how important finances are in our daily lives. God knows how our money and possessions represent both a threat in the form of idolatry and an opportunity for deeper relationship by submitting to Him.

“Master Money:” Last week, Stuart mentioned how our checkbook and our calendar show our true priorities. The right and disciplined use of our time and money is reflective of our knowledge of God’s will and His Word. But sometimes our choices to indulge ourselves in ways we can’t afford allow money to control us instead of us controlling our money. Chuck Bentley, the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, uses the expression “Master Money,” illustrating how money is constantly trying to be our master. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 (NIV), “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

God has a part – He is our provider (Matthew 6:25 and 26; Philippians 4:19); we have a part – to faithfully manage what He has entrusted to us. Debt is a presumption on the future and consumer debt, may be us demonstrating that the level of provision that God has determined for us, at that point in time in our lives, is inadequate and we have to take things into our own hands. We often hear teaching about our highly sexualized culture, but we do not as often consider our highly materialistic culture and its influence on us. What can set us free so that we may serve and worship God freely?

Point #1 - God owns it all Consider these scriptures regarding God’s ownership of everything:

o “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (ESV)

o “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalm 24:1 (NIV)o Also see 1 Chronicles 29:16, Colossians 1:16 and 17, Leviticus 25:23, Haggai 2:8, Psalm 50:10-12,

James 1:17

Why are these truths of God’s ownership so fundamental to our view of stewardship? Our natural

response, the tendency of our sinful nature, is to want our stuff to be ours. If we own our stuff, then we do not have to be accountable to anyone for how we manage it. In the Parable of the Dishonest Manager in Luke 16, Jesus tells of a rich man who asks a steward to give an account of his management because this steward was accused of wasting possessions. Like this man entrusted with his owner’s possessions, we too are accountable for how we manage what God has given to us. What then is our part as stewards? How are we to behave?

Point #2 - We are called to be faithful stewards 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV) says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Using the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) as a reference, we made the following observations:

o Whether given much or given little, the amount did not matter to the master. It was how each steward behaved – what he did with the money – that mattered.

o It would seem as if the wicked servant didn’t do anything bad. At least he didn’t spend the talent on himself or lose it! However, he did not honor his master and his master’s expectations and that was why he was punished.

o The servants knew the expectations of the master and they were judged on how they acted according to those expectations. As Christians, we should be seeking to learn and understand the expectations given to us in the truths and principles of God’s Word.

Does this leave us in a place where we are not ever able to spend money on ourselves without some sense of guilt? The Scriptures say no (see Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19). God gives us resources for us to enjoy, to remember His goodness to us, and to celebrate His goodness. But, we are not to trust or find our security in our riches, and we are to be generous.

Point #3 – Stewardship is about our heart What impresses you? What grabs your attention? The answers to these questions are going to impact how we manage the resources God has given us. Comparison can be a thief of our joy, as well as worry, selfishness, and false guilt. These are matters of our heart that we need to take to God in prayer, allowing Him to change our hearts. Two attitudes, or “guardrails,” for our heart are contentment and generosity. These attitudes open up our perspective and change our focus.

o Contentment: While in jail, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV). A couple exercises that we have found helpful with regards to contentment include waiting (not acting to purchase something immediately and putting items on a wish list for a set period of time) and shifting our focus to gratitude (listing what we enjoy about the gifts that God has given us).

o Generosity: Briefly, by being generous, we can direct our treasures and thereby direct our hearts toward things of the Kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not

break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Also, we discussed 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Malachi 3:6-12, with emphasis on God’s statement in verse 7, “Return to me”. We would offer to you that we should not wait for God to change our hearts before we start giving; we should give our treasures and see the change – the work – that God does in our hearts.

As we consider the heart, we should remember the caution of 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV): “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” We as stewards are called to live our lives in a way that shows the world that money is not our God.

Additional Encouragement:

1. Howard Dayton, the founder of Compass Financial Ministries, encourages married couples that money should be glue in a marriage and not a wedge that drives a couple apart. He encourages parents to be an MVP parent: model these truths and principles, verbalize them to your children, and give opportunities for your children to practice them.2. This series on spiritual disciplines is about connecting you to the Lord – the application is up to you, guided by the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord, “What do I need to do?” “What area of my finances do I need to take action on?”3. We are not on this journey alone –encourage and spur one another on. Seek accountability in this area.4. The phrase “financial freedom” is not about being financially free from God or of being independent of Him; it is about being even more dependent on God as we seek to be faithful stewards of what He has given us.5. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9, two chapters in the New Testament that provide an in-depth look at generosity, ends with the statement, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” [2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)] Our generosity is an act of worship to God and to what He has done for us!

Your brother and sister in Christ,John and Andi Ramsey

Christ Our Shepherd Church . 801 North Carolina Avenue S.E. . Washington, D.C. 20003 Tele: 202-544-9599Fax: 202-544-9605 . www.christourshepherd.org . office@christourshepherd.org