October 3
Stewardship of Mission
For the next four weeks we will be talking about Christian Stewardship. Christian stewardship is recognizing the material and personal resources we have been blessed with and using them in ways that build the Church and honors God. How we use these resources determines the condition of our Spiritual Health and the Spiritual Health of our church.
“What is the prescription for good spiritual health?” In answer to this question, we will look at four primary components that should be in the life of a church and in our personal lives. They are our MEDS - Mission, Evangelism, Discipleship and Stewardship. Using our MEDS will help us determine how spiritually healthy we are, and what we need to do to have a strong and healthy spiritual life. When we are spiritually healthy, we feel more connected not only to God, but to those around us.
This week we will look at Mission. Our mission is to follow Christ’s example in caring for others by helping people who are hurting or in need, lost or alone, or suffering in any way. Being a helper in God’s service takes time. Time is one of the many gifts that God has given us to use for His purposes. Is our time spent in a way that is self-serving or have we made room for spending time on God’s mission?
Time is the only resource given equally to each one of us. Every person on the planet gets the same 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a week. The use of our time is a reflection of our life’s priorities. It is not a coincidence that a tithe (10%) of our time for a week is 16.8 hours – about one waking day. We are asking you to take a few minutes this week to see how you spent your 168 hours.
Over the next four weeks I will be handing out resources for you to take home that will help you check your spiritual health and search your life’s activities to better understand how you are using them for God’s purposes. For those of you watching today, you can go to our website< firstbaptistracine.org >and go to the link found there with the stewardship resources that are handed out each Sunday.
My Time – God’s Plan
In the following exercise, you are to reflect on how you used your time this past week and allocate the 168 hours give to you in the following categories:
· Sleep ________
· Work – Business/Home ________
· Television ________
· Prayer/Bible Study ________
· Driving/Riding ________
· Eating ________
· Family Activities ________
· Time with Friends ________
· Recreation ________
· Worship ________
· Church Work ________
· Mission/ Outreach ________
· Other ________
Total = 168 hours
Were you surprised about how your time was spent?
Did you really use the time in the way you wanted to?
Do you think you used your time in the way that pleased God?
What do you think you could change to be a better steward of God’s time that has been entrusted to you?
Time is a precious gift from God, a resource we must value and use for God’s plan.