This lesson's objective: to expand the students' concept of stewardship. We want the students to realize that full scripture must define the concept. We want the students to understand that it is incorrect to selectively use texts from scripture to develop a concept of stewardship that suits our objectives and purposes.
The circumstances cited in the first part of this lesson will be past experiences for older Christians who spent their lives in the Church of Christ. Such older members lived in congregations of the 1940s and '50s. For younger adult Christians, these circumstances will not be even a memory. The approach the teacher takes in sharing this material will depend on the age of his class.
We often find in scripture what we look for in scripture. Too often we study scripture for verification of conclusions formed prior to study. Too seldom do we study scripture for discovery of its message with the objective of being well informed before we form conclusions. Too often we approach scripture assuming we know its basic message. Too seldom do we approach scripture with open minds and hearts that ask scripture to reveal its message to us.
All the teacher should do in the following material is to support or create the awareness this was the actual physical circumstances of many congregations in the 1940s and '50s. You should not direct the class into either a positive or negative discussion of congregations in the 1940s or '50s.
In the 1950s the Church of Christ was typically "that church on the other side of the tracks." Typically our church building [if we had one] was a small frame building in the poorer section of the community. Our "physical complex" typically consisted of a small foyer, a sparse assembly room, and few [if any] classrooms. My boyhood congregation had one room. Sunday morning Bible classes consisted of three groups: one adult and two children. The three groups met in different areas of the narrow room [that seated less than one hundred people].
There were few education buildings, few education programs, few facilities for fellowships, and few "church offices." Physically, congregations reflected their members' reality. Most were lower middle class or poor. Most did not have advanced educational opportunities. Most were in rural communities or small towns. Physically, the typical facilities and membership of today's congregations in the Church of Christ bear little resemblance to congregations in the 1940s and '50s.
As our prosperity increased, we wanted to be better equipped to spiritually educate people. We were growing numerically. We desired to meet the special needs of the disadvantaged. We desired to do foreign mission work.
The objective is neither to bash nor to praise past approaches. The teacher simply should make this factual presentation: "Some used the concept of stewardship in this manner in years past." This information is not provided with the intention of becoming a major point of discussion, but as a reference point to note past concepts of stewardship.
A common approach to motivate Christians to give financially used an appeal based on Jesus' promises. As possibilities increased for better facilities and equipment, improved education programs, and ministry development, greater financial support was essential. A specific concept of stewardship was used to motivate Christians to be financially generous. "You cannot out give God. Jesus promised that if we were generous, God would materially reward our generosity."
Some missionaries used a specific concept of stewardship in their appeal. They obtained help by using the following approach. "To know to do good and refuse to do it is sin. The mission need I presented to you is a good work. If you refuse to help this work, you sin." The stewardship principle was simple: "When God gave you the financial ability, He gave you this responsibility."
Again, the major objective is not to create a discussion of "proof texting." The proper objective when studying scripture is to understand the point of the writer as he wrote the statement. Proper application of any scripture depends on a proper understanding of its message. A proof text is used properly and validly when it is not torn from its context. A concept should be formed by understanding scripture's complete message on that concept. Each scripture used should be understood in its context. The collective information of all scriptures, each understood within its context, should form a concept.
The "proof text" approach was used to verify the expansion concept of stewardship and the missions concept of stewardship. Neither approach dealt with the scripture's complete concept of stewardship. Each "spiritually customized" stewardship to support its objectives.
Read Matthew 19:23-30.
Questions concerning context:
Jesus answered the rich young man's question, "What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" Teacher, please take note of the "shall I do."
(1) It is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. (2) A camel can go through the eye of a needle easier than a rich person can enter the kingdom of heaven.
They did not understand Jesus' statement. They were astounded. Their immediate conclusion was that no one could be saved. Remember, in the first century [and long before] in Jewish society, receiving and having wealth was recognized as God's confirmation of righteousness. To suggest that wealth made it difficult to receive eternal life contradicted their common concept. Many of the godly characters of the Old Testament were wealthy persons.
Point:
We left everything to follow you. What will we receive?
Jesus promised that they would sit upon twelve thrones ruling the tribes of Israel when he sat on his glorious throne. 1 Corinthians 15 contains Paul's discussion of the resurrected Jesus. Verses 1-28 presented the resurrected Jesus as currently reigning. Verse 25 declared that Jesus had reigned from the moment of ascension until that moment, and will continue to reign until he returns. Verse 28 declared when Jesus returns, the reigning Jesus will return all control to God.
In Acts 1 it is clear that (1) the apostles must stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes and they begin their ministry as witnesses (Acts 1:8); and (2) that it is necessary for there to be twelve apostles when the Holy Spirit comes (Acts 1:15-26).
On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the apostles represented the twelve tribes of Israel. After that occasion nothing suggests that there must be twelve apostles. No line of succession is presented or emphasized after Acts 1 and 2. In the picture of heaven in Revelation 20, the twelve gates were inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes, and twelve foundation stones were inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles (Revelation 20:12,14).
Everyone who left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for the benefit of Jesus' name shall receive many times as much and inherit eternal life.
Read Mark 10:23-30.
Questions concerning context:
Jesus answered the rich young man's question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
(1) It is hard for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom. (2) It is hard to enter God's kingdom. (3) It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter God's kingdom.
The twelve did not understand Jesus' statement. They were astonished. They asked who could be saved [see the appropriate comments in the last scripture]. Jesus said things that were impossible for people were possible for God.
Point:
We have left everything and followed you.
Anyone who left houses, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms for Jesus' benefit and the gospel's benefit would receive a hundred times as much in the present age with persecutions, and eternal life later.
The material blessings received by this person who sacrificed for Jesus had to be consistent with the occurrence of persecution. Remember in those times the extended family was their "social security" program, their "accident" insurance, and their "Medicare and health insurance program." Consider the result of conversion to Christ [the first Christians] in Acts 2. To sacrifice a Jewish family and gain God's family [as in Acts 2] would be enormous physical gain that resulted in persecution.
Conversion to Christ should and can produce the new humanity. The new humanity exists when we become new creatures in Christ and live consistently with what God recreates us to be (see Ephesians 4:17-24). To be a part of this new humanity is great blessing on earth and results in eternal life with God.
Read Luke 6:20-38.
Context: this was Jesus' sermon on the plain. Matthew 5-7 was Jesus' sermon on the mountain. The two sermons were similar. [As Jesus shared his message in many places, he often stressed the same truths using similar approaches.] He shared beatitudes. He stressed proper conduct in hostile situations. He gave the foundation reasons for the "new conduct of the new humanity."
Focus: give attention to verse 38. What was the promise? What was the responsibility?
Generosity will be returned in good measurement: a full, shaken down, overflowing measure. This illustration is an agricultural, market illustration. To place the maximum grain in a basket required the basket to be shaken to "settle" the grain, and then to fill that basket to the point of overflowing.
The responsibility: the measure you receive will depend on the measure you give others.
Read Matthew 10:34-39.
Context: the twelve were sent exclusively to the Jewish people in Palestine to alert them to the coming of the anticipated kingdom. Matthew 10 is Jesus' instructions to the twelve prior to this mission.
Question: would Jesus' impact on people's lives result in earthly peace and material prosperity?
It would not result in earthly peace and material prosperity. For a Jew at that time, believing in Jesus would be like living by the sword. Faith in Jesus divided many Jewish families and created hostility within Jewish families. [Matthew was written to Jewish people.] Often family members became enemies when a Jewish person believed in Jesus. The believer would find it necessary to make a difficult choice between loving Jesus or loving family. He would find it necessary to endure the shame and disgrace of associating himself with a cross, an extremely disgraceful reality and symbol in the Roman and Jewish world.
Please understand scripture must define stewardship. All Jesus' statements in this lesson involve stewardship realities. The full, biblical concept of stewardship includes all of them. As we continue this stewardship study, be aware of two truths: (1) the truth concerning Christian stewardship must be a worldwide truth, not just an America truth; (2) God's greatest avenue of blessing is not physical. Among God's great New Testament stewards were Jesus, the twelve, Paul, and devout early Christians. What happened to them physically? Read Acts 5:40, 41.
When a person genuinely converted to Jesus becomes a part of a people who are genuinely converted to Jesus, he or she becomes part of a unique, earthly relationship. When a Christian travels anywhere on earth, he or she has an instant relationship with other Christians. Missionaries have been astounded by the kindness, generosity, and protection provided by poor Christians who hardly know them.
Conversion to Jesus is not the avenue to guaranteed material prosperity. Material prosperity is unimportant to those converted to Jesus. Material wealth is only a tool to be used in life. It is never the purpose for nor the objective of life.
Conversion to Jesus often creates enemies. Those who reject Christ often look with contempt on those who belong to Christ.
Stewardship makes us a part of a special family, part of a special kingdom. It also places us in conflict with unique enemies.
Link to Student Guide Quarter 4, Lesson 6