It was a fun time at City Central this week as we had our first ever Join The Team Sunday! Pastor Chris encouraged us with a message about the joy of giving our lives away through serving the church. God wants to advance the His Kingdom and impact eternity through His people’s time and talents. As we allow God to use us how He sees fit, we experience the full joy of living for something greater than ourselves.
How we invest our life today will matter for all eternity.
3 Truths of Joyful Stewardship
1. Everything we have is a gift from God.
• A steward is someone entrusted with another’s time, talents, and treasure. They are charged with the responsibility of managing it in the owner’s best interest.
Matthew 25:14–18 (ESV)
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
• Spiritual Gifts are supernatural abilities to glorify God through acts of service.
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6).
“Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” George Washington Carver
Three Categories of Spiritual Gifts:
- Serving Gifts (deeds) Examples: mercy, hospitality, discernment, helps/service.
- Speaking Gifts (words) Examples: teaching, evangelism, shepherding/care, leadership.
- Sign Gifts (Supernatural) Examples: miracles, healing, prophecy, tongues.
Thoughts on Spiritual Gifts…
• You are gifted.
• You are gifted to build the church and extend the Kingdom of God.
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace
1 Corinthians 14:12 (ESV)
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV84)
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
• You will come alive when you are living in your gifts.
1 Timothy 4:14 (ESV)
14 Do not neglect the gift you have…
2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…
2. We will be held accountable for the way we live our lives.
Matthew 25:19–29 (ESV)
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
3. There is great joy for those who step out of comfort and into obedience.
Matthew 25:21 (ESV)
21 Enter into the joy of your master.’
Matthew 25:23 (ESV)
21 Enter into the joy of your master.’
“The Christian life is a call to risk. You either live with risk or waste your life.” John Piper
Discussion Questions:
- Everything we have is a gift from the Lord, but we often focus on what gifts we lack. Instead, share with your group the gifts you’ve been given? This can be a spiritual gift or another kind of God-given talent.
- Our life is not our own- our time, talents, money, relationships, ect. Is it easy or difficult for you to see your life this way?
- How are you currently giving your life away or using your gifts? If you’re not, what holds you back and how can you start?
- Do you have a testimony of how serving has made an impact on your own life, your heart, or your walk with the Lord? If so, share with it your group.
Application Questions:
- Reread 1 Peter 4:10. Ask the Lord if there are new ways He wants you to serve the church. Is there fresh vision for how you are to serve the Lord?
Join us for an in-person service at City Central Church in Tacoma, WA
Sundays at 9am + 11am