Preaching among the Harvesters: Stewardship

Preaching among the Harvesters

Each fall, men and women enter the fields of America to harvest the crops with which the Lord has blessed the earth. The Lord has also called His Church to sow His Word among all people so that he may gather in a harvest of souls for His kingdom. (Mt. 9, Lk. 10, Jn. 4) At death or at Christ's return for the last judement, those who trust in Jesus' death for forgiveness of sins will be gathered in to eternal life. All who have trusted in anything else will be gathered in to everlasting torment. (Mt. 3, Mt. 13, Lk. 3, Jn. 15) For this reason, the Christian Church seeks to preach His Word in such a way that the souls of our neighbor would be saved from the fire and given faith in Jesus for their salvation. (Jude 20-23)

This blog contains the archives of sermons I have preached at St. John's Lutheran Church, among those sent out to sow and to harvest, both from the fields of soil and the fields of souls in Burt, Iowa.

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Stewardship

Dear friends in Christ, and His children through the cross,

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace… in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV)

Often, when we hear the word, “Stewardship” in the church, our thoughts immediately go to money. Congregations hold stewardship drives, usually around this time of year, which usually involve special offerings or pledges for the coming year. Many congregations also have stewardship committees which deal with the congregation’s finances.

Stewardship is not just about money, though. Stewards are people found several times in the Bible. Peter even describes Christians here as stewards of God’s grace, and in 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about pastors as “stewards of the mysteries of God.” A steward is someone who has been entrusted with something belonging to another person and given the task of using, managing, or investing that resource in the wisest and most profitable way possible.

Being a steward as a Christian means using all of the resources at our disposal in a way which glorifies God, but it also means using them in a way which furthers the work of the Gospel and the mission of the church. Financial contributions are one way that this is done, but Christian stewardship means so much more than that.

Those with financial blessings use them to support the work of the congregation, but they also have the opportunity to use them to show Christ’s mercy by personally helping neighbors in need. Our various skills and abilities are another resource which can be used in service both to the church as well as our neighbors. Friendships and business connections are one of our greatest resources, because they give each of us the occasion to speak about Jesus to those who do not yet trust in Him, which may even lead to one day leading them to join in God’s work with us in the congregation.

This only begins to scratch the surface of the things with which God has blessed us, and which can be used in service to Him. Therefore let us seek to be faithful stewards and thank Him for all that He has given to us.

[St. John's Messenger, November 2009]

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About Me

Name: Rev. Jason P. Peterson

Location: Burt, Iowa, United States

Lutheranism is more than a cultural identity or a denominational label. In fact, this cultural and institutional baggage may be the primary obstacle in Lutheranism’s path.

To be a Lutheran is not dependent on a code of behavior or a set of common customs. Instead, to be a Lutheran is to receive Jesus in His Word, Body, and Blood for the forgiveness of sins in the Divine Service; and to be bearers of this pure Truth to a broken world corrupted with sin, death, and every lie of the devil and man’s own sinful heart.

While the false and misleading ideas of human religious invention are appealing to sin-blinded minds, they fail when exposed to the realities of life. It is tragic when souls are led to confusion and despair because of the false religious ideas with which they are surrounded. The Biblical doctrine taught by the Apostles and restored at the Reformation holds answers which are relevant regardless of time or place and offers assurance of forgiven sins and eternal life who all who believe its message.

I am a husband, a father, the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Burt, IA, and track chaplain at Algona Raceway.