Going a Step Farther

A Devotional Series on Stewardship

Lesson 1

God’s World,

Our Work

Sunday, November 5

“Ownership and Stewardship”

Psalm 24 is a song acknowledging that the world is God’s.  It is also a song that, when looking back, announces the coming of the King of Kings.

·        What insights into Psalm 24 did you gain from Sunday evening’s service?

·        What changes would you like to make in your life as a result of your reflections on Psalm 24?

Day 1 – Isaiah 40:18-31

First step…

• To what does Isaiah compare God?  According to Isaiah, why is God so much greater than these?
• What kinds of people are described in these verses?  How does the Lord view each kind of person?
• If God’s people complain that the Lord’s ways are unknown, how should they learn about him?
• What difference does it make in your life that God owns the world?

Stepping out…

1.      Create a responsive reading of this Bible passage by having one person ask the questions in verses 18, 21, 25, 27-28a.  The family members read the responses to those questions.

2.      List the evidences from today’s culture that people are following idols instead of the Lord.  What idols do you have in your own life?  Make confession part of your prayer and ask for his Spirit to help you break your obedience to them.

Prayer: 

How often are we conscious of the fact that we are praying to God the Creator? In today’s prayer time acknowledge and praise God for his creation.

Song: 

Choose one of the songs below as your devotional theme song of the week.  Sing it as a family to end each devotional time:

·        “The Earth and the Riches” (#24, Psalter Hymnal)

·        “This Is My Father’s World” (#436, Psalter Hymnal)

·        “We Bow Down” (#42, Sing! Hymnal)

Day 2 – Luke 12:13-21

First step…

• What is Jesus’ warning to the crowd?  Why does he warn them?  
• In Jesus’ story who produces the good crop?  How does the rich man respond to his gift?
• Why does the man make the choice that he does?
• How does the rich man define life?  How does God define it?  How did Jesus define life for the crowds?
• How can one be rich toward God in the matter of caring for possessions?
• What difference does the perspective of this story make in your life?

Stepping out…

Retell the story by replacing “the rich man” with your name and substituting “good crop” with a resource that is in your possession.  What options for Godly stewardship come to mind for you or your family?

Prayer: 

In your prayers, reflect on God’s ownership of everything and on our responsibility to use his resources with Biblical wisdom.  Pray for forgiveness in squandering resources; pray as well for Spiritual insight in using resources properly.

Day 3 – I Chronicles 29-10:20

First step…

• What is the setting for David’s prayer?
• How does David describe the Lord at the beginning of the prayer?
• How would you characterize the resources that David and the people give?  What attitudes toward possessions do they have?   Why do they have these attitudes?
• What does David ask the Lord to do?
• What difference does David’s perspective on possessions make in your life?

Stepping out…

1.      Tell the story of King David’s desire to build God a house.  To do that, tell I Chronicles 28-29 in your own words.  At the climax of the story, have a family member read the prayer of David that is the text for this devotional.

2.      Designate a “Thank You” box for special family giving during the rest of this series on stewardship.  Place a small box in the center of your devotional space and have every family member contribute to it from his or her own monetary resources.  Have one child bring the accumulated monies each Sunday evening and place it in the evening offering. 

Prayer: 

For your closing prayer, recite verses 10b-13 in unison. Encourage family members to give thanks for specific resources and to ask for guidance in giving them back to God.

Day 4 – Philippians 2:1-11

First step…

• What are the results of being united with Christ?
• In what ways did Jesus become a servant?  Why did he become a servant?
• Why is Jesus exalted?  What will happen to him as a result?
• What are the kinds of attitudes and actions that are patterned after Jesus’ example?  What would this lifestyle look like in today’s world?
• What difference does this knowledge of Jesus’ control over everything make in your life?

Stepping out…

1.      With a variety of art materials, create a family art project on Philippians 2:6-11.  Have each person choose a part of the description of Jesus that they would like to illustrate. Combine the finished projects into a single piece and re-read the description of Jesus with the illustrations.

2.      Using the parts of Philippians 2:6-11 tell the Biblical events of Jesus life that would be included in each section.

Prayer: 

Pray for the power to emulate Jesus’ humility and his dedicating all resources to God’s work.