IV. GOD'S STEWARDS ARE UNIQUELY SINGULAR, YET PROFOUNDLY PLURAL.

God's stewards recognize that their lives are not solo performances but are personal responses to God, lived out within the community of faith to benefit the whole world.

How is this done?

As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will:

· Emphasize the privilege and the accountability this privilege entails of being unique children of God with specific gifts that honor the Lord and bless others;

· Recognize the personal and sensitive nature of the steward's response; and yet emphasize the truth that Christian stewards are members of the Body of Christ and are in kingdom work together with fellow Christians; and,

· Remind Christian stewards that God showers blessings upon those who manage them wisely and well for the common good.

As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will not:

· Emphasize one aspect or area of church work to the exclusion or detriment of others;

· Teach or influence in ways which minimize the steward's connection to and need for the rest of the Body of Christ; or,

· Equate stewardship with merely meeting an organization's budget or financial goal.

What does God's Word say about this?

Rom. 12:4-5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

1 Cor. 12:12-13 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

1 Pet. 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

2 Cor. 8:13-14 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality.

Gal. 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (cf. 6:7-10)