We Are Stewards
Who Are We? • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsWe are to maximize God's glory through our stewardship of God's grace.
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Reading: 1 Peter 4:1-11
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Pray
God Expects Us to Be Good Stewards in the Context of Suffering
God Expects Us to Be Good Stewards in the Context of Suffering
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
The Representative of Suffering
The Representative of Suffering
Since, therefore, Christ suffered in the flesh - What Peter says in this passage is based upon the reality of Christ’s physical suffering
The Requirement of Suffering
The Requirement of Suffering
Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking - Peter is telling his readers to “get suited up for battle; get your armor and weapons ready because you’re going into the fight” (cf. BDAG); and the way of thinking provides the arsenal for the suffering servant of God
What kind of thinking?
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
The Result of Suffering
The Result of Suffering
Whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin - (Result) Peter isn’t claiming that those who suffer are perfect, but that suffering is necessary for spiritual maturity; if you aren’t suffering on account of your faith, then you’re not maturing in your faith
2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
The Repercussions of Suffering
The Repercussions of Suffering
So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. - The ongoing effect of our willingness to suffer like Christ is that we live for him, and not for our sinful desires like we used to.
That’s what Peter addresses in verse 3 - the way we used to live.
The Routine of Suffering
The Routine of Suffering
3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Because we no longer do the evil practices that we used to do, we face suffering from those who are still doing those things. But they will have to answer for their works, and so will we. So how do we succeed in being good stewards amid our suffering?
6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The Gospel Makes Us Good Stewards While Suffering
The Gospel Makes Us Good Stewards While Suffering
The life-changing power of the gospel does not just make us saints. It doesn’t just make us God’s children. It is the power of the gospel that makes us faithful stewards of all God has entrusted to us. The gospel makes us good stewards of his own life in us.
6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
It is this gospel that also makes us good stewards of other things as well. Verses 7-11 give us at least four other aspects that the gospel helps us steward
We Steward Our Selves
We Steward Our Selves
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
We Steward Our Attention
We Steward Our Attention
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
We Steward Our Relationships
We Steward Our Relationships
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
We Steward Our Gifts
We Steward Our Gifts
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We don’t just have gifts merely to have them, or simply to enjoy them. We have gifts to serve each other. God gifts his children so that they will utilize their gifts for the benefit of their brothers and sisters in Christ. No matter what that gift is - verse 11 shows us that whatever gift we have, we are to steward it well.
Notice in verse 11 the purpose of all these things is not for our glory. The steward always, always, always manages someone else’s stuff. It’s not the steward’s property, the steward’s money, the steward’s business, or the steward’s family. None of it belongs to the steward. And the steward isn’t managing it for himself. No, the steward must faithfully administer everything for the maximal benefit of the owner.
God is the owner of all things, including you, Child of God! You belong to him. So when God calls us to steward our selves, our attention, our relationships, our gifts, and even our suffering, we do it for him.
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Are you stewarding your suffering for God’s glory?
Are you stewarding your self for God’s glory?
Are you stewarding your attention for God’s glory?
Are you stewarding your relationships for God’s glory?
Are you stewarding your gifts for God’s glory?
Maybe you need to wonder at the gospel once again, or maybe you need to come to Christ in repentance and trust him to save you from your sins. Whatever God is calling you to do, be a good steward of his call and follow him while we sing...