JANUARY 2013
Owner or Steward?

The Key to Following Christ

by Blake Jennings, Southwood Teaching Pastor

 

 

I've not always been the most responsible driver. Toward the end of college, I bought a Nissan 240 with a stick shift. It was the closest thing I'd ever owned to a sports car. I drove that car much too fast, especially on winding roads. It was great fun until while driving on a heavily wooded two-lane road, I encountered an unexpected wet patch on a tight corner.  I lost control and plowed my car into a guardrail. While my body was unhurt, my car and my pride never quite recovered!

 

Fast-forward five years. For two months, a friend graciously let me borrow his pristine Civic SI - a shockingly fast version of an otherwise staid four-door compact. The car was much quicker than my old Nissan. And yet, I never pushed it. I never redlined the engine. I never found out how fast it could take a blind corner. I never even thought of racing it. Why? Because it wasn't mine! I was only borrowing it for a short time. It was a gracious gift on loan. So I pampered that car. I was wise with it. I treated it well - much better than my own car. And when the two months were up, I returned it in perfect condition. The reality that the car was not mine radically altered how I treated it.

 

To use biblical language, I was a steward of that car. A steward is one who manages someone else's stuff - their property, finances, business, household, car, etc.. The steward does not own the stuff. The steward manages the stuff wisely to maximize the owner's benefit.

 

According to the New Testament, all believers are stewards. All that we own actually belongs to Christ. My life, my abilities, my time, my wealth ... none of these are mine! As Psalm 24:1 plainly states, "The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it."

 

To grow as a follower of Christ we must recognize that reality. We must see everything in our lives as a gracious gift from God on loan to us. It's not ours to use as we see fit. It's all His, and we are responsible to faithfully invest His gifts for His profit. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:2, "...it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." It is required of us as stewards of Christ that we invest the life, talents, wealth, and time He has graciously given us on this earth toward His profit; toward the growth of His kingdom and His fame. That is our first and foremost calling in this life. Engineer, teacher, homemaker, doctor, mechanic... your profession is simply the context in which you live out your calling as a steward of Jesus. Your job is secondary. Being a good steward is primary, and this is what Jesus Himself will evaluate when He returns.

 

So, for the next four Sundays we will discover together what it means to be a good steward, to invest our lives, talents, wealth, and time for Jesus Christ. In preparation, be praying that God would help you to relinquish ownership of the things in your life that you've mistakenly assumed belong to you. Pray that He would show you what exactly He desires of you as His steward. Pray that He would do whatever it takes to grow you in faithfulness so that when He returns, you may hear from Him, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Grace 360 Conference
Grace 360 The Grace 360 Conference is coming Saturday, January 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Anderson campus.  It is a FREE workshop-based conference that blends theological teaching with practical, biblical direction for your everyday life. The workshops, led by Grace pastors and other leaders, will help you grow in your faith in the following areas: Vision, Knowledge, Character, Skills and Relationships.  Register online here today!
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MINISTRY UPDATES: 
 
Church-Wide: Grace Family Gathering is Jan. 20 from 6-8 p.m at Anderson.  Business begins promptly at 6 p.m. with fellowship to follow. Register for child care here by Jan. 13. Discover Membership Jan. 27 from 2-5 p.m. at Anderson. Register online here by Jan. 23.
 
20/30 Singles: Come join Sundays at 11 a.m. at Anderson for a New Year of ministry to singles at Grace. Spring studies include: Apologetics, Greek Word Study & Discover My Ministry. For more info about upcoming events, check here. 
 

Assimilation: Want to learn more about your spiritual gifts?  Jan. 13, 20 & 27 at Southwood, Lifebuilders hosts Discover Your Ministry. Contact [email protected] for more info and to register.

 
Children: Come be a part of GraceKids this year!  Contact [email protected].

College:  College class resumes on Sunday, Jan. 13.  11 a.m. at Anderson and Southwood, 7 p.m. at Anderson. Interested in going overseas this summer?  Apply for a Summer Project to Greece, East Asia or Tradewinds and get more info here.
 
Global Outreach:  Engage in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement and be "ruined for the ordinary"! Mondays at 7 p.m., January 14-April 29, 2013 at Central Baptist Church. www.perspectives.org/brazosvalley. Also check out the latest GO blog post here!

  

Men: All Grace men (college & adult) are invited to our annual Men's Retreat Feb 1-3 at Frontier Camp. Speaker: Dr. David Klingler, former NFL Football player. Worship: Colin Bates. Don't miss the infamous Spartan Challenge! Sign up here.

 
Mandarin Church: Join us at our meeting times on Sundays and Friday evenings.  Check here for more info.
 
Small Groups: Registration is open for Spring Bible studies and Home Churches! Check out grace-bible.org/connect to find the best fit for you!
 
South Asian Fellowship: The South Asian Fellowship will begin their Spring meetings on January 26 as they celebrate India's Republic day with the Indian Student Graduate Association of TAMU.   
 
Southwood: Discover Grace, Sunday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m.; Baby Dedications, Sunday, Feb. 10. Contact [email protected] about both.

Women: Women's Retreat: Grace Girls Getaway, March 1-2 at The Woodlands Marriott. Register here by Feb. 8.

Youth: Axis Bible Study resumes Jan 23. Kardia (in-town retreat, open to all junior high & high school students) is Feb 8-9, cost is $25.50.  Online signups start Jan. 13.  Apps for the summer Dominican Republic mission trip are due Jan. 20.  See the Grace Youth website for more details.