2. A New Class on
Biblical Stewardship
• Challenges
• Do not offend. “Oh brother. Can’t the church stop asking
for my money!”
• Do not limit. “Stewardship = Responsible Finances”. That’s
all, right?
• Do not lie. “God wants me to be rich? Yes, I knew it!” or
“God loves the poor so I don’t have to think about money!”
• Do not bore. “Yawn! My finances are OK. I’m not
interested in a lecture on saving to give more.”
• A three-step approach
• Breadth: Biblical Stewardship is a worldview topic.
• Depth: Finances & Giving are foundationally important.
• Motivation: Principles and information alone will not
change our lives, so stewardship must be preached.
5. Curriculum
Produced by The Acton Institute
A leading non-
denominational research and
education organization
connecting good intentions
with sound economics
worldwide
The same organization that
produced the series “For the
Life of the World”
Class outline and discussion
questions derived from
Effective Stewardship:
Participant’s Guide, by
Jonathan & Amanda Witt
Session
One
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6. Class Description & Outline
Christian Stewardship is about more than the
money we drop into the collection plate—
stewardship is everything we do after we say we
believe. In Effective Stewardship, you will learn
how to think critically and biblically about the
areas of responsibility that have been entrusted
to you by God.
1. Session One: Our Talents and Skills
2. Session Two: The Environment
3. Session Three: Loving Our Neighbor
4. Session Four: Church and Family
5. Session Five: Finances and Giving
Session
One
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7. Our Video Host
Session
One
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Dave Stotts, host
and editor
Well-known for his
popular video show
and curriculum
“Drive Thru History
Adventures”
Let’s get started!
8. Our Talents and Skills
How to use our God-given talents to serve God
in our daily vocation
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Matthew 25:14-15 "For it will be like a man
going on a journey, who called his servants
and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one
he gave five talents, to another two, to another
one, to each according to his ability. Then he
went away.
Session
One
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9. Key Issue
Effective stewardship extends to our daily
vocation, using our God-given talents to serve
God in the work we have been given.
Being made in God’s image means we have
been made to be creative by transforming the
world in good ways
You are called to creatively transform that
space that is your sphere of influence (home,
business, industry, service sector, education, or
some other profession) to make the world a
better place
You are responsible for actively and creatively
using your talents and resources in your sphere
of influence to good effect
Session
One
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10. Key Quotes
Luke 12:48b [Jesus said,] “Everyone to whom
much was given, of him much will be
required, and from him to whom they
entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
“We owe something to someone outside of
ourselves with regard to how creative we are.”
~ Rev. Robert Sirico
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One
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11. Video Highlights
We are all stewards
Made in the image of a creative God
Gnosticism and the incarnation
Christianity helped the West leap
forward
Good works by the grace of God
Session
One
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13. Video Discussion
1. What images or thoughts come to mind when
you hear the word stewardship? In your own
words, what does it mean to be a “steward”?
2. How would you describe your vocation or
calling? List some of the different roles where
you are called to be a steward of God’s gifts and
resources.
3. Gnosticism separated the physical world from
the spiritual world and taught that our
spirituality has nothing to do with our day to
day, physical existence. Where do you see
examples of this way of thinking today? How
might this influence lead us to downplay our
responsibility to steward God’s resources?
Session
One
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14. Bible Exploration
Read together the parable of the talents (Mt
25:14-30)
1. How did the owner distribute his wealth among the
servants? Why were some given more than others?
2. How did each of the servants respond to the wealth
he was given? What is the difference between the
first two servants and the last servant?
3. This parable condemns “playing it safe” with our
God-given assets and celebrates certain types of risk-
taking. What are some ways we can take “risks” that
honor God? What is the difference between a foolish
and a responsible risk?
4. Why do you think Jesus tells this parable? How
would you apply its lesson to your own life?
Session
One
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15. Living the Truth
There may be times in your life when you don’t feel you’re
using your talents much:
Artist/musician. Take a salaried job to provide stability
for your family?
Mother. Given up or limited your career to stay home
with your children?
Laid off or forced early retirement. Working odd jobs to
fill time or pay bills?
Uninspiring job. No better on the horizon?
1. Do you believe it is possible to serve God through
such work? If so, how?
2. How might you make better use of your talents and
other resources if you deeply believed that no real,
lasting harm could ever come to you because your
Father promised he will never leave or forsake you?
Session
One
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16. Final Thought
“Work derives from and represents the
sovereign God, who expresses his sovereignty as
a worker: kingwork. Sovereigns work to bring
order out of chaos; guard and fight for the
sanctity of things and people; deliver victims
from injustice and misfortune and
wretchedness; grant pardon to the condemned
and the damned; heal sickness; by their very
presence bring dignity and honor to people and
land. God’s sovereignty isn’t abstract—it’s a
working sovereignty and is expressed in work.
All of our work is intended as an extension of
and participation in that sovereignty.”
~ Eugene Peterson
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One
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