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Stewardship

managing & multiplying resources for the mission

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Feeling short of manpower?

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Lack of money holding you back?

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Need better tools for the job?

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steward leader = fully resourced

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Luke 12:42-46

Read the passage

Luke 12:42-46: ⁴²The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

To understand a Biblical perspective on the steward leader, it important to know that about two realities of a steward in Biblical times. In those days a steward was the household manager of a large estate. This is the part we often picture. However, a steward in those times, was usually also a slave. The steward had authority over the estate, but only within the boundaries of the will of the master of the estate.

We see this in Luke 12:42–48. Here Jesus speaks in verse 42 of the steward, using the word “manager.” In the Greek the word is oikonomos, meaning literally, “ruler of the house” The steward is the manager who has complete authority over the whole estate—all its workers and resources.

But then Jesus uses a different word in all the remaining versus (43, 45-47) and also calls him a doulos (vv. 43, 45–47), a word that means not just a domestic servant or hired hand but a slave, someone who belongs to the master.

Therefore, who is the steward leadership according to the New Testament?

Although the word is use second in this passage, first and foremost in importance Biblically, a steward is a slave who is wholly and unconditionally accountable to his master. None of his ruling authority is for his own benefit. It is solely for his master’s benefit. Later in the passage, we see that when the steward tries to use the resources and authority entrusted to him for his own benefit, then the authority and resources are taken away. Only a humble, obedient servant, who does the will of his master, can be entrusted with authority and resources to use for the master.

Second, the steward is a ruler. He is the oikonomos, the “ruler of the house” with real authority to grow and prosper the resources under him. He should not hold back from making vigorous use of the power given to him. And we’ll see shortly in Matthew 25 how the steward in fact must not hold back from not just managing, but in fact growing the resources entrusted to him.

Transition: So we see from this passage, and from the Biblical culture, that the steward leader is both slave and ruler. Let’s look at one more passage to understand another aspect of the steward leader…

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Matthew 25:14-30

In Matthew 25, Jesus shared the parable of the talents, or in some translations it says, the parable of the “bags of gold”

This is a familiar passage, so we won’t read through it now, but as you recall, the various servants (and note the word is doulos again here – these are the slave rulers that we just talked about) end entrusted them with 5, 2 or 1 bag of gold depending on their ability. When the master returns, he praises the servants with 5 and 2 bags of gold for multiplying the resources entrusted to them, and then, surprisingly, the servant with only one bag, who only hid it in the ground and didn’t manage it well, is punished.

This fearful steward who buries the entrusted resources instead of managing and multiplying them is called a wicked and lazy slave and is thrown out into the darkness! (Matt. 25:26).

We often think of stewardship as only protecting or managing current resources. But Jesus shows us here, that in our role as steward leaders, we are also expected to grow the resources – to multiply them for the future. Both focuses are expected – wise management, as well as multiplication.

Transition: As a result of looking at these two passages, we now can form a clearer idea of who the servant leader is…

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The steward leader is one who has �responsibility and authority

to manage and multiply resources �entrusted by God.

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What does the Steward Leader do?

Manage present resources �with integrity

Multiply resources to

build capacity for future growth

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Manage�with�Integrity��Gen. 39:1-10

Managing with integrity

Genesis 39:1-10: The account of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife

Joseph was ruler over all of Potiphar’s house.

Joseph is an example of the steward leader. He was both a slave and a ruler.

39:8-9 - “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am.

Joseph was entrusted to manage all of Potiphar’s house with integrity.

This situation was a test of relational and sexual integrity, but it was still a test to see if Joseph would act with integrity as a steward over what was entrusted to him.

Managing our existing resources with integrity is critical for leaders. Why?

- Leaders set the example for others to follow. People will see and follow our good stewardship of resources.

The enemy wants to take leaders down. Mismanagement of resources is a frequent cause of leadership failure. We know the enemy wants spiritual leaders to fail, so he will surely tempt leaders in this area.
We are a slave of Christ, and have a responsibility to Him to manage HIS resources with integrity – they are not for our selfish use, but to be used for HIS glory!
(could ask the group for other reasons at this point)

Clearly, God has called His steward leaders to manage present resources with integrity.

Transition: As we consider the good example of Joseph, let’s think about how we’re doing in this area ourselves…

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What current resources do you have

that you could put to better use?

Where are you most

tempted to sacrifice integrity

in your stewardship of resources?

What step can you take to put

greater accountability in place?

Managing with integrity – Let’s make this practical…

Discuss if time allows or leave the questions for consideration.

Discussion questions:

1. Where are you most tempted to sacrifice integrity in your stewardship of resources?

(time, development of leaders, use of finances, caring for assets)

2. What step can you take to put greater accountability in place?

accountability for finances, accountability for relationships

Another reason why managing our existing resources with integrity is so critical for us as steward leaders, is because our integrity in using present resources is the foundation of being able to multiply resources for the future!

We’ve said that the steward leader must both manage the present and multiply for the future.

If we're not faithful in management of present resources, then it is unlikely that God will bless with future growth.

This is clearly shown in the familiar words of Matt 25:21 - You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

Transition: Therefore, we must first consider how we as steward leaders are managing present resources. Then, we can begin to think about how to multiply them to bring future growth…

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Multiply Resources

Leadership Capacity
Financial Capacity
Systems Capacity

In our ministry, we often talk about multiplying resources by using the term building capacity.

Multiplying our resources is what helps us to build capacity for the future growth of the ministry.

The word capacity refers to the ability perform or produce and the amount we can to receive or contain.

(“The elevators in this hotel do not have a large capacity”, “That person has a high capacity for work”)

It can also refer to the maximum production or output possible. “That team is working at 100% of their capacity”

So when we talk about multiplying resources and building capacity for the ministry, we’re talking about:

increasing our ability to receive the growth that God might bring
improving our capability to execute our plans and strategies
and we’re increasing the maximum possible output or you could say the maximum fruitfulness that we can have as a ministry

You can see that building capacity is critically important to the growth of our ministry. As a steward leaders, we want to think about multiplying resources and building capacity in three main areas:

1. Leadership capacity

2. Financial capacity

3. Systems capacity

Transition: Any one of these could be it’s own topic. For now, we will just take a brief look at each of them.

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…Count the

day lost that

you do not

do something,

either directly

or indirectly,

to multiply

the number

of unselfish workers.

Leadership Capacity

When we think about building leadership capacity, we want to make sure we have enough of the skilled people and quality leaders that we need to accomplish the mission.

“ He who does the work is not so profitably employed as he who multiplies the doers. Count the day lost that you do not do something, either directly or indirectly, to multiply the number of unselfish workers. “

Developing leaders is critical role of the leader. But it is so easy to get drawn into the whirlwind of ministry and of doing the work ourselves. We must resist this in order to be wise steward leaders and to build leadership capacity.

John Mott, long time leader of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), has this to say about multiplying leaders…

I love how it says to “multiply the number of unselfish workers” – that sounds like multiplying more steward leaders to me!

Transition: Let’s look at some questions to consider that reveal some of the practices and processes that we want to have in place to build leadership capacity…

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Do we consistently use

Position Focus conversations and Personal Development Plans?

Are we creating a “5 Es”

development environment?

How are we engaging and

developing emerging leaders?

Do we have a succession plan for �leadership roles?

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Do we have a good planning and budgeting process to know what we really need?

What is our fund development strategy and are we dedicating manpower to it?

How can we see more local funding developed?

How can we better know and involve our financial ministry partners?

Financial Capacity

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Do resources get to the right place at the right time?

Where are the “time wasters” in our ministry work where a system or tool could really help?

Do we have enough operations�leaders and staff to help us build

the systems and tools we need?

When did we last evaluate

if we have the right tools for the job?

Systems Capacity

As a steward leader, you build systems capacity by making sure you have the right tools for ministry and that everyone knows how to use them.

These ministry tools could include planning tools, training and discipleship materials and processes, technology, infrastructure, financial systems, and reporting tools.

Let’s look at some more questions to consider that will help you think about building systems capacity.

(Read the questions and expand on them as desired. Consider adding or changing questions that you think would be most appropriate to the group.)

One more time, make another note about the one question that you need to take action on or think more about.

Transition: That was a really fast overview of these three aspects of build capacity, but hopefully it spurred your thinking about how you might grow as a steward leader in each of those areas. To help make this practical, we want to take some time for discussion and application…

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What is one key step you can take in:� - developing leaders?�- developing funding?� - developing systems?

How will you make time for this?

Who can help you?

(Explain how to break into groups and discuss. Give specific time limit and suggest how to divide the time. If time allows, have a couple people share back to the whole group about a specific step they will take)

Each of those areas is critical for us to pay attention to as leaders. They don’t often scream for your attention until it’s too late!

Mark McCloskey, one of our former US staff who helped developed our leadership framework says in his article "Building Your Catalytic Enterprise”:

I am told by leaders in the non-profit realm (coaches, politicians and educational executives) that, as a rule, more than 70% of their time is invested in “critical mass” oriented work.

Critical mass is referring to these capacity building areas. Ask yourself: Are you spending 70% of your time here? What do you think the impact would be if you did?

Transition: As critical as each of those capacity building areas are, there is one that is even more foundational and important…

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Stewardship of Self�Building Personal Capacity

Your toughest leadership challenge is always leading yourself.

The best gift you can give to

the people you lead is a healthy, energized, fully surrendered,

focused self.�

The most foundational role in living as a steward leader is the stewardship and leadership of yourself.

We talked about building leadership, financial and systems capacity. This is taking about the critical nature of building personal capacity.

If stewardship is the foundation of the Leadership Framework, and self-leadership is the foundation of the living as a steward leader,

then this is like the foundation of the foundation!

So I think that means we should take note. Building personal capacity is important!

As with each of the other areas of capacity building, an entire session, or entire week could be devoted to this topic.

For now, we’ll just look at a couple quotes and questions from Bill Hybels, pastor of a very large church and leadership network in the United States.

Even as he has faced many incredible leadership challenges over the years, he still says,

“Your toughest leadership challenge is always leading yourself”

Can you relate to that? I know I can. But to build personal capacity and be wise in the stewardship of self, we MUST become masters of self-leadership!

Self-leadership was seen as so important at Hybel’s church that the elders told him,

“The best gift you can give the people you lead…is a healthy, energized, fully surrendered, focused self.”

And that is why it’s critical that we be intentional in this area.

Transition: To help us think about how to be intentional in stewardship of self, let’s look at a few questions…

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Is my vision clear?

Is my passion hot?

Are my ears open to the Spirit’s whisper?

Is my pace sustainable?

Are my gifts developing?

Is my capacity for love deepening?

Do I take time for sabbath and solitude?

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What is one key step you can take in building your personal capacity?

How will you make time for this?

Who can help you?

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Who is the Steward Leader?

The steward leader is one who has �responsibility and authority �to

manage and multiply resources �entrusted by God.

YOU are a Steward Leader!

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The strong steward leader

is fully resourced

to accomplish the mission

he/she is called to lead!

Remember that the

The strong steward leader is fully resourced to accomplish the mission they are called to lead!

Stewardship is both managing the present with integrity and taking responsibility to multiplying resources to build the capacity needed for future growth. The leader acting as steward is living out both these aspects and the result will prepare the way for God’s blessings to accomplish the mission.

At the beginning when we talked about how we might feel short on manpower, lacking better funds and needing better tools.

Even though we’ve learned more today, I’m sure we still can and will feel that way.

That shows us that we have room to grow in being steward leaders, and those realities also also always point us back to our Lord and master.

Transition: He is the one that entrusted us with all that we have, and He is the God of all resources…

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And God is able to bless you abundantly,

so that in all things at all times,

having all that you need,

you will abound in every good work.

- 2 Corinthians 9:8

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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power

that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church

and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generations �for ever and ever! Amen.

- Ephesians 3:20-21