From “Stewardship” to “The Steward”

A Missional Approach

Terms• Steward: A Baptized person to whom God has

entrusted gifts which that person manages in order to:– Love and serve the neighbor– Build up the Body of Christ– Enjoy God’s good creation

• Steward Leader: Someone who influences others toward greater knowledge and more excellent use of the gifts that God has entrusted to them to love and serve the neighbor, build up the Body of Christ and enjoy God’s good creation.

“Missional”

• “Missio”• “Sending” or “Sent”• The “Sending of God”• Sent with what?

– A word – The Word– An Announcement– A “Gospel” to be believed– A “new narrative”

• Power

The Power of Narrative

• “The carrier of culture is the story we tell ourselves over and over again.” - Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn

• “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” - Jesus of Nazareth

Question

• Is the narrative we are telling ourselves a missional narrative, of what God has done and is doing in and through us - or is it one of loss, scarcity, let-down, survival?

Questions?

• What story does your congregation tell themselves over and over again?

• What kind of culture has that shaped?

• How is that working for them?

Assumptions• God is it work• Some powerful stories have also had their

hand in shaping the culture– “On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he took

bread…”– “Christ is risen!”

• The introduction of a new narrative will, over time, change the culture.

THE Story

• The story of God with God’s people

• As told by Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Matthew, Luke, Paul, etc.

THE Story

John 6:1-14

MY story

• The Story of what God is doing in and through my life.

MY story

A time when your church was there for you when you needed it.A life that was changed because of a mission or ministry of your church.A time that you saw God at work recently.A time when you really heard the Gospel.A “Recipe”

See Handout

OUR Story• The story of what God is doing in and

through the…

OUR Story

OUR Story

THE Story OUR Story MY Story

There is a good understanding that the Bible provides guidance on how we acquire, use and share our money.

We regularly hear stories of what God is doing in and through the ministries of our congregation

I see God at work in my life. And I often share with people what God is up to.

We know stories that teach us that there is abundance -- there is enough to do all that God is calling us to do.

We regularly hear stories of what God is doing in and through the ministries of our Synod

I know and do share at least one story of what God is doing through a ministry or member of our congregation.

We gladly hear regular preaching about how God's Word teaches us about managing and sharing all that God has entrusted to us.

We regularly hear stories of what God is doing in and through the ministries of our Churchwide Organization

I know and do share at least one story of what God is doing through a ministry of our Synod.

People can tell one story in the Bible which they are able to relate to Christian stewardship.

We make mutual commitments to each other regarding what we will give for the sake of our common mission

I know and do share at least one story of what God is doing through a ministry of our Churchwide Organization.

When considering how to use and employ our church's assets, God's Word is what guides us.

We regularly thank each other for our generosity.

I’m grateful and regularly tell others so.

There is a good understanding that our role before God is as Stewards, not owners, of all that God has entrusted to us. We celebrate generosity

I can share how my finances are being used to love and serve the neighbor and to build up the body of Christ

Bible studies are offered here, and they regularly address the issues of Christian Stewardship

We view giving as a pathway for growing closer to God -- A Spiritual Discipline

I have come to highly value generosity and have a plan to become a more generous Christian

There is understanding of basic Biblical Principles for Giving

We provide assistance to our members to grow in their giving and in this spiritual discipline.

I see abundance -- I know and trust that there is more than enough for me and for what God is calling me and us to do together.

Story TellingResources To Watch For

• “Cook books”– September 15 is the target release date

• DVD of ELCA video story telling resources – Available next week

• 30-second SD Synod “commercials” by Garrison Keillor!! – Released first to you sometime between September 15

and October 1• 2010 (updated) Stories of Faith in Action

– September 15

The Power of Narrative

• “The carrier of culture is the story we tell ourselves over and over again.” - Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn

• “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” - Jesus of Nazareth

REALTIY CHECK!

• “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” - I Corinthians 3:6

• “Transformation?”– See video (15 %)

Thank you!