1. Sunday in the Word
October 2, 2016

2. My mechanics were great in my swing … but my aim was all wrong
My mechanics were great in my swing … but my aim was all wrong. I was pointing in the wrong direction!
“Golfing” with my dad

3. “Functional atheism.” – we function in life as if God does not exist!

4. “Most Christians sitting in the pews every Sunday are functional atheists. It’s not that they don’t believe in God. They do. Many can recite theological principles with practiced ease, but their approach to daily life is much the same as that of an atheist.”
(Kathy Bright, National Director of Discover God 4Kids and the Executive Producer of the animated series, The Shield Bearer)

6. Stop building friendships like an atheist!

7. Stop responding to adversity like an atheist!

8. Stop spending resources like an atheist!

9. Resources at our disposal . . .
 Money (and possessions)
 Time
 Health and physical strength
 Abilities
 Experience (life, work, educational)
Intelligence
Spiritual gifts
The gospel
Etc.

10. If we were atheists, we would most likely spend our resources. . .
. . . on ourselves because after all, “you got to look out for #1!”
. . . on things that bring us the most pleasure and comfort because we should “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die!”

11. SO if we are to stop spending our resources like an atheist, then how should we be spending them?

12. Two Foundational Realities On Spending Our Resources
Reality #1 - God owns everything (which includes us and all the resources at our disposal).
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein.

13. Reality #1 - God owns everything (which includes me and all the resources at my disposal).
Haggai 2:8
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.

14. Reality #1 - God owns everything (which includes me and all the resources at my disposal).
Deuteronomy 8:17-18a
Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.

15. Reality #1 - God owns everything (which includes me and all the resources at my disposal).
1 Corinthians 6:19-20a
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price.

16. So if this first reality is true, God owns us and all of our resources, then what is our relationship to all of these resources that we “possess?” If God is the owner, what does that make us?

17. Two Foundational Realities On Spending Our Resources
Reality #2 – All the resources we “possess” are entrusted to us by God to manage for Him! We are his resource managers!
1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

18. Genesis 39:4
So Joseph found favor in his (Potiphar’s) sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
Joseph became Potiphar’s steward (manager)!
Joseph

19. (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle)
“A steward manages assets for the owner’s benefit. The steward carries no sense of entitlement to the assets he manages. It’s his job to find out what the owner wants done with his assets, then carry out his will.”
(Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle)

20. Two Foundational Realities On Spending Our Resources
Reality #1 - God owns everything (which includes me and all the resources at my disposal).
Reality #2 – All the resources we “possess” are entrusted to us by God to manage for Him! We are his resource managers!

21. It is so easy to look at what we have as OURS
It is so easy to look at what we have as OURS! To use the various resources God had given us to manage for him to accomplish his agenda and spend then on us and our agenda!
“These are MINE!”

22. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
1. Remember that wherever you invest your resources (money, time, abilities, energy, gifts, etc.), your heart will surely follow!

23. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

24. For where your treasure (resources) are, there your heart will follow!
Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
Where do I want my heart to be?
For where your treasure (resources) are, there your heart will follow!

25. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
1. Remember that wherever you invest your resources (money, time, abilities, energy, gifts, etc.), your heart will surely follow!
2. Cultivate a “pilgrim” mindset which says “This earth is not my home, I’m just passing thru to my true home, heaven!”

26. Hebrews 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

27. When John D Rockefeller died his accountant was asked,
“How much did Mr. Rockefeller leave behind?”
The accountant replied,
“All of it!”
John D. Rockefeller

28. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
1. Remember that wherever you invest your resources (money, time, abilities, energy, gifts, etc.), your heart will surely follow!
2. Cultivate a “pilgrim” mindset which says “This earth is not my home, I’m just passing thru to my true home, heaven!”
3. Invest in God’s eternal kingdom if you want the greatest yield of your investment.

29. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

30. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

31. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
1. Remember that wherever you invest your resources (money, time, abilities, energy, gifts, etc.), your heart will surely follow!

32. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

33. Three Principles for God-Honoring Resource Management
1 Timothy 6:17-19
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

34. If you want to stop spending your resources like an atheist . . .
Money (possessions), time, health and physical strength, abilities, experience (life, work, educational), intelligence, spiritual gifts, the gospel, etc.

35. Remind yourself often of these two foundational realities on spending our resources
Reality #1 - God owns everything (which includes me and all the resources at my disposal).
Reality #2 – All the resources we “possess” are entrusted to us by God to manage for Him! We are his resource managers!

36. Practice these 3 principles for God-honoring resource management
1. Remember that wherever you invest your resources (money, time, abilities, energy, gifts, etc.), your heart will surely follow!
2. Cultivate a “pilgrim” mindset which says “This earth is not my home, I’m just passing thru to my true home, heaven!”
3. Invest in God’s eternal kingdom if you want the greatest yield of your investment.

37. Instant Application . . .
Lend a Helping Hand insert in bulletin