Steward Leadership - The Parable of the Talents, Part 2

 This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. 

As this is a new year, I have begun a new series on the subject of steward leadership. One author defines a steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.”

Today we continue our study of the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. In my last episode we looked at three principles from this story; today we will explore four more.   

• Each servant (or steward) was required to give an account of what he accomplished with the bags of gold entrusted to him. 2 Corinthians 5:10 instructs us that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” In verse 21 of our text, the master commends the first servant saying, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  What account will we give to the Lord for all that He has entrusted to us? 

• There is a reward for good stewardship.  Notice that verses 21 and 23 are identical.   “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ The servant who received five bags and the servant who received two bags heard the same commendation from the master. In my last episode, I warned about falling into the trap of comparison with others. In VCP, some work in areas where the spiritual soil is more fertile and where the harvest is more bountiful, and others toil in much more difficult places. The Master’s expectations align with the conditions where each one works. 

• Poor stewards will be reprimanded and punished.  We see this in verses 24-30. The servant who did nothing with his one bag was called “wicked” and “lazy.” The one bag that he had was taken away from him.  In my culture, we have an idiom that says, “use it or lose it.” My late father quoted that to me often in my formative years. Do you have a similar saying?  This parable illustrates its truth.  

• Finally, good stewards will be entrusted with more. In verse 28, we see that the one bag taken from the lazy servant was given to the servant who now had 10. The principle here is that in VCP, and in any organization, those who steward well what has been entrusted to them will – at some point – be entrusted with more … more leadership responsibility, more authority, and/or more resources.   

In our next episode, we will continue our study of steward leadership. This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

The Grain of Wheat

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

The life of Jesus is such a great example for us all. Once Peter and the other

disciples realized who Jesus was, Jesus’ teaching began to change. He focused

his efforts to move toward Jerusalem, the place where he knew he would be

betrayed, falsely judged, condemned and crucified. Intentionally he moved

toward Jerusalem and the cross. And as he went, he taught his disciples the

cost of discipleship. Jesus didn’t mince words. He told it plainly. He called us

to take up our cross daily and follow him.

Jesus said in John 12:23 – 28, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be

glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and

dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many

seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their

life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow

me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who

serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me

from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father,

glorify your name!”

When you plant a wheat seed or a maize seed, or really any grain, things

change. A planted seed is no good to eat any more. Under the soil, it becomes

useless to eat. Its shape changes as it swells with moisture. Its husk loosens

from the grain. No one calls it “grain” any more. It’s essentially dead and

useless for food. But the best is yet to come. Because that useless grain

becomes a tiny, living, growing, tender plant. It doesn’t look like much, but oh

is it full of potential! As it grows and develops, that new little plant gets tall

and strong. It then produces grain: many grains of seed. And it brings the

farmer joy at harvest time.

None of this would have happened if that little grain of wheat had not hit the

soil, been covered with dirt, and died as a grain. Just like Jesus said, “Unless a

kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But

if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Your life and my life is just like that kernel of wheat: full of unrealized

potential. So very full of potential. We have no idea of the number of lives we

can impact for good if we only die to self and give ourselves wholly to Jesus.

But we know for sure, if we do not die to selfish goals and self-serving visions

to make Jesus king of our lives, we won’t do much good for ourselves or for

others in this world. We die to self by giving up self-centered goals to go where

Jesus wants us to go, do what Jesus wants us to do, and say what Jesus wants

us to say. Even when it costs us everything. At that point, Jesus’ promise

begins to be fulfilled. He said, “If it dies, it produces many seeds.” When

Christians die to self and live for God the blessings that flow are limitless. This

too is the power of multiplication.

I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Wheat #MultiplyDisciples

Bear Much Fruit

 Hello, this is Multiply a podcast to encourage Village Church planters and leaders. I am Brad Snowden, and I would like to read John 15:4-5 which says “Remain in me and I will remain in you just as no branch can bear fruit by itself neither can you unless you remain in me. V5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who remains in me, and I am him bears much fruit for otherwise apart from me you can do nothing”.

 I recognize two important thoughts within the scripture here in John 15, which shows us Christ’s heart. It has to do with our relationship with him and the results of that close relationship, which is bearing fruit. Jesus was nearing the end of his earthly life he had taught His disciples and shown them His heart. In this passage, He illustrates it simply by connecting the two elements that bring life and the ability to bear fruit.   It is simply being connected with Jesus and allowing Him to work through us.

 I have found in my own life that I can tell when in my life things have changed, it seems as if there was a moment when I did not see much happening, I did not feel as useful or productive as I would want. It was as if the water suddenly was turned off and life became dry. It did not take but a moment to come to my understanding that I was not pursuing God‘s word in his presence as I once did. I noticed my joy was not there as much as it should be in serving Him. I did not have the peace that I needed and that led to other issues that would not add to my life and testimony of who Jesus is in my life. I was not as kind as others needed me to be. The fruit of my relationship or the lack of it was seen by others.

 Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. Apart from a close relationship with Jesus Christ, we will not bear anything that will be good. We bear fruit only because of Him and we have joy and peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits that will be seen by others it will be then that we can share how Jesus has changed our lives.

My father-in-law has shared with me the importance of being a fruit inspector. Inspecting my own heart to see if the fruit of my relationship is what it needs to be or what God wants it to be. We must be intentional in looking into our spiritual lives to focus on bearing fruit for others to see Jesus. This can only come through our close relationship, allowing the Holy Spirit to feed us and empower us to be more like Christ.

 Our bearing fruit will plant seeds of eternal harvest. It is a gift that keeps on giving, and those who receive will be able to prepare fruit of their own as they grow in their relationship with Christ Jesus, we must be encouraged by God’s word we can bear much fruit, but only in Christ Jesus can do this as we walk closely with him. This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. Who will you share this with today Lord bless you.

The Parable of the Yeast

       Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

My wife Gail and I love to bake bread. It’s quite a process. First you have to

gather the ingredients: flour, water, oil, often a little sugar, salt. But in some

ways the most important ingredient is the smallest: yeast. Yeast is a

microorganism that is alive. When it comes into contact with water and

carbohydrates like flour or sugar, the tiny, microscopic single cell creatures we

call yeast start to grow and reproduce. They are hungry, but they don’t eat

much. Even so, as they begin to digest tiny bits of flour and sugar, they give off

carbon dioxide, the gas that causes bubbles to form in bread dough. As they

grow, the multiplying yeast give off more and more carbon dioxide gas, so the

bread dough begins to rise. What started out as a small ball of dough outgrows

its bowl. Then we mash it and express a lot of the gas. But the yeast is not

finished; it keeps giving off gas and makes the dough, the whole lump of

dough, expand. When the yeasty bread dough is baked, it has beautiful

bubbles inside, a wonderful aroma around it and that nice texture that we

love.

As much as Gail and I like to prepare bread dough, we love to bake bread and

to eat bread while it’s still warm from the oven. The aroma of baking bread

comes from the carbon dioxide the yeast produces. Even before the bread is

fully baked or ready to serve, that aroma tells us, “Something good is coming.”

Jesus taught a parable about a lady who worked with yeast. He said, “The

kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about 27

kilos of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Just like today, it only takes a little bit of yeast to transform a massive amount

of dough. I can’t imagine what it’s like to make dough with 27 kilos of wheat

flour. Gail and I usually make a batch with about a one-half of a kilo of flour.

27 kilos would make about 120 large loaves of bread! That’s a big lump of

dough!

But the truth is, it only takes a tiny amount of yeast to transform a huge mass

of dough. That is why Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast. God’s

kingdom may look small and weak, even powerless, just like a tiny amount of

yeast used to transform dough. But it only looks that way. Because of the

power of multiplication a little becomes a lot. Soon the whole, big mass of

dough is saturated with the yeasty goodness those microorganisms produce.

In the same way, Christians, members of the kingdom of heaven, often appear

small and weak, a tiny part of the world’s population, even a tiny part of a

village. But the transforming power of the kingdom of heaven goes with us

wherever we go, transforming, giving off a new aroma, the aroma of hope,

making of that which is ordinary something wonderful.

My brothers and sisters, never doubt the power of living yeast. And never, ever

doubt the power of the kingdom of heaven. Go through the whole world

transforming it by the grace of God. Carry with you the wonderful aroma of

God at work. Don’t be discouraged if your church is small. Like yeast, multiply.

Multiply disciples, leaders and churches. Go transform the whole world!

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Yeast #MultiplyDisciples

The Parable of the Sower

      Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the most well developed parables Jesus told was the one we call “The

Parable of the Sower” or “The Four Soils.” You know this parable well. It tells

about a sower who went out to plant seeds in his field. Some seed fell on the

path, some among rocks. Some seed started to grow, but the weeds choked it.

But some fell on good soil and grew and produced a lot more seed.

The Gospel writers don’t include many explanations of Jesus’ parables. But, in

Matthew 13, Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower.

He says, “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone

hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil

one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed

sown along the path.  The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who

hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no roots,

they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the

word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to

someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness

of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.  But the seed falling on good

soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one

who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

This parable has been lived out in countless millions of lives as the word of God

has been preached over the past 2,000 years. We all want to plant the Good

Seed of the Gospel in good soil. None of us wants to waste seed along the path

or in the rocks. Nevertheless, some people who hear the word of God will not

grow and bear fruit. But what about the good soil?

“The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and

understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty

or thirty times what was sown.”

Oh my brothers and sisters. Let’s do all we can to help our hearers understand

the message of salvation and sanctification that we proclaim. Let’s tell it with

patience and great clarity. Let’s pray that we will speak and live in such a way

that the Good news is understood and embraced. Then let’s help those who

hear nad understand bear fruit. Let’s be sure we train them to pass on the

message they have heard and understood. Let’s be sure we equip them to make

disciples. If you do so, you can be sure that your people will produce a crop,

—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

This has been Multiply! And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?”

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #MultiplyDisciples “FourSoils”

Steward Leadership - Parable of the Talents Part 1

 

  This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

As this is a new year, I have begun a new series on the subject of steward leadership. One author defines a steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.”

Today we begin a look at the parable of the talents. In summary, Matthew 25:14-30 is a parable about a man who goes on a journey and entrusts his wealth to his servants. To one servant, he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. The servant who received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. The one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the servant who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Later, when the master returned, he inquired of each servant how he managed (or stewarded) those funds.  

I see in this parable a number of stewardship principles.  Perhaps you will discover additional lessons.

* The servants did not own the assets. The gold belonged to the man who left on the journey. The parable becomes clear if we consider that God is “the man” in this parable, and we are the servants.  The resources that he has entrusted to us belong to him.  God asked Moses (see Exodus 4:2), “what is in your hand?” and I would ask each of us to consider what resources, relationships, spiritual gifts and skills has He given us? We don’t own them; He does, and he requires us to steward them well.

* The servant who was given five bags “went at once and put his money to work…” (verse 16)  Faithful stewards have a sense of urgency and are diligent to provide a good return to their master.

* The owner’s expectations of the results were appropriate for the amount each servant was given.  More was expected of the man with five bags.  The man who received two bags was not expected to return five more, but two were sufficient for him. A principle that I see here is that we should not compare ourselves, and the output of our work, with others.  Some have been entrusted with more to work with – and some with less – than we have received.  We should not look down upon those who began with less and produced less, nor should we be discouraged by comparing ourselves with others who received more from the Lord and who, in turn, produced more.    

 

In our next episode we will continue our study of steward leadership and this parable.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

The Most Important Resource for Church Multiplication

       Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

The last time I spoke with you, I asked you a question. I asked, “What do you

think is the most needed resource for church multiplication? Buildings, money,

prayer, or people? Clearly all four kinds of resources are important. But are

they all essential for church planting? And even if they are all essential

resources, which of the four, buildings, money, prayer, or people is most

important?

I suppose there is no final, definitive answer for this question that works in

every church planting situation at all times. But I would argue that in general,

people are the resource your church planting ministry needs more than any

other. But to think of people as resources can be somewhat dangerous. People

are made in the image of God. All people are worthy of honor, dignity, and

respect. So, if we think of people as mere resources, we may fall to the

temptation of treating them merely as instruments and tools to achieve our

goals. That would be a sinful mistake.

But there is a way to humbly think of people as resources who achieve God-

given goals for the church to make disciples of all nations. This humble way of

thinking begins by valuing each person for the precious treasure that he or she

is.

God has given you many people who worship in your churches. How much do

you know about them? How well do you know their stories? What motivates

each one? What gifts, skills, and talents do they bring to your churches? How

are their gifts being developed and put to work to advance the cause of Christ?

We are stewards, that is, we are managers of the resources God gives us. It is

our responsibility to manage those resources well. One responsibility of a

manager is to make sure his resources are productive and growing, not

declining or left unused.

You can develop your churches’ human resources three ways:

 By vision casting

 By training and coaching

 By mobilization of spiritual gifts

These three ways to develop human resources go hand in hand. You know about

vision casting to help people see God’s plan and God’s methods to achieve his

goals. You know how to paint a word picture of what God has in mind and

activate faith. And you know about training and coaching to impart new

understanding and to help your people develop new skills for ministry.

Mobilization of spiritual gifts builds on vision casting, training, and coaching.

Mobilization of spiritual gifts asks two questions:

1. What spiritual gifts has God given to the people I have trained?

2. How can these gifts be used to achieve the God-given goals of multiplying

disciples, cell groups, and churches?

Leaders who want to multiply ask themselves these questions constantly. As

God provides answers through observation, prayer, and reflection, leaders

become good stewards of the human resources God has entrusted to them. In

this way they are able to empower workers to serve the Church according to

their gifts. This results in greater Gospel impact and much praise to the Lord.

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #MobilizeGifts #HumanResources