St. Luke's Lutheran Church
CONNECT
  • Home
    • Staff >
      • Bios
    • Worship Times
    • About >
      • Church Council >
        • Council Minutes
      • Contact Us
  • 100th Anniversary
    • St. Luke's Stories
  • Worship/Music
    • Online Worship >
      • 2021 Online Worship Services
    • Sermons
    • Music Ensembles
    • Weddings
    • Baptisms
  • In-reach and Outreach Ministries
    • Current Volunteer Opportunities
    • Member Information >
      • Annual Report
    • Community
    • 12 Step Programs
  • Preschool
    • Registration
    • Calendars, Forms and Classroom information
  • Faith Formation Ministries
    • Faith Formation for All Ages
    • Wednesday Night Live
    • Pre-K- 5th Grade
    • Youth Ministry Summer Opportunities
    • VBS
    • Forms
    • Adult Faith Formation
  • Calendar/Events
    • Church Calendar
  • Newsletter
  • Job postings
  • History
  • Tithes & Offerings
  • St. Luke's Lutheran Church Blog
  • Faith Formation Ministries

More thoughts on stewardship and loving our neighbor

5/4/2021

 
John 15:12
God comes DOWN to us, we move IN to the center (ourselves)

O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. ...you are acquainted with all my ways.                                                                                                Psalm 139:1-3

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.                                                                                                                                   John 15:12,16

After we recognize and claim the promises of a God who comes down to us, we look in to discover the resources and gifts that God has entrusted to each of us for our care. God loves each of us and has given us resources that we can use to love him and our neighbor. We are each created and blessed beyond more than we can imagine, and nothing belongs to us. To be chosen as a steward is an honor and a privilege.

In the words of the hymn, "We Give Thee but Thine Own"
    
  We give thee but thine own, 
whate'er the gift may be, 
for all we have is thine alone, 
a trust, O Lord, from thee.
     May we thy bounties thus
as stewards true receive,
and gladly, as thou blessest us,
to thee our firstfruits give.
                                                                          
                                                                              Text: William Walsham How, 1823-1897
 
In 1 Peter 4:10, we're called to use our gifts to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace. ... God doesn't give us anything just for our own benefit. After all, we're blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2)! Just as with spiritual gifts, God wants us to use our talents and skills for the benefit of others.

Go now as stewards of God's abundance; remembering the many ways that God has come down to you; looking in to celebrate all that God has entrusted to your care; and focusing out to do justice for the sake of the neighbor both near and far.

Go in peace; share God's love through stewardship year-round.


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020

    Categories

    All
    Council
    Easter
    Lent
    Music
    President's Letter
    Sermon Series
    Stewardship
    Summer

Give Here
Simply Giving
St. Luke's Lutheran Church
1701 West Old Shakopee Road Bloomington, MN 55431
952-881-5801 | office@stlukesbloomington.org
​