Our Approach to Stewardship Education

Aniel BarbeStewardship Ministries and Trust Services

SIDCategory: Mainstreaming of Stewardship Education

OUR VISION

All of us in full partnership with Him, accomplishing the final

mission.

PLAN

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor:

- The Role of Information

- Relationship: Vertical & Horizontal

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

Commonly used Sources of Motivation:

i. Reward

ii. Punishment/The Fear of Punishment

iii. Shame

The Results Obtained by Behaviorism Approach

- It produces a change in individuals.

- The changes do not last long.

- The changes are linked to circumstances. A change in circumstance usually affects the transformation that has occurred.

The First Source of Motivation

First Motivation Consequence

Reward SelfishnessPunishment Fearful spiritShame Legalistic or

double-sided person

E.G White about the Sources of Motivation

“ It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of ever- lasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him.”

Desire of Ages, p. 479

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

2 Corinthians 5:14

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

“ To Compel”

The verbs « to compel » means a strong force that is pushing someone or an object in a particular direction.  

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

Effect of “Love” as the First Motivating Factor

2 Corinthians 5:15

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer lives for themselves but for him who died for them and raised again.

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

Paul’s Motivating the Christians

Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

E.G White: The Compelling Power of Love

“ Nothing reaches so fully down to the deepest motives of conduct as a sense of the pardoning love of Christ.”

Desire of Ages, p. 490

I. Most Effective Motivating Factor

Insights from the Old Testament

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

“I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.” Hosea 11:4

Example of King David: The Great Giver

- He gave abundantly. ( 1 Ch. 22:3,4)

- He gave sacrificially. ( 1 Ch. 22:14)

- He gave as an act of devotion. (1 Ch. 29:3,4)

Why did he give in such manner ?

The Motivation of King David- The Permanence of God. ( 1 Ch. 22:18)

- The Mercies of God . ( 1 Ch. 28:14)

- The God who provides for all. (1 Ch. 29:14,16)

His giving was a response to God’s giving!

I. Most Effective Motivation Factor

Practical Implication:

Bring people to know more and experience more of God’s love.

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

Two Powerful Transforming Factors:

- Information- Relationship

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

The Value of Information:

• Help people to know the instructions of God.

• Create Transparency/Build Trust.

• Information is useful but insufficient to produce changes.

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor The Value of Vertical Relationship

John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Philippians 2:13

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

The Value of Horizontal Relationship

Acts 20:20 – 21

You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance (transformation) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

The Zacchaeus Experience or the Transforming Factor of Relationship

Luke 19: 5

“When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, “ Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.”

Luke 19: 8

“ Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “ Listen, sir! I will give half of my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.”

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

Mary’s Extravagant Generosity or the Transforming Factor of Relationship

Luke 10:38-39He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

John 12:3

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

E. G White Recommends Relationship

“It is not enough to preach to men; we must pray with them and for them; we must not hold ourselves coldly aloof from them, but come in sympathy close to the souls with wish to save, visit and converse with them. The minister who conducts the work outside the pulpit in a proper manner will accomplish ten-fold more than he who confines his labour to the desk.”

Review and Herald, August 1878

II. Most Significant Transforming Factor

Practical Implication

- Insist and help people to maintain a daily connection with God.

- Practice house visitation as a basic strategy to propagate stewardship education.

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