A Culture of Stewardship
The foundational core of biblical stewardship is found on the very first page of our Bibles, Genesis 1:26-28:
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.”
God, as the sovereign Creator, commanded Adam and Eve to reproduce, fill the earth, exercise dominion, and steward what He had made. He created Adam in His image and equipped him with the knowledge and abilities needed to fulfill that mandate. Though our first parents rebelled, this does not change the truth that all things are created through God and for God, ultimately for His glory. First Chronicles 29:14 affirms this: “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as willingly as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.” The implication is clear: everything comes from God, and we are expected to give, not only to others, but back to God from what He has graciously placed in our hands.
Skip forward to the New Testament, just as God had commanded man to be fruitful and multiply, He has also commanded us as believers to be fruitful and multiply, not just with the seed of humanity, but with the good seed of the gospel, advancing and multiplying the Kingdom of God through the sharing of His word, making disciples:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
There are so many ways in which God has blessed us in being able to accomplish His mission. Now, for the sake of time, I want to highlight two ways in which God has blessed us at Cornerstone, through which we want to guide us in keeping our mission and striving for our vision. These are things we at Cornerstone feel we must be good stewards of in advancing the kingdom.
1 Peter 4:10-11:
As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God --whoever speaks, as one speaking the oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and might forever and ever. Amen.
Our gifts are not products of chance. God intentionally formed us and entrusted these gifts to us in the measure He chose. We are therefore stewards of what He has given, and He has given these gifts to advance the gospel, serve others, and bring Him glory. Paul reminds us that we are not our own (1 Cor. 6:19), that we are to walk in the calling God has assigned (1 Cor. 7:17), and that we are “a slave of Christ” (1 Cor. 7:22). So, whether our gift is preaching, teaching, encouraging, serving, hospitality, or any other gifts of the Spirit, we are to use them with excellence for the glory of God. At Cornerstone, and especially as elders, we want to shepherd well by helping our members grow in these gifts and steward them faithfully, so they can serve as effective ambassadors for Christ in Geauga County and in the sphere of influence God has placed them.
Lastly, good stewardship means managing well all that God has entrusted to us. This certainly includes the spiritual gifts we’ve just mentioned, but it also extends to our time and our treasure. As elders, we should regularly ask whether the ministries we invest our time and resources in are truly worthwhile, whether they are equipping current leaders, developing future leaders, and faithfully feeding the flock at Cornerstone. And as a congregation, we must consider whether we are contributing in service and supporting financially as we ought, providing for the needs of the local body and equipping through ministry. Think of the sacrificial generosity of the early church: believers gave so that needs were met and the ministry of the gospel could advance. God has poured out immense blessings on us at Cornerstone; we must be diligent to give back to the One to whom all is owed, for His glory.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.”
God, as the sovereign Creator, commanded Adam and Eve to reproduce, fill the earth, exercise dominion, and steward what He had made. He created Adam in His image and equipped him with the knowledge and abilities needed to fulfill that mandate. Though our first parents rebelled, this does not change the truth that all things are created through God and for God, ultimately for His glory. First Chronicles 29:14 affirms this: “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as willingly as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.” The implication is clear: everything comes from God, and we are expected to give, not only to others, but back to God from what He has graciously placed in our hands.
Skip forward to the New Testament, just as God had commanded man to be fruitful and multiply, He has also commanded us as believers to be fruitful and multiply, not just with the seed of humanity, but with the good seed of the gospel, advancing and multiplying the Kingdom of God through the sharing of His word, making disciples:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
There are so many ways in which God has blessed us in being able to accomplish His mission. Now, for the sake of time, I want to highlight two ways in which God has blessed us at Cornerstone, through which we want to guide us in keeping our mission and striving for our vision. These are things we at Cornerstone feel we must be good stewards of in advancing the kingdom.
1 Peter 4:10-11:
As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God --whoever speaks, as one speaking the oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and might forever and ever. Amen.
Our gifts are not products of chance. God intentionally formed us and entrusted these gifts to us in the measure He chose. We are therefore stewards of what He has given, and He has given these gifts to advance the gospel, serve others, and bring Him glory. Paul reminds us that we are not our own (1 Cor. 6:19), that we are to walk in the calling God has assigned (1 Cor. 7:17), and that we are “a slave of Christ” (1 Cor. 7:22). So, whether our gift is preaching, teaching, encouraging, serving, hospitality, or any other gifts of the Spirit, we are to use them with excellence for the glory of God. At Cornerstone, and especially as elders, we want to shepherd well by helping our members grow in these gifts and steward them faithfully, so they can serve as effective ambassadors for Christ in Geauga County and in the sphere of influence God has placed them.
Lastly, good stewardship means managing well all that God has entrusted to us. This certainly includes the spiritual gifts we’ve just mentioned, but it also extends to our time and our treasure. As elders, we should regularly ask whether the ministries we invest our time and resources in are truly worthwhile, whether they are equipping current leaders, developing future leaders, and faithfully feeding the flock at Cornerstone. And as a congregation, we must consider whether we are contributing in service and supporting financially as we ought, providing for the needs of the local body and equipping through ministry. Think of the sacrificial generosity of the early church: believers gave so that needs were met and the ministry of the gospel could advance. God has poured out immense blessings on us at Cornerstone; we must be diligent to give back to the One to whom all is owed, for His glory.
Posted in 2026 Mission/Vision/Values/Goals
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