Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer

Family Worship Center 10-16-2016Part 2

Part One: Financial Foundations(Some Scriptures are for your continued study)

  1. Everything belongs to God – Intro Scripture Steve used last week 1 Chronicles 29:13-14
  2. When we surrender our lives to the Lord He is to be Lord of our finances and we become stewards to use our finances (that belong to God) according to His principles. Matthew 25:14-30.
  3. God wants us to be good stewards. Luke 16:11, I Cor. 4:2.
  4. God wants to bless us in our finances and giving–II Cor. 9:6-11, Deut. 28:13-14 et al.
  1. Not to make you arrogant, lazy or selfish.
  2. He wants to bless you to use you as a vessel of blessing for His work.
  1. God wants us to be controlled by love for Him and not money. He wants us to use and control our money; not be a slave to it. I Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

A. The love of money, not money itself. B. “a” root not “the” root.

C. Not “all evil” but “all kinds of evil.” D. Even Christians can mess up here.

E. Don’t stray from the faith or pierce yourself through with many sorrows.

Part Two: Practicing Wise Stewardship

  1. I want to see all of you blessed – including financially; to see you able to bless others, fulfill your ministries, have less stress and greater joy. For that to happen we need to practice wise stewardship. I am going to lay out for you a few of the most important financial principles from God’s Word focusing on those I have seen the body of Christ needs the greatest help in. 3 John 1:2.
  2. Practice financial responsibility. Psalm 37:21, Romans 13:8.
  1. Many may not need to hear this but there a good number who do.
  2. Pay your bills. If you are overcharged, deal with it and don’t overpay. Be responsible to pay on time.
  3. Put paying your responsibilities ahead of extras and pleasures (Set aside the money to pay rent, house payment etc. and savings BEFORE shopping).
  4. Don’t steal.Exodus 20:15, Luke 16:10. Ephesians 4:28.
  5. Simple budgeting such as with envelopes.
  6. Read Crown Financial – “Your Money Map” book.
  7. Have you read “Your Money Map” Yes No I need to and will
  8. Are you responsible & practicing these principles Yes No I need to and will
  1. Teach kids financial responsibility.
  1. Give an allowance NOT regular handouts so they learn to budget (You need to value their learning responsibility above your feeling good about being able to give them money when they ask).
  2. Regular chores they don’t get paid for because they are responsible for their home too.
  3. Pay for extra chores done well.
  4. Are you practicing these principles Yes No NA I need to and will
  1. Don’t buy what you can’t afford.
  1. Margin your life (So you control your finances and they don’t control you).
  2. Leave extra room for the uncertainties that will come.
  3. Buy less than you need or want so you aren’t stressing yourselves or putting yourself into potential problems.
  4. Are you margining your life financially Yes No I need to and will
  1. Don’t lend unless you are ready to end a relationship and take a total loss.
  1. Borrower becomes servant to the lender – Don’t enslave! Prov. 22:7.
  2. I’ve watched this happen in families and God gave wisdom to avoid.
  3. Are you practicing the principle of not loaning? Yes No I need to and will
  1. Don’t co-sign for loans. Proverbs 6:1-5, 11:15, 17:18, 22:26-27.
  1. I have watched family after family after family make this mistake. It has cost them personally and relationally.
  2. Possible Exception- For equity producing investment (house not a car) for which you have the ENTIRE amount of the loan available as cash, and are prepared to gift it times the number of kids you have- to a child of PROVEN responsibility.
  3. Never co-sign for anyone else for anything else period.
  4. Are you practicing the principle of not co-signing? Yes No I need to and will
  1. Don’t go into debt for anything that doesn’t produce revenue. Proverbs 22:7.
  1. No unsecured loans period. B. Illu. produce revenue washer/dryer.

C. House equity instead of rent. D. Learn to save for your vehicles.

E. If you absolutely have to use debt for a vehicle use KBB.com and be sure NOT to overpay AND pay the loan back early.

Are you practicing these debt principles? Yes No I need to and will

  1. Save regularly (follow the money map). Proverbs 6:6-8.

Are you saving regularly? Yes No I need to and will

  1. Seek wisdom ~ ask biblically grounded financially successful people for advice. In the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 15:22.

Who will you ask wisdom from for your next big financial decision?______

  1. Always Put God First in Your Finances.

Are you putting God first in your finances? Yes No I need to and will

Closing – 3 John 2 and commitment to following God’s Word

Discussion Items and Questions for Home and Small Group-

Cover the questions in RED and share your answers. Pray for each other.