1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,200 It's not a bad word, I promise. Now, what word, you ask? 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,120 I'll tell you right after we roll this intro for this week's 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:18,040 episode of Liberty at Home. Well, hello there. 4 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:22,080 What a surprise to see you. Thanks for joining me at ECAD 5 00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:25,040 Studios for this week's newest edition of Liberty at Home. 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,000 I'm your host Pastor Adam Rivero, and I lead the Liberty 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,640 Baptist Church right here in Easton on Route 138. 8 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,200 And Speaking of Easton, we're broadcasting as always from 9 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,720 Easton, MA, home of a new bakery on Center St. 10 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,120 Go check out Sukkah's bakery behind. 11 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:42,960 It's not just Tabouli. And if that sentence doesn't 12 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,560 make sense to you, then you're definitely not from Easton. 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,720 Today we're going to read about just one verse as we talk about 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:54,360 one word, one single word that strikes abject fear in the 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,160 hearts of many. Are you intrigued? 16 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,840 Well, let's read our verse and then I'll tell you what word I'm 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,880 talking about. Psalm 24, verse one says the 18 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,520 earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and 19 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:13,640 they that dwell therein. Each week in churches all across 20 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,400 the world, pastors use various theological words and terms. 21 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,960 We sprinkle them into our sermons, our public prayers, and 22 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,480 into our conversations with those who attend service. 23 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,920 But I've noticed there's one word that caused a visible 24 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,040 reaction more than almost any other word. 25 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,560 It's likely not a word you're thinking of now, but as soon as 26 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,040 I say it, you'll likely know exactly what I'm talking about. 27 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,560 Are you ready? The word is stewardship. 28 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,880 Just say the word stewardship and folks gasp as men quickly 29 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,040 hide their wallets and women clutch their purpose purses. 30 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:49,720 OK, that's a slight exaggeration. 31 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,000 However, stewardship usually involves thoughts of building 32 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,320 programs, capital campaigns, and annual budgets. 33 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,040 Stewardship makes people think of a thermometer prominently 34 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,000 placed in the sanctuary of the church to aid in tracking the 35 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,160 financial progress of a special project. 36 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,800 Yes, people can get very nervous when the pastor begins talking 37 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,920 about stewardship. Now, I'm not a marketing guru, 38 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,920 but if I was to make a slogan for the word stewardship, I 39 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,320 think it would be this stewardship. 40 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:22,840 It's a lot more than money. You see, our view of stewardship 41 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,320 is often so narrow that all we consider is our finances. 42 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,320 However, God's view of stewardship is much further 43 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,080 reaching than our own. What is stewardship then? 44 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,440 Well, it's when someone cares for something on behalf of 45 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,640 another. Remember Psalm 24, verse one? 46 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,160 It lays out the foundation of stewardship when it says the 47 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,400 earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and 48 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,640 they that dwell therein. All that is in this world, 49 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,920 including the possessions we believe are ours, are really 50 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:55,000 things entrusted to us by God. We must care for all things the 51 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,600 Lord has given us, which means we must be stewards in every 52 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,800 area of our life. You see, stewardship really is a 53 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,160 lot more than money. The Bible is full of examples of 54 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,840 things we must be stewards of. For instance, First Corinthians 55 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,560 chapter 4 verse one tells us we're to be stewards of the 56 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,240 mysteries of God, which is the gospel message. 57 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:16,560 First Peter chapter 4 verse 10 reminds us we're to exercise the 58 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,480 gifts and abilities God has given us to be stewards of the 59 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,520 grace of God. Proverbs 6 uses the example of 60 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:26,320 ants to teach us that we must be good stewards of every hour and 61 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,920 every minute. God gives us. 62 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,800 These verses and countless other passages remind us that 63 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,440 stewardship is a full time occupation. 64 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,960 What does it all mean? Well, as we live a life of 65 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,400 stewardship, we should always be looking for ways to invest. 66 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,040 Remember, this isn't just talking about money. 67 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,520 Rather, we want to be good stewards of our time, our 68 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:52,000 talents, and our treasure so we can be faithful servants of God 69 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,840 and conduits of His blessings to the people around us. 70 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,840 Simply put, God gives to us and we invest in others. 71 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,560 As we continue to invest, God entrust us with more which we 72 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,840 again invest in others. You see, this is a never ending 73 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,960 circle of giving and getting and giving and getting and it's what 74 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,600 stewardship is all about. So the next time you hear the 75 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,040 word stewardship, don't get nervous. 76 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,120 Instead, look at the full view of the stewarding life and know 77 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,440 it's one of the greatest adventures and blessings any 78 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,800 believer can be a part of. You know it's always a joy to be 79 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,400 able to visit with you on liberty at home, but our time 80 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,320 has quickly expired for this week's episode. 81 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,640 But right before I go, I want to remind you to make this week the 82 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,440 week you visit us at Liberty Baptist Church. 83 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,680 We're located 800 Washington St. in Easton, and we meet on 84 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,640 Sundays at 10 AM, 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM, as well as having a 85 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,720 midweek service on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. 86 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:47,720 Want to learn more about us before your visit? 87 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,000 For an open book? You can check out our live 88 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,840 stream services, sermon, podcast, doctrinal statement, 89 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,880 and so much more at my libertybaptist.org. 90 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:57,680 You know what I'm about to say, right? 91 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,240 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 92 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,960 I'm Adam Rivera and I'll see you next week for our next edition 93 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:05,040 of Liberty at Home.