SUMMARY
In this sermon on kingdom stewardship,Pastor Raigan draws on the intimate conversation between Moses and God in Exodus 33 to challenge the congregation to seek God's presence above all else. Just as Moses refused to continue toward the Promised Land without God going with Him, we are called to desire the Giver more than the gifts. Pastor Raigan warns that it is easy to become so accustomed to God's blessings that we begin to seek His hand more than His heart, wanting the benefits of God without the being of God.
INTRO PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and willing spirits. We thank You for bringing us together as a community of faith. Lord, as we open Your Word and discuss what it means to be faithful stewards of all You have entrusted to us, we ask that You quiet the noise in our minds and draw our hearts closer to Yours. Help us to seek You above all else, not just the blessings You provide, but Your very presence. May Your Holy Spirit guide our conversation today, and may we leave this time changed, challenged, and more in love with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ICE BREAKER
What is the most memorable gift you have ever received, and what made it so special to you?
KEY VERSES
QUESTIONS
Pastor Raigan described how her children eventually began to care more about the gifts she brought home than about her presence. In what ways do you think we can fall into the same pattern with God, seeking His blessings more than His presence?
Moses boldly told God that if His presence would not go with them, He did not want to go at all. What does that kind of faith look like in your own daily life, and how difficult is it to prioritize God's presence over the outcomes you desire?
The Israelites took the gold God had given them out of Egypt and used it to build a golden calf. Can you think of a time when something God entrusted to you began to compete for your ultimate loyalty? How did you recognize it and respond?
Pastor Raigan described stewardship through three lenses: a tool, a test, and a trademark. Which of these three resonates most with you right now, and why?- When Jesus multiplied the five loaves and two fish, an ordinary lunch became an extraordinary miracle once it was surrendered to Him. What ordinary resource in your life do you sense God might be inviting you to place in His hands?
Pastor Raigan said that scarcity reveals our fears, but abundance reveals our idols. Do you agree with that statement? What has your own experience with either scarcity or abundance revealed about your heart?
Martin Luther is credited with saying that people need three conversions: of the heart, the mind, and the wallet. If someone looked at your calendar and your bank statement, what story would those two things tell about whom you serve?
Pastor Raigan closed by saying that when we truly experience God's goodness and grace, generosity stops feeling like an obligation and becomes an act of worship. Has there been a moment in your life when giving felt more like worship than duty? What made the difference?
LIFE APPLICATIONS
This week, prayerfully examine one area of your life where you may be holding on too tightly, whether it is your time, your finances, your talents, or your sense of security. Ask God to show you how that resource could become a tool for His kingdom. Take one concrete step to loosen your grip, whether that is volunteering an hour of your time, giving generously to a need you encounter, or opening your home to someone who needs community. As you do, pray the prayer of Moses: "Lord, show me Your glory."
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The greatest gift God offers us is not something He places in our hands but His very presence. Seeking God's hand more than His heart is a subtle but dangerous drift that every believer must guard against.
Everything God entrusts to us can serve as a tool for His kingdom. Ordinary resources, time, talents, treasures, and influence, become extraordinary instruments of grace when surrendered to God.
How we handle what God has given us is a test that reveals the true condition of our hearts. Faithful stewardship is not just about how much we give but about how deeply we trust our Heavenly Father.
Our stewardship carries a trademark that tells the world whom we serve. The way we spend our money, use our time, and treat others is a visible witness to the God we worship.
Generosity is not an obligation but an act of worship. When we have truly encountered God's grace and mercy, the question shifts from how much we have to give to how we could possibly hold anything back from Him.
ENDING PRAYER
Lord, we thank You for this time together and for the truth of Your Word that has stirred our hearts today. Like Moses, we declare that we do not want to go anywhere without Your presence. Forgive us for the times we have reached past You to grab the gifts, for the times we have clung to our resources out of fear rather than trusting in Your faithfulness. We surrender the tools You have placed in our hands to You today. Use them, Lord, for purposes far greater than we could accomplish on our own. May our lives carry the unmistakable trademark of Jesus Christ, and may everything we do point others to You. As we go from this place, may our prayer always be the prayer of Moses: show us Your glory. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
