Biblical stewardship is managing the resources and abilities God has given and using them to accomplish what He has ordained. Everything we possess is a gift from God, entrusted to us for His purpose. Like the children of Israel, it is easy to begin with excitement and then become distracted, using time, talents, and abilities to build our own kingdom instead of the Kingdom of God. Through Haggai, God calls His people to think carefully about their ways, to think carefully about their time, and to think carefully about the talents and abilities He has given. God had given Israel everything they needed, the ability to go, the skill to build, and the strength to complete His assignment, yet they used it for themselves and were never satisfied. When what God has entrusted is held tightly, it will not be blessed. When God’s people live with reverence and awe for the Lord, their dependence on His presence grows. Little is much when God is in it, and God desires His people to be open handed with what He has given so that He receives the glory.

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Communion is never about checking a box or doing something because it is what we do. It is a moment to slow down and remember the rescue. Scripture takes us back to Passover when God delivered His people and death passed over those covered by the blood of a spotless lamb. Jesus took that same meal and pointed it to Himself, His body given and His blood poured out so that eternal death would pass over all who believe in Him. Paul reminded the church in Corinth of the weight and seriousness of the Lord’s Supper. Before taking the bread and the cup, believers are called to examine their hearts, to confess sin, and to pursue unity with others so they do not take this moment lightly. The invitation is also extended to anyone who does not yet know Christ because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Communion becomes a time to remember what Jesus has done, to give thanks for His sacrifice, and to sit in the presence of the One who offers forgiveness, freedom, and life.

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God had promised to give the children of Israel everything they needed to rebuild the temple, including the gift of time. But when their priorities shifted, the first thing they failed to steward was that time. For 17 years, they did nothing with the assignment God had given them. Through Haggai, God calls them to “think carefully about your ways” and to evaluate how they had used their days. Time is one of the most overlooked gifts God has given us. Our days are numbered, and every one of them has a purpose. Like Israel, it is easy to let circumstances distract us and keep us from God’s presence and His work. When we face difficult times, we must choose whether we will run to Him or away from Him. When we give Him our time, He adjusts everything else. The dash between our birth and death is what God has entrusted to us. While there is still breath in our lungs, how will we use the time God has given us?

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God has called His people to live with open hands—ready to release whatever He’s entrusted to us so He can use it for His glory. In Ezra, God’s people were given a specific assignment: return to Jerusalem and rebuild His temple. They were not only called but also promised everything they needed to complete the task. God will never lead us where He will not provide. At first, their obedience and excitement collided with God’s power, and they celebrated what He had done. But when opposition came, circumstances grew louder than God’s promises, and their hands began to close. For 17 years, they stopped building. Through the prophet Haggai, God spoke again: “Think carefully about your ways.” We’re not saved to sit. We’ve been set free to build His Kingdom. As we align our priorities and move together in obedience, God is preparing to do what only He can do. Whatever He asks of you—say yes. Trust Him with what seems impossible. When our obedience meets His power, He makes a way where there seems to be no way.

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Jude closes his letter with a doxology, a word of praise. Giving God praise has more to do with who He is than what is going on around us. When we know who God is, we are able to worship and give Him the praise He is worthy of. We were made to know and enjoy God, and worship is due to Him at all times. In Jude 24–25, we see that God is able to save us, protect us, and present us. He is our Savior, the one who rescues us from danger and delivers us from wrath. Once He saves us, we are His forever. He is able to keep us from falling and to present us blameless and spotless in His presence. Jesus has done the work for us. Our response is to confess, believe, repent, and give all glory to the One who is able. Listen to this sermon in the final part of our In The Word series in the book of Jude.

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A parent will do anything to protect their child. Warnings come from love, not fear, because love sees danger and wants to keep others safe. In the same way, Jude gives a loving but serious warning to the church to be alert to the dangers that surround us. In Jude 12-23, he describes “these people” who slip into the church to cause division and spread deception. If the enemy cannot stop the church from the outside, he will try to weaken it from within. We must guard what God is doing in our homes, our children’s lives, and His church. Jude reminds believers that God will deal with all wickedness in His time. Our responsibility is to stay faithful, to keep growing in our faith, to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit, and to have mercy on those who have drifted. We have to be urgent about reaching people who do not know God, snatching them from the flames but using caution. Be careful not to be pulled into what you are trying to rescue someone from. Know your surroundings, know what you are stepping into, and ask God to reveal who these people are in your life. Listen to this sermon in third part of our In The Word series, walking through the book of Jude.

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To contend for the faith is to wrestle and endure in the daily walk of following Jesus. Jude reminds us that we must look to the past to understand how to stand firm today. From Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness to the examples of Cain, Balaam, and Korah, Scripture shows us the danger of turning from God’s truth and the importance of staying faithful to the calling He has given us. Contending for the faith requires endurance and focus. We run the race by looking to Jesus, the perfecter of our faith, knowing that He has already won the victory. As we follow Him, we are called to soak in God’s Word, beg for His will, and walk in His way, allowing what we believe to be visible in how we live. In a world filled with confusion and darkness, God calls His people to wake up, push back the darkness, and shine the light of Christ wherever they go.

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Jude opens his letter reminding believers who they are, called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ. We have been bought with a price, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. It does not matter how far you have gone or how much you have messed up. Jesus has called you to Himself. His love is perfect, permanent, and unchanging. Once you are in Him, you are always in Him. Because of that, we are not saved to sit still. Jude urges believers to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. In a world where truth is being twisted and false gospels creep in unnoticed, we must guard what is true, not opinions or preferences, but the gospel itself. Contending begins on our knees. It looks like prayer, surrender, and bold obedience. Jesus has called us, loves us, and keeps us. He does not need wimpy Christians, but bold ones, driven by His love, who stand firm and live out the truth of the gospel. You are called. You are beloved. You are kept. Now get in the game and contend for the faith.

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Our culture at Chestnut Mountain Church is always going to be shaped by what we value. The early church in Acts had all things in common; they were together. They were open-handed with what God had entrusted to them and lived out grateful generosity. We should strive to be a generous people, not for recognition, but because we are grateful for how generous He has been to us. As we look at why we value grateful generosity, there are three steps we can take in being generous. The first step in generosity is taking a step toward God. He receives us no matter what condition we’re in. Before we can ever understand biblical generosity, we must take a step toward Him in surrender. God was the one who initiated generosity, the one who modeled it. Before we trust Him with our money, we must trust Him with our eternity. The next step is to know Him better, and the deeper we know Him, the deeper we understand how generous He has been. The third step is to trust Him, because generosity has nothing to do with the amount of money; it has everything to do with trust. God doesn’t need our money; He wants our hearts. When we live out generosity, we’re living out a reflection of who Jesus is. The goal is not for people to see Chestnut Mountain Church; it’s for people to see Jesus. Listen to this sermon about grateful generosity in our Who We Are series.

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We are shaped by surrendered obedience. The narrow gate Jesus calls us to enter is simple, but it is not easy. Following Him means making choices that set us apart from the broad road of the crowd. Trusting the Lord means doing what He asks even when it doesn’t make sense. God doesn’t need logical people; He needs obedient people. Surrendered obedience is seen in the prayers we pray, when we say, “Your will be done, not mine.” Take a step of obedience. Don’t hang the “do not disturb” sign on your faith—switch it to “available.” We are shaped by the paths we take, the choices we make, and the prayers we pray. Take a step towards obedience. Listen to this sermon about surrendered obedience in our Who We Are series.

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