Loosely following a stretch of the Revised Common Lectionary for Year C, this four week stewardship sermon encourages us to think about the various treasures God has entrusted to us and empowers us to entrust our treasures to each other.
Entrusted Treasures: Series Outline
Week 1: Entrusted Treasures (2 Timothy 1:1-14)
Introduce the sermon series with an overview of the themes of Timothy–that the church is something we are entrusted with, because (against all odds) God believes we are the best guardians of it. We trust God with our whole lives, and God entrusts the legacy of faith to us in turn. In stewardship, therefore, we don’t purchase the church like a commodity, but preserve it like a beloved family heirloom for the next generation.
“When we are entrusted with something, it is because someone has deemed us worthy of it. To be entrusted with something reflects not just the generosity of the giver, but the capability of the one given to.”
REv. Carol Holbrook Prickett
Week 2: Treasured Scripture (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5)
Most of our congregations read scripture every week as the focus of our worship, yet we rarely take a step back to talk about why scripture holds such a treasured spot in our faith. This scripture–including that tricky phrase, “God-breathed”–offers an opportunity to explore how your congregation views scripture and why it is a treasure worth passing down.
Scripture is a window. It’s a window into God—into who God is, what God cares about, what God wants for us. It’s not the only window into God, but it is one that we have decided, as a community of faith, to trust in, to return to week by week, to keep gazing through in hopes of a new glimpse of the God we love.
rev. carol Holbrook Prickett
Week 3: Treasured Generosity (1 Timothy 6:17-19) (this scripture is off-lectionary)
While the letters to Timothy are not known for their missional depth, the writer does offer a glimpse into what is expected of those who have earthly treasures: the ministry of “good works.” Here he echoes the language of Ephesians 2, when Paul claims that we are saved by grace, but created for good works–for generosity towards others that helps all live in the equity and abundance of the Kingdom of God.
Here again is the paradox of generosity–that it is only in giving that we receive, and in letting go of what we think we need to survive that we grab hold of the life that is really life.
Rev. carol holbrook prickett
Week 4: Treasured Faith (2 Timothy 4:6-18)
The metaphor of faith as a race is prevalent because it resonates so well. In the life of faith, as well as in running, there are days of exuberant strength, and sheer exhaustion, but also many mundane ways where you pound the pavement simply to keep pace. Encourage your congregation in wherever they are in their race, and remind them that they do not run alone, but with all the others who have committed to the race with them.
Commitment Sunday is not an end. Not anywhere close. It is a beginning. It is a new lap of the race beginning, and in our pledges and prayers today we are promising to run the race as well as we can, pledging to keep breathing deep and pounding the pavement, whether the course ahead is easy or tough. Today we are promising to stay the course, to commit to this team, to cheer each other on.
Rev. carol holbrook prickett
Ministry Resources
Entrusted Treasures Liturgy, including
Entrusted Treasures Stewardship Resources
Entrusted Treasures Graphics (editable Canva templates)
Deep Well Worship 