Episode 298-Christian Publishers are LYING to You

Disciple Up # 298
Dishonest Christian Publishers
By Louie Marsh

Links used during this Podcast

https://estephenburnett.lorehaven.com/pssst-christian-endorsers-of-bad-books-may-not-have-even-read-them/

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/march-web-only/christian-publishers-book-endorsements-authors-tgc-butler.html

https://archive.thinkprogress.org/meet-donald-trumps-new-evangelical-advisory-board-6a5bfc5460d7/

Excerpts from CT article:

The Problem with Christian Book Endorsements

Publishers and authors have played along by pushing celebrity blurbs—but it’s time to rewrite the rules of promotion.

KATELYN BEAT

As an editor at a Christian publisher, I review multiple book proposals each week. Authors pitching a new project will share a table of contents, a sample of their writing, their bio, statistics about their platform, and—always—a list of confirmed or potential endorsers.

It’s a strange detail, since most trade nonfiction books aren’t already written when the author goes under contract with a publisher. This means that endorsers have agreed to endorse something that doesn’t exist.

Authors and agents are simply playing the rules that publishers set, and in Christian publishing—as with all book publishing—it’s about who you know.

Many authors hate seeking endorsements; it feels self-promotional and vulnerable. But endorsements are simply part of the deal, going back to at least 1856, when Walt Whitman had Ralph Waldo Emerson’s letter praising Leaves of Grass published in the New-York Tribune prior to the book’s second edition.

It’s a risky thing to do—especially when an endorser hasn’t read the book.

Last week, The Gospel Coalition published, then unpublished, an excerpt from the forthcoming book Beautiful Union: How God’s Vision for Sex Points Us to the Good, Unlocks the True, and (Sort of) Explains Everything. Readers criticized the author, Joshua Ryan Butler, saying he misconstrued the marriage metaphor in Ephesians 5, making it pornographic, male-centric, and ripe for abuse.

As criticisms mounted, ministry leader Dennae Pierre and pastor Rich Villodas publicly retracted their book endorsements. Pierre said she had written hers “based on training Josh had done for local pastors” and had done a “quick skim” of the book. Villodas said a mutual friend had invited him to endorse the book: “I agreed to the favor, but in poor judgment, read only 25-30% of it.”

It was good for Pierre and Villodas to admit they hadn’t fully read a book that will feature their names, at least on the first printing. Their retractions are a wake-up call for book buyers: Endorsements aren’t always about quality of writing or theological soundness. In practice, they aren’t even always an honest assessment of someone else’s work.

Rather, in an age fixated on platform, endorsements are about establishing the market appeal of an author based on their connections to famous people. As such, endorsements are usually driven by celebrity, mutual back-scratching, and power consolidated through loose social, professional, and ministry networks. There’s a reason that endorsements come through the marketing team (not editorial): Endorsements are marketing tools, not editorial reviews.

Of course, many endorsers offer blurbs for good reasons. They want to support friends and acquaintances. In a market where sales often boil down to platform, many famous people want to share the spotlight, or shine it on emerging voices. Plus, a Christian culture of niceness—and the blurring of lines between friendship and commerce—make it hard to say no to endorsement requests. (Note that Villodas said he agreed to a “favor.”) After all, whoever blurbs sparingly will also be blurbed sparingly, for God loves a cheerful blurber.

I consider it a red flag that some faith-based publishers will write an endorsement for a celebrity who doesn’t have time to write it themselves. Let me repeat that: A publishing team member, coveting a celebrity’s name on a forthcoming title, will contact them or their team and say, “We know you’re very busy because you’re very important and clearly called to do big things for God, so you probably won’t have time to read this book. But we would be so honored to have your support. Might you say something like this? [fill in endorsement].” Then the celebrity or their assistant signs off on the wording or tweaks it before it appears on the book.

Imagine if the blurb appeared as it was written:

Timely and compelling message! —Famous Pastor —Marketing Intern

It doesn’t have the same ring, but at least it’s honest.

Likewise, it’s mostly up to blurbers to be honest about their blurbs. Personally, I would love to see more blurbs that include praise and critique; one needn’t agree with every detail in a book to commend it as worth reading.

It would be unorthodox, from an industry view, for faith-based publishers to drop endorsements on principle of resisting celebrity. But it could also honor the central task to which Christian publishers are called: to edify Christian readers and deepen the faith of everyday believers, not to serve as an avenue for aspiring leaders to boost each other’s careers.

Christian publishers have been implicated in scandals around ghostwriting, plagiarism, and extending the platforms of unhealthy and abusive leaders. If they are also asking endorsers to essentially lie to book buyers, we have deep problems to attend to.

Katelyn Beaty is editorial director of Brazos Press, a division of Baker Publishing Group. She is the author of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church.

ANOTHER ARTICLE:

 At The Gospel Coalition, Joe Carter summarized who said what:

On Tuesday, several evangelical leaders drew criticism for promoting the newest book of Paula White, a prosperity gospel preacher who has repeatedly been accused of teaching heretical doctrines. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said “you might want to check it out.” Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas, said to “give it to anyone looking for hope!” Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, declared, “It is powerful. I highly recommend it!” And Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, added, “Paula’s life is an encouragement to so many and I’m sure this book will encourage you.” (It’s unclear whether these men have actually read the book or if they support White’s teachings.)

Since then, several of those endorsers have removed their original tweets, such as Franklin Graham’s.

But here’s one annoying secret about book endorsements: Sometimes the endorser has not even read the book being endorsed.

This apparently open “secret” leaked some time ago, thanks in part to author Randy Alcorn. In this article, he wrote:

I’m often asked to endorse an entire book based on one chapter, and several times I’ve been sent an-already written endorsement and asked if I would agree to have my name attached to it! Personally, I don’t think this is ethical. I’ve also been told by several Christian leaders they would be glad to endorse my book, and they were having a staff person read it and give me the endorsement under the leader’s name. I’ve had to explain I don’t believe in ghost-written endorsements, so no need to send me one because I couldn’t use it. That’s an awkward situation for everybody.

This is one of several objections Alcorn shared about “acceptable” practices in Christian publishing. He also critiques ghostwriting and other practices, such as paid celebrity endorsements for nonprofit groups. Alcorn calls these “the scandal of evangelical dishonesty.”1

Earlier this week, I shared some of this info (along with a little speculation about one old, and since removed, celebrity endorsement of another book). Since then, blogger Julie Roys confirmed that, indeed, one endorser had not actually read Paula White-Cain’s book:

. . . When pressed about whether he’s certain that there’s nothing in White’s book that supports prosperity gospel, Jeffress said: “My schedule is so busy, I can’t read every book word for word. But what I did see was really her autobiographical account of her past and how God redeemed her life.”

. . . Yet when I asked Jeffress if he’s sure that White’s theology is orthodox, and that she is not a proponent of the prosperity gospel, Jeffress said, “All I can say is she claims not to be.” I asked Jeffress whether he’s investigated what White teaches for himself and he answered, “No, no . . . I’m too busy in my own ministry to launch an investigation.”

Sure, perhaps Christian leaders really are very busy. Perhaps they haven’t time to investigate another Christian leader, who has been reputably charged with promoting heresy. But in that case, perhaps you should—at minimum!—avoid endorsing the person’s book? Especially if you haven’t even read it? And even if you and the professing-Christian author share the same political fandoms?

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Episode 293-Stewardship IS Good Leadership Pt 2

Disciple Up #293
Stewardship IS Good Leadership, Pt. 2
By Louie Marsh, 2-8-2023

LESSON TWO:

Good stewards serve Jesus not Tradition.

1) WATCH OUT  for counterfeit philosophies.

 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Col. 2:8

3 Characteristics:

  • HOLLOW
  • DECEPTIVE
  • BASED ON HUMAN TRADITION

 

  • Basic principles of this world

 

2) GRASP your fullness in Christ!

 

  • BELIEVE that Christ is GOD in human form.

 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, Col. 2:9

  • FIND spiritual fullness in Christ alone!

 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Col. 2:10

 SEAL this fullness through baptism.

 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. Col. 2:11-12

 For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power.  When you came to Christ, he set you free from your evil desires, not by a bodily operation of circumcision but by a spiritual operation, the baptism of your souls. For in baptism you see how your old, evil nature died with him and was buried with him; and then you came up out of death with him into a new life because you trusted the Word of the mighty God who raised Christ from the dead. Col. 2:9-12 (LB)

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Episode 292 Stewardship IS Good Leadership

Disciple Up # 292:
Stewardship As Leadership
By Louie Marsh, 2-1-2023

LESSON ONE:

 1st Leadership Principle in the U.S. Marine Corps is this: “Know Yourself – Seek Self Improvement”

 To know yourself as a Christian leader is to know all you have and are comes from God. It is to know you are a steward.

  • Seeking self-improvement isn’t trying to exalt yourself, but to become more like Christ.

 All done from a Stewardship Centric point of view.

  • Leadership

Stewardship as Leadership “7For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,” (Titus 1:7, ESV)

  • Good, Better, Best
  • Good stewards chose good over bad, better over good, and best over better.
  • They ask, “How can I do or be better?”

 Moses excuses

 1st Excuse – They Won’t Listen

1Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ”” (Exodus 4:1, ESV)

  • God’s Answer – miraculous proof

8“If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”” (Exodus 4:8–9, ESV)

2nd Excuse – Which God?

13Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”” (Exodus 3:13, ESV)

  • Provides His Sacred Name

 14God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”” (Exodus 3:14, ESV)

 3rd Excuse – I can’t talk well.

10But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”” (Exodus 4:10, ESV)

  • Answer – God can.

11Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”” (Exodus 4:11–12, ESV)

4th Excuse – He gets honest

13But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”” (Exodus 4:13, ESV)

  • God Shuts Down the Debate

14Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”” (Exodus 4:14–17, ESV)

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Episode 285 Stewardship Pt. 8: Use of Finances

Disciple Up # 285
Stewardship Part Nine: Use of Finances
Louie Marsh, 11-23-2022

Introduction:  Where we’ve been and where we’re probably going!

9 Biblical Financial Principles

1) God is My Source

The first principle is that God is the source of everything.

19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, ESV)

8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV)

2) Giving Is Essential

38give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38, ESV)

23And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.” (Deuteronomy 14:23, ESV)

One purpose of tithing was to teach the people of Israel to put God first in their lives.

3) Saving Is Critical

The third financial principle concerns saving money-setting something aside for a rainy day.

20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” (Proverbs 21:20, ESV)

4) Keep Out of Debt

The fourth principle is to keep out of unnecessary debt and thus avoid the debt trap.

21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;” (Psalm 37:21, ESV)

Borrowing for a house or car is one thing but taking on financial obligations one can’t keep-buying beyond the ability to pay-is another.

7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7, ESV)

5) Be Content with what you have

The 5th principle is being content with what one has.

5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11, ESV)

10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10, ESV)

6) Have a Budget

The 6th principle is that of keeping records and making a budget.

23Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23, ESV)

3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Proverbs 24:3–4, ESV)

7) Don’t Cosign

The 7th principle is, don’t cosign.

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, 2if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 3then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. 4Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.” (Proverbs 6:1–5, ESV)

8) Work Hard

The eighth principle is that of hard work.

23In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23, ESV)

19Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.” (Proverbs 28:19, ESV)

9) Seek Godly Counsel

The last principle is that of seeking godly counsel.

1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;” (Psalm 1:1, ESV)

22Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22, ESV)

6) How this works in my church/ministry

  • Use of funds

 Churches & ministries must be as open and transparent as possible about their finances. The only thing we keep private is who gave how much. Otherwise our books are open, staff salaries are open, and each month we report on our finances publicly.

  •  Support of those in the ministry – time, finances, marriage support, etc.

 3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3–6, ESV)

  •  Staying focused on the ministry’s purpose

 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Colossians 1:25–29, ESV)

  •  Balance my time for ministry & rest, etc.

1Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:1–2, ESV)

19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ESV)

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Episode 284 Stewardship Pt 8- My Witness, Growth & Work

Disciple Up # 284
Stewardship Pt. 8: My Witness, Growth & Work
By Louie Marsh, 11-16-2022

    • Evangelism/Personal Witness

 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5, ESV)

Fulfil (πληροφορησον [plērophorēson]). First aorist active imperative of πληροφορεω [plērophoreō], for which see Col. 4:12. In Col. 4:17 Paul uses πληροω [plēroō] to Archippus about his ministry as he here employs πληροφορεω [plērophoreō]. Both verbs mean to fill full. – A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), 2 Ti 4:5.

6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6–8, ESV)

  •  What is Evangelism?

 16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:16–20, ESV)

  •  Making DISCIPLES not DECISIONS!

 It’s far more than just inviting people to church, as good as that is.

 It’s telling people about the Gospel of Jesus and your experience with it (your past) should be one tool in your arsenal to use in accomplishing this mission Jesus gave us.

 Spiritual Growth

 3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3–8, ESV)

 Work

 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24, ESV)

 

 

 

Episode 283-Stewardship Pt 7-My Past Pt 2

Disciple Up # 283
Stewardship Part 7: My Past, Part Two
By Louie Marsh, 11-9-2022

I forgot a very important passage last week when dealing with Stewardship of my Past.

15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15–16, ESV)

Acts 22:1-11; Acts 26:12–29, ESV

But how does that fit in with this??

2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh4though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

  7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

  12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Philippians 3:2–16, ESV)

ἐπιλανθανόμενος – most common word in NT, means to forget, neglect or overlook.

  • Paul didn’t forget, since he remembered enough to repeat it and list much of his past in Philippians.
  • HOWEVER, he did forget in the sense of overlooking his past. He was free from it even though he remembered what happened of course.

Forgive and forget.  But it can be done, and should and must be done, if we mean overlook, or neglect the guilt and pain of it. Instead, we focus on Christ.

Good stewardship is using my past, at the right time, in the right place, and in the right way.

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Episode 281: Stewardship Pt 5-Children Ministry & Weaknesses

Disciple Up Show Notes #281
Stewardship Pt 5: Children, Ministry Weaknesses
By Louie Marsh, 10-26-2022

 Children

 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)

 Again, servants love to help them grow up into Christ – Stewardship.

 Ministry

 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (2 Timothy 1:6–9, ESV)

“Talent on loan from God” – Rush Limbaugh

 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7, ESV)

11for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.(2 Timothy 1:11–14, ESV)

10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

I MUST BE A GOOD STEWARD OF MY WEAKNESSES

 Weaknesses – God deliberately gave me my weaknesses, to use them for his glory. Therefore I must steward them as well.

 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8–10, ESV)

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Episode 280: Stewardship Pt 4 Marriage

Disciple Up #280
Stewardship, Pt 4, Marriage
By Louie Marsh, 10-19-2022

  • Marriage

 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21, ESV)

22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

 25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:22–28, ESV)

29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body. 31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:29–33, ESV)

  • The word submit isn’t in verse 22. Most scholars say it’s implied. But is it or is there an alterative way to see these verses?
  • The church is supposed to be a place a mutual submission.
  • The Greek is in the middle voice, which means you do this to yourself. It’s reflexive not something done to you by others.
  • The husband has an impossible command to live up too.
  • No room for your ego!

 Wives are called to submit to their husbands loving them like Christ. They must serve their mate in love.

  1. Husbands are called to love their wives in self-sacrificial ways like Jesus did. Nothing about ego, power or pride here – it’s all about serving your mate in love.
  2. THIS is Biblical stewardship – caring for the mate God has given you.

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Email – louie@discipleup.org

 


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Episode 279: Stewardship Part Three

Disciple Up #279
Stewardship, Part Three
By Louie Marsh, 10-12-2022

    • Leadership
    • Servanthood
    • Trust/Faithful

3) The Larger Concept.

15The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15, ESV)

  • God made & owns everything – and loans a little of it to us from time to time

1The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,” (Psalm 24:1, ESV)

5according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.” (Haggai 2:5, ESV)

10For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.” (Psalm 50:10–11, ESV)

9Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.” (Job 41:9, ESV)

 24And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,” (Acts 4:24, ESV)

 Properly looked at, Stewardship is the center of our living by faith.

 God made everything therefore he owns everything

  • God made me therefore he owns me.
  • I gave my life to Christ; therefore, God owns me again!
  • Everything I have & am belongs to God.
  • Stewardship = Lordship of Jesus in my life.
  • Stewardship = Lordship of Jesus over my ministry & church.

4) A few false concepts.

Bad Belief – “God owns 10% of my money, he lets me keep the other 90% and do whatever I want to do with it.”

The Truth: God owns 100% of my money & treasure. He lets you use 90%, but it’s still His.

Real Stewardship: is my heart before God. Am I willing filled with joy to give it all to God! I’m thankful that God allows me to use it. I’m honored to be a servant of God.

Stewardship is a heart issue because our Christian faith is a heart issue.

5) How this works in all areas of our lives.

  • A quick way to see how your stewardship is going: Time, Talent, Treasure, – test by looking at your calendar, your bank account & your ministry.

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Email – louie@discipleup.org

 


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Episode 277 Stewardship Part One

Disciple Up #277
Stewardship. Pt. 1
By Louie Marsh, 9-28-2022

Link on Russian Orthodox Church:

https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2022/09/26/desperation-russian-orthodox-patriarch-calls-russians-to-martyrdom-in-ukraine-to-have-sins-washed-away-n498987

Stewardship, Pt. 1
Malawi 2022
By Louie Marsh

What is Biblical Stewardship?

We start where we should always start – Jesus!

1When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” (John 17:1–4, ESV)

6“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” (John 17:6–8, ESV)

12While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:12, ESV)

4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:4–8, ESV)

1) What it is – define the words

OLD TESTAMENT

2But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”” (Genesis 15:2, ESV)

The original Hebrew word for “steward” is `al bayith, which literally means “man over the house.” During Bible times, most notable households would have had a steward, so the term was familiar and not originally tied to spiritual matters. The steward was in charge of whatever the Master put him over. It wasn’t unusual for one man to run the whole house, or for the very rich, they might have several stewards.

  • Leadership
  • Servanthood
  • Trust

2And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”” (Genesis 24:2–4, ESV)

16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.”” (Genesis 43:16, ESV)

19So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house,” (Genesis 43:19, ESV)

1Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack,” (Genesis 44:1, ESV)

4They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?” (Genesis 44:4, ESV)

Please Get In Touch!

Email – louie@discipleup.org

 


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