Stewardship Legacy – Beautiful Truth

Ever since the fall into sin, the concept of truth has been up for grabs. Our first parents believed the tempter’s deceit and, in the aftermath, asserted their own truth in vain self-defense. Pilate, when invited to consider the truth of God, questioned whether truth existed at all. Paul testified to the Gentile world’s denial of truth as they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for mere images.

Human beings today are no different. Fine print hides the truth. Political leaders stretch the truth. Individuals deceive themselves and call it truth. We follow the same pattern, pursuing a semblance of truth when convenient and reshaping it altogether when we think it necessary. Truth remains confused.

Into this mess of ugly comes biblical truth.

A series focused on truth could go in many directions—from an in-depth look at the nature of scriptural truth (certain, real, objective, eternal, etc.) to a study of how God communicates his truth (natural and revealed). Yet above all else, biblical truth is CHRISTIAN truth. It is truth centered in Jesus Christ. It is truth revealed through Jesus Christ. It’s not merely a set of assertions or propositions to grasp with our minds, but a person to know with our hearts.

And as we come to know Jesus, we recognize that Christian truth is truly beautiful—for ourselves and for others. This series explores the beauty of Christian truth, along with the importance of deeply grasping it for ourselves and communicating it to others, especially the next generation. The series follows this approach:

1. Steward the Truth as the Greatest Good: God’s truth is genuinely good—the greatest good. Believe it!
2. Steward the Truth as Shared Humanity: Christian truth speaks to all people across time and distance. Share it!
3. Steward the Truth as Freedom from Deception: The deception of sin hurts and enslaves. Christ’s truth brings freedom and life. Declare it!
4. Steward the Truth as Your Identity in Christ: Contemporary culture constantly changes the concept of identity. Identity in Christ doesn’t change. Embrace it!

“Beautiful Truth” resources include sample sermons, weekly worship helps, and Bible studies that consider each of the four parts above in greater depth. Please note there is a condensed and an expanded version of the Bible study. As leader, you are encouraged to pick and choose how best to use them (example: you might consider breaking up one of the Bible studies and covering it smaller bite-sized segments that best fit your Bible study hour).

God bless the use of these resources for your congregation and your efforts to steward the beautiful truth of Jesus Christ!