“Of What Are We Stewards” is Part 2 of our “Reflecting Christ” series on Christian stewardship with Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador. In this episode, Dr. Meador talks about the consequences of what he calls “the first stewardship crisis,” leading us to THE most important thing of which God has entrusted us: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The steward, Dr. Meador says, is a “conduit of the Gospel.” “The Gospel,” he says, “is not about you, it’s for you.” God has entrusted us with the Gospel (the message of God’s reconciliation and forgiveness in Christ), for us and for the good of our neighbor.

Recorded 17 July, A.D. 2025

“Remember Jesus Christ.” This is where we look, this is where we turn, when the suffering looks too daunting. Remember Jesus Christ. This is the remembering of faith, to recall the one in whom you put your trust and your hope. Where can we go to for the strength to do this? The person of Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food — bread and wine for believers to eat and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are your people. Death cannot part you from Him because His death and resurrection are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (2 Tim. 2:8). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely “the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted “to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2), so that you “may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10). Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach and confess the one Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ.

We live by Faith, and run in the righteousness of Christ’s Forgiveness

We are surrounded by“destruction and violence”(Hab. 1:3) because the Law“is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth”(Hab. 1:4). In fact, the Law cannot rescue us from ourBabylon; thepower of theenemy, the world, or our own sinful flesh.“Temptations to sin are sure to come”(Luke 17:1), but as often as we sin, the Lord rebukes us, turns us to repentance and forgives us.Therefore, not by sight, experience or feeling, nor by works,but“the righteous shall live by his faith”(Hab. 2:4).We pray that He would thus“increase our faith”(Luke 17:5). And indeed, He does! Though we are His“unworthy servants”(Luke 17:10), He prepares His Supper for us, dresses us properly and gives us His body and blood to eat and drink. He appoints pastors for us,“by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus”(2 Tim. 1:1).For the Gospel brings“life and immortality to light”(2 Tim. 1:10). This we believe. Therefore,“follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard,”(2 Tim 1:1)"so we may run" as "the righteous who live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:2,4)