INTRODUCTION
A steward is one who is entrusted with the possessions of another.  A good steward is responsible for handling these possessions in a wise manner.  Although God owns everything (Psalm 24:1), he allows us to manage (or to exercise stewardship over) the resources of the earth.  Christians also are stewards of the Gospel message.  We are responsible for sharing the good news and ministering to those in need of salvation.  In our personal lives, we are stewards of our individual gifts and talents, our time, our health (spiritual, emotional, and physical), and our finances.  God expects for us to manage his gifts and resources with both faithfulness and productivity (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:42-48).  Whatever we have has been graciously given to us by God.  Let us use every resource that God has provided to benefit the establishment of his kingdom in our city, in this nation, and in the world.  As we put God first, he will bless every area of our lives (Matthew 6:33).

STEWARDSHIP EXERCISES FOR FAMILIES
Here are some exercises families can do together to practice stewardship:

1. Family Meeting: Schedule a family meeting to discuss the concept of stewardship and its importance in your lives. Use this time to share personal stories or examples of stewardship and brainstorm ways your family can practice it together.
2. Volunteer Together: Find opportunities for your family to volunteer in your community. This could include serving at a soup kitchen, participating in a beach clean-up, or volunteering at a local charity event. Discuss the impact of your service and how it aligns with being good stewards of God's resources.
3. Create a Family Mission Statement: Work together to create a mission statement for your family that reflects your commitment to stewardship. Include goals and values related to managing your time, talents, finances, and the environment in a responsible and God-honoring way.
4. Financial Planning and Budgeting: Involve your children in age-appropriate discussions about finances and budgeting. Teach them the importance of managing money wisely and making intentional choices about spending, saving, and giving.
5. Family Garden: Start a family garden where you can grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs together. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the importance of caring for the Earth and being good stewards of the land. Donate any surplus produce to a local food pantry or share with neighbors.
6. Family Devotional Time: Set aside time each week for a family devotional focused on stewardship. Use Bible verses and stories to guide your discussions and prayers. Encourage each family member to share how they can apply the principles of stewardship in their daily lives.
7. Random Acts of Kindness: Challenge your family to perform random acts of kindness for others. This could include writing encouraging notes, baking treats for neighbors, or offering to help someone in need. Discuss how these acts reflect your family's commitment to stewardship and spreading God's love.
8. Environmental Consciousness: Make eco-friendly choices as a family, such as reducing waste, recycling, conserving energy, and using sustainable products. Talk about the impact of these actions on the environment and how they align with being responsible stewards of God's creation.

By engaging in these exercises together, families can deepen their understanding of stewardship and strengthen their commitment to living out this important biblical principle in their daily lives.

STEWARDSHIP EXERCISES FOR CHILDREN
Here are some exercises for children based on the concept of stewardship:

1. Story Time: Share stories from the Bible or other literature that illustrate the concept of stewardship. You can use parables like the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) or stories of characters who exhibited good stewardship in their lives.
2. Nature Walk: Take children on a nature walk and discuss how we are stewards of the Earth. Encourage them to pick up any litter they see and explain the importance of taking care of our environment.
3. Role-Playing: Have children act out scenarios where they have to make decisions about managing resources. For example, they could pretend to be in charge of a garden and have to decide how to allocate water and sunlight to different plants.
4. Crafts: Engage children in crafts that emphasize stewardship, such as making bird feeders out of recycled materials or creating posters about caring for the environment.
5. Service Projects: Plan service projects where children can actively participate in stewardship. This could include volunteering at a local food bank, organizing a charity drive, or visiting elderly residents at a nursing home.
6. Discussion and Reflection: Have group discussions about the importance of stewardship in different aspects of life, such as finances, time management, and caring for others. Encourage children to reflect on how they can be good stewards in their own lives.
7. Prayer and Worship: Incorporate prayer and worship into the activities, emphasizing gratitude for the resources God has given us and asking for guidance in being good stewards.

By engaging children in these exercises, you can help them understand the importance of stewardship and inspire them to be responsible caretakers of God's gifts and resources.

Blessings,
Wilfred Graves Jr.
www.wilfredgraves.org