Held by the Father: Stewardship Begins with Belonging

Most people brace when they hear the word stewardship. This message is not what you are expecting.In the first of three conversations about what it means to live as stewards of God's kingdom, we start with a simple image: a throne and a plain chair beside it. The steward's chair. And the question of which chair you are actually sitting in.From John 17, Jesus's prayer the night before the crucifixion, we hear three words that change everything: "Yours they were." The disciples belonged to the Father before Jesus ever called them. They did not earn their place. They were given one. And in verse 20, Jesus extends that same prayer to everyone who would ever believe. Including you.You were in this prayer before you were born. You are held by a grip that is not your own. That is where stewardship begins.📖 John 17:1-11, 20 (ESV)📍 Redeemer Lutheran Church | Salem, Oregon | redeemer-lcms.orgPart 2: Empowered by the Spirit | Acts 2:1-21Part 3: Sent by the Son | Matthew 28:16-20STAYCONNECTED: • Receiveweekly sermon summaries by email:https://mailchi.mp/92230176913c/redeemer-email-signup-landing-page • Read morereflections on Substack:https://johnrallison.substack.com/ • Watch moresermons on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8ozqxlON8mRFDt6Y0-nfb4qm5sjnQynm • Listen onSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/40R6TAOIWGgjqOz8fVibMd?si=b9fba79c1eac491b Pastor JohnRallisonRedeemer Lutheran Church | Salem, Oregonhttps://www.RedeemerSalem.org