Kingdom Stewardship Houston: What We've Discovered About the Light Already Within Us

We're coming to the close of our fall sermon series at St. John's Presbyterian Church, and I want to take a moment to look back at where we've been together these past few weeks.

Since October 12, we've been walking through "Kingdom Stewardship: Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount." We've explored how Jesus' teaching reshapes our understanding of what it means to be faithful stewards of everything God has entrusted to us.

But more than that, we've been discovering something profound: you carry more kingdom light than you realize, and Jesus has been calling you awake to it. Stewardship isn't about trying harder or doing more. It's simply living the mercy and peace already in you.

That's been the thread running through every sermon, every Scripture reading, every conversation in the fellowship hall after worship. And now, as we prepare for our Stewardship Dedication this Sunday, I want to help you see how all these pieces fit together.

Week 1: Blessed to Be a Blessing

On October 12, we started with the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-12. Jesus sat down on that hillside and began describing what kingdom life actually looks like. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart.

At first hearing, these statements sound backwards. Our culture tells us the blessed ones are the powerful, the comfortable, the ones who have it all together. But Jesus flips that script completely.

He's showing us that God's favor rests on people who know they need him. People who feel the world's brokenness. People who've stopped pretending they're self-sufficient. People who practice mercy because they've received it.

We paired the Beatitudes with Psalm 24, which opens with this stunning declaration: "The earth is the LORD's and everything in it." Not some things. Not the spiritual stuff. Everything. Your time, your money, your relationships, your gifts, your influence. All of it belongs to God.

That changes the whole stewardship conversation right from the start.

You're not deciding how much of your stuff to give to God. You're acknowledging that it's all his already, and you're simply the manager. The word "steward" means someone who takes care of property that belongs to someone else.

Here's what we discovered in that first week: We are blessed not just for our own benefit but to extend God's grace to others. Every gift you've received, every blessing in your life, every resource at your disposal exists to flow outward. You're blessed to be a blessing.

That sermon set the foundation for everything that followed. Stewardship begins with recognizing that God owns everything and we're entrusted to care for it faithfully. But it's not a burden. It's a privilege. It's an invitation to participate in what God is doing in the world.

Week 2: Salt and Light, Stewarding Our Influence

On October 19, we moved from the Beatitudes to Jesus' teaching about salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16. This is where stewardship gets personal and practical.

Jesus doesn't say "Try to become salt and light." He says "You ARE the salt of the earth. You ARE the light of the world." Present tense. Already true. The question isn't whether you have influence. You do. The question is what you're doing with it.

Salt preserves and flavors. Light illuminates and guides. Both work quietly but make a profound difference in their environment. You don't have to be loud or flashy to make an impact. You just have to be faithfully present where God has placed you.

We paired this with Isaiah 58:6-10, that powerful passage about true worship. God isn't impressed with religious rituals when we ignore the suffering around us. He wants us to loose the chains of injustice, share our food with the hungry, provide shelter for the poor, clothe the naked.

Then Isaiah makes this beautiful promise: "Then your light will break forth like the dawn." When you steward your influence by serving others, your light shines naturally. You don't have to manufacture it or perform it. It just happens.

That Sunday, we talked about the difference between being consumers and being contributors. So many people drift through life taking what they need without considering their impact on others. But Jesus calls us to something different. He calls us to use whatever influence we have to advance his kingdom.

Your influence might look like mentoring a younger person at work. Or showing up consistently for your kids even when you're exhausted. Or advocating for better policies in your neighborhood. Or choosing to shop at businesses that treat workers fairly. Or simply being the person in your friend group who speaks kindly about others instead of gossiping.

These aren't small things. They're salt and light at work.

Here's what several of you shared with me after that sermon: You realized you have more influence than you thought. You'd been discounting your impact because you're not famous or wealthy or in positions of obvious power. But influence isn't about platform size. It's about faithful presence.

The community garden is a perfect example. Our gardeners aren't trying to solve world hunger. They're just growing vegetables and sharing them with neighbors. But that simple act of stewardship creates relationships, builds community, feeds families, and demonstrates God's abundance in tangible ways.

That's salt and light. That's stewarding influence for kingdom purposes.

Week 3: Treasures in Heaven, Stewarding Our Resources

On October 26, we landed on what many consider the heart of stewardship teaching. Matthew 6:19-24 gets right to the point: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Notice Jesus doesn't say "Where your heart is, your treasure will be." He reverses it. What you do with your resources actually shapes your heart. Put your treasure toward God's kingdom, and your heart will follow.

This completely changes how we think about giving. We don't wait until our hearts are perfectly aligned before we act. We act, and our hearts catch up.

I've watched this happen at St. John's hundreds of times. Someone starts giving regularly, maybe just a modest amount, not because they feel particularly generous but because they've decided it's the right thing to do. A few months in, they're genuinely excited about what their giving supports. They ask questions about the ministries. They volunteer. They invite others to join in.

Their treasure moved first. Their heart followed.

We paired this teaching with Malachi 3:8-12, that challenging passage about tithes and offerings. God asks, "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me." Then he invites his people to test him by bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse.

That Malachi passage makes some people uncomfortable. It sounds transactional. Give to God and he'll bless you financially in return. But that's not quite what's happening.

God is saying: I own everything anyway. When you give, you're not giving me something I don't already have. You're aligning yourself with how my kingdom operates. And my kingdom is characterized by abundance, not scarcity. Generosity, not hoarding. Trust, not fear.

Test me in this, God says. See if I don't open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessing.

The blessing isn't always financial. Sometimes it is. But more often, the blessing is deeper. It's freedom from anxiety about money. It's joy in giving. It's the privilege of participating in work that matters. It's relationships formed through shared mission. It's purpose and meaning that come from investing your resources in something bigger than yourself.

That Sunday, we talked honestly about money. About how it's one of the last areas Christians will surrender to God. We'll talk about our prayer lives and our Bible reading and our struggles with sin, but we get weird when someone mentions finances.

Jesus talked about money constantly. Not because he needed funding but because money reveals what we actually trust. You can say you trust God with your whole heart, but your bank statement tells the real story.

Here's what we discovered: Financial stewardship isn't primarily about meeting the church budget. It's about spiritual formation.

It's about learning to trust God instead of your bank account. It's about breaking the power money has over your life by giving it away strategically.

And here's the beautiful part: When you do this, you feel lighter. The weight lifts. Because you've stopped trying to secure your own future through accumulation and started trusting God's provision.

The Bigger Picture: Kingdom Stewardship Is About Identity

Now that we've walked through these three sermons together, I want you to see the bigger picture that ties them all together.

Kingdom stewardship isn't another program or obligation. It's not about the church needing money so we guilt you into giving more. It's about waking up to who you already are in Christ and living from that identity.

You're blessed by God. (Week 1)

You're salt and light in the world. (Week 2)

You're invited to invest in eternal treasures. (Week 3)

These aren't aspirational statements. They're declarations of present reality for everyone who belongs to Jesus.

The Sermon on the Mount that we've been studying isn't Jesus' attempt to make us feel guilty about falling short. It's Jesus painting a picture of what life looks like when God's kingdom breaks into the everyday world.

Throughout this series, we've incorporated significant days in the church calendar. All Saints' Day reminded us that we're part of something much bigger than ourselves. The communion of saints stretches across time and cultures, and our faithful stewardship connects us to that great cloud of witnesses.

Christ the King Sunday (coming November 23) will close our church year by declaring that Jesus reigns over everything. Every authority, every power, every system ultimately answers to him. That means our stewardship isn't just personal financial management. It's aligning our resources with the reign of the King who will make all things new.

When you give, you're not just supporting church programs. You're participating in God's work of restoration and redemption. You're investing in the kingdom that outlasts every earthly institution.

What We've Accomplished Together Through Faithful Stewardship

Let me tell you what your faithful stewardship has already made possible this year at St. John's Presbyterian Church.

Our community garden produced hundreds of pounds of fresh vegetables that went directly to the Braes Interfaith Ministries food pantry. Real families who struggle with food insecurity received nutritious produce because you stewarded your time and resources.

Our partnership with Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services helped single-parent families develop skills to break cycles of poverty. Parents learned budgeting, job skills, and parenting strategies that set them up for long-term success. Children gained stability and hope.

We supported children at the Lulwanda Orphanage in Uganda, providing education, safety, and the knowledge that they're loved and valued. We contributed to the Houston International Seafarer's Center, offering "home away from home" to sailors far from their families.

We maintained space for One Hope Preschool, serving young families in our community. We provided exercise classes for older adults because taking care of each other includes taking care of our bodies.

These aren't abstractions. They're concrete expressions of kingdom stewardship.

But here's what I want you to understand: None of this happened because we have wealthy donors or a massive budget. It happened because ordinary people at St. John's practice faithful stewardship of their time, money, skills, and compassion.

The widow who gives $20 a month matters just as much as the business owner who writes a larger check. The retired teacher who volunteers in the garden matters just as much as the professional who serves on Session. The young parent who shows up tired but committed matters just as much as the longtime member who's been here for decades.

Faithful stewardship isn't about the size of your gift. It's about the posture of your heart.

The Invitation: Give Freely and Fully

So here we are. We've studied Jesus' teaching. We've explored what kingdom stewardship looks like in practice. We've seen what faithful giving makes possible.

Now it's time to respond.

This Sunday, we'll celebrate our Stewardship Dedication. This is the moment when we commit to supporting God's work through St. John's Presbyterian Church in the coming year.

I'm asking you to give freely and fully.

Not out of guilt or obligation. Not because the church is pressuring you. Not because you're trying to earn God's favor.

Give because you've been blessed and you want to be a blessing.

Give because you're salt and light in this world.

Give because you want your treasure in heaven, not just on earth.

Give because your heart is already moving toward the kingdom, and you want your resources to follow.

Some of you can give more this year than you've given before. Your circumstances have improved, and you're able to increase your commitment. Do it joyfully. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver.

Some of you are facing tighter budgets this year. Medical bills, job changes, unexpected expenses. Give what you can, and know that faithfulness matters more than amount. The widow with her two small coins taught us that.

Some of you are exploring faith and aren't ready to make a financial commitment yet. That's okay. Keep coming. Keep listening. Keep watching how this community lives out kingdom values. When you're ready, you'll know.

But for those who call St. John's your church home, I'm asking you to step up. This is your church family. These are the ministries you value. This is the community that supports you, prays for you, serves alongside you.

Invest here. Not because we need your money (though we do need practical resources to keep the lights on and the ministries running). Invest here because your heart needs to follow your treasure into kingdom work.

When you give to St. John's, you're not just paying bills. You're feeding hungry neighbors. You're supporting vulnerable families. You're educating children in Uganda. You're creating space for preschoolers. You're maintaining a community where people are known by name and genuine relationships form.

That's worth investing in.

What Happens Next: Practical Steps

This Sunday at our 11 AM worship service, we'll dedicate our financial commitments for 2026. Bring your pledge card with you, or you can fill one out when you arrive.

If you prefer, you can also submit your commitment online by emailing accounts@stjohnspresby.org, or you can mail it to the church office at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77035.

After worship this Sunday, we'll gather in McPhail Hall for our annual Stewardship Dedication BBQ Brunch. This is one of my favorite Sundays of the year. Good food, good company, good conversation about what God is doing in and through this community.

We'll also hold our annual congregational meeting where we'll review the past year, celebrate what God has accomplished, and look ahead to the opportunities and challenges coming in 2026.

This is important stuff, but it's not grim or heavy. It's actually joyful. We're talking about participating in God's work. We're making decisions together about how to steward what he's entrusted to us. We're looking at concrete evidence that faithful giving makes a real difference.

So plan to stay after worship this Sunday. Bring your appetite. Bring your questions. Bring your excitement about being part of a community that takes kingdom stewardship seriously.

A Word to Those Still Deciding

Maybe you've been visiting St. John's for a while, and you're not sure if you're ready to make a financial commitment. That's okay. We're not going to pressure you or make you feel guilty.

But I do want to say this: If you've been receiving the benefit of this community, it's worth considering whether you're ready to invest in it.

When you attend worship, you're benefiting from the work of our staff, the gifts of our musicians, the preparation that goes into each service.

When your kids participate in Sunday School, they're learning from teachers who volunteer their time. When you grab coffee after worship and have meaningful conversations, you're experiencing community that's been intentionally built over years.

None of that happens by accident. It happens because people give.

If St. John's is becoming your church home, consider making it official. Not just by joining as a member (though we'd love that too), but by investing financially in what we're building together.

Start small if you need to. $20 a month is $240 a year. That's meaningful. $50 a month is $600 a year. That keeps ministries running. $100 a month is $1,200 a year. That makes a significant difference.

Whatever you give, give it intentionally. Decide what you can commit to, then follow through faithfully. That's stewardship.

For Those Already Committed: Consider Increasing

If you've been giving to St. John's for years, thank you. Your faithfulness has sustained this community through good times and hard times.

We wouldn't be here without you.

Now I'm asking you to consider whether this is the year to increase your commitment.

Life changes. Salaries increase. Kids finish college and expenses drop. Retirement brings different financial realities. Careers advance. Debts get paid off.

If your financial circumstances have improved since you last evaluated your giving, would you prayerfully consider giving more?

Even a small percentage increase makes a difference when we all do it together. If everyone who currently gives $100 a month increased to $110, that's an extra $120 per person per year. Multiply that across our congregation, and suddenly we can expand our mission work significantly.

I'm not asking you to give recklessly or beyond your means. But I am asking you to give proportionally. As God has blessed you, invest that blessing in kingdom work.

The Heart of Kingdom Stewardship

Let me bring us back to where we started.

You carry more kingdom light than you realize. Jesus has been calling you awake to it through this entire sermon series.

Stewardship is simply living the mercy and peace already in you. It's not about trying to become someone you're not. It's about recognizing who you already are in Christ and letting that identity shape your choices.

You're blessed. So be a blessing.

You're salt and light. So influence your world for good.

You've received treasure from God. So invest in eternal things.

This is who you are. This is what's true about you. Kingdom stewardship is learning to live from this reality instead of constantly striving for it.

When you give this Sunday, you're not trying to earn God's favor. You already have it. You're not trying to impress anyone. You're responding to grace already received.

You're saying yes to the invitation Jesus extends in the Sermon on the Mount. Yes to kingdom values. Yes to eternal treasure. Yes to being salt and light. Yes to living as someone who's been blessed to be a blessing.

That yes matters. It changes you. It changes what your money can accomplish. It changes our community. It changes Houston. It changes the world, one act of faithful stewardship at a time.

Come Celebrate With Us

So here's my invitation for this Sunday:

Come to worship at 11 AM ready to celebrate what God has done through our community this year. Bring your pledge card. Participate in our Stewardship Dedication. Then stick around for the BBQ brunch in McPhail Hall and our annual congregational meeting.

This is a significant Sunday in the life of St. John's Presbyterian Church. It's when we commit together to supporting God's work in the coming year. It's when we say yes as a community to kingdom stewardship.

And honestly, it's just a really good time. Good food, good conversation, good people. What's not to love?

If you've been looking for a church in Houston that takes authentic community and real mission work seriously, we'd love to have you join us. Not just this Sunday, but every Sunday. Not just as visitors, but as partners in what God is doing here.

We're at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue in Houston's Westbury/Meyerland area. Small enough that you'll actually be known, large enough to make a real difference in our city and beyond.

Call us at 713-723-6262 if you have questions. Or just show up Sunday at 11 AM.

Because here's the truth we've been discovering through this whole sermon series: The kingdom light inside you is already glowing. Jesus has been calling you awake to it. And now he's inviting you to invest your resources where your heart is already heading.

Toward his kingdom. Toward his purposes. Toward work that matters and lasts.

This Sunday, let your treasure follow your heart. Give freely and fully. Then join us for BBQ and celebration.

The kingdom is here. You're part of it. Now it's time to invest in it.

I'll see you Sunday.

Peace,

Pastor Jon

St. John's Presbyterian Church
5020 West Bellfort Avenue
Houston, TX 77035
713-723-6262
office.sjpc@gmail.com
www.stjohnspresby.org

This Sunday:
11:00 AM - Worship & Stewardship Dedication
After Worship - BBQ Brunch & Annual Congregational Meeting in McPhail Hall

Everyone welcome. Authentic faith. Real mission. Genuine community.