Part 03: Stewards of God's Kingdom
Discussion Guide
Sermon Summary
In this message, Pastor Mick Murray explores the foundational identity of all believers as stewards - people who faithfully manage the property and resources of another. Drawing from Genesis 1:26-28 and 2:15, he reveals that from the very beginning, God commissioned humanity not just for salvation, but for dominion - to take disordered spaces and create order so that life might flourish. This original Great Commission precedes even Jesus's command to make disciples, establishing that our calling to steward God's creation with benevolent care is woven into the fabric of our design as image-bearers.
The sermon confronts the tension between God's original design and the corruption that entered through sin. When Adam and Eve operated from contentment and security, they could use their strength to serve. But after the fall, insecurity led humanity to hoard, manipulate, and oppress, using power for self-preservation rather than service.
Pastor Mick challenges us to recognize that following Jesus means embracing the way of the Lamb, not the lion, inverting worldly power structures to serve rather than dominate. He emphasizes that we cannot compartmentalize our lives into "spiritual" and "secular" categories; instead, every space we inhabit like our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities are gardens entrusted to us by God.
The message culminates with a call to connect the dots between our faith and every aspect of daily life. Rooted in Christ through prayer and His Word, supported by Christian community, we're empowered to manifest God's kingdom wherever He has placed us. The key question becomes: Are the people, systems, and spaces we steward flourishing? This isn't about perfection but about faithful stewardship from a posture of blessing, knowing that we have everything we need in Christ to turn around and serve others well.
Key Scriptures
Genesis 1:26-28 "Then God said, 'Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
Genesis 2:15 "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."
Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved."
Numbers 6:24-26 "May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
Instructions for Groups
Choose a few of these questions from the various categories to go deeper in the sermon and put the truths of Scripture into practice.
Discussion Questions
Scripture Study & Deeper Understanding
1. Genesis 1:26-28 uses the words "dominion" and "subdue" to describe humanity's role on earth. Looking at verses 1-25, how does God's own creative work in bringing order out of chaos (tohu va vohu "wild and waste") help us understand what godly dominion looks like? What does this teach us about the difference between biblical dominion and worldly domination?
2. In Genesis 2:15, the Hebrew words translated "work" (abad) and "keep" (shamar) carry dual meanings - abad means both "to work" and "to serve," while shamar means "to guard" something precious. How does understanding these dual meanings change your perspective on the tasks and responsibilities God has given you? What does it mean that authentic work is simultaneously an act of service?
3. Pastor Mick explained that Genesis 3:16 describes (rather than prescribes) how sin corrupts power, the strong will oppress the weak when operating from insecurity instead of contentment. How do we see this principle playing out throughout Scripture, and how does Jesus's way of the Lamb reverse this pattern? What other passages come to mind that show God's heart for protecting the vulnerable and empowering the weak?
Encouragement, Challenge & Personal Testimony
4. The sermon emphasized that "God blessed them" (Genesis 1:28) and that we operate from a posture of blessing and abundance, not scarcity and insecurity. When have you experienced God's blessing in a way that enabled you to turn around and serve others well? How does knowing you are blessed by God change the way you approach the responsibilities He's given you?
5. Pastor Mick challenged us to stop compartmentalizing life into "spiritual" spaces (church, life group, prayer) and "mundane" spaces (grocery lines, dishes, emails). What specific areas of your daily life have you unconsciously categorized as "non-spiritual" or less important to God? What would it look like to see these spaces as gardens entrusted to you for faithful stewardship?
6. The sermon painted contrasting pictures of using power to serve versus using power to oppress - in homes, schools, workplaces, and public life. Which of these contrasts most convicted or challenged you? Share honestly about an area where you recognize you've been operating from insecurity rather than security in Christ, using your influence to take rather than to give.
Prayer
7. Listening to the Holy Spirit We're going to take focused time to listen to the Holy Spirit and what He wants to speak to us personally based on our time in Scripture and discussion tonight. Let's sit in silence for 60 seconds and ask the Spirit to speak to each one of us.
[After the minute of silence] What do you sense the Holy Spirit highlighting or speaking to you as we prayed?
8. Prayer Requests from Tonight's Study What prayer requests come up for you based on our Scripture study and discussion tonight? How can we pray for you as you seek to apply what God has shown you?
Putting it into Practice
9. Pastor Mick asked the reflection question: "Is the _____ that you steward flourishing?" Fill in that blank with a specific person, relationship, system, or space God has entrusted to you (your spouse, your children, your classroom, your team at work, your neighborhood). How would you honestly assess whether this area is flourishing under your stewardship? What is one concrete step you can take this week to cultivate greater flourishing in this space?
10. The message concluded with the truth that we're rooted in Christ, supported by His people, and sent to bear fruit in the world. Which of these three connections (with Jesus, with Christian community, or connecting the dots in daily life) is currently the weakest link for you? What specific action will you take this week to strengthen that connection - whether it's establishing a consistent time with God, reaching out for deeper community, or being more intentional about stewarding your influence at work, school, or home?