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Preaching: Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Fearing

Text: Matthew 21:33-46

A preschooler asks, “Do you own the church?” and suddenly a famous Bible story stops being abstract. We take Jesus’ Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33–46) out of the “ancient vineyard” and into everyday church life, where control, fear, and entitlement can creep in fast. The question underneath it all is simple and unsettling: what happens when we start acting like God’s gifts belong to us?

We also slow down for something Christians have too often ignored: this passage has been used for centuries to justify anti-Semitism and the false idea that God “replaced” Jewish people with Christians. We name that harm clearly, refuse to weaponize scripture against our Jewish siblings, and return to a more faithful reading. The vineyard is not “theirs” or “ours” to claim. The vineyard belongs to God, and we are tenants and stewards together, accountable for the fruit we bear.

From there, the message turns practical and hopeful. If the church is God’s, then generosity is not a tax and stewardship is not hoarding. Giving tithes, offerings, and pledges becomes a joyful way to guard a good treasure and share it with our neighbors. We even find theology in a closing hymn, tracing the pivot from “I come with joy” to “together met,” because we come to the table as individuals and leave as neighbors.

If you’ve ever felt protective, weary, or cynical about church, this is a reset worth hearing. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review that tells us what “shared stewardship” looks like where you live.

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