Here’s a 35 page downloadable document from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. Click here to access the download as a PDF document, entitled Caring and Sharing and Returning God’s Gifts. You should find many good ideas to adapt to your context. (Photo by Richard Masoner used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Looking for some fun, interactive games to teach stewardship principles to children in your congregation? Click here for Jennie Dalcour’s eHow article for some good ideas. (Photo by ptmoney.com used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Today’s sermon is a Bible study. You have brought your Bibles today and we are going to study them to see what the Bible has to say about stewardship. We are people of the Word. The Word is our spiritual guide for so many of our beliefs and values. We consistently look to the Word for guidance.
Who is teaching the next generation how to prioritize sharing as one of their primary money habits? Who is calling the question on ‘how much is enough?’ The dearth of opportunities to dig into these critically important questions is no less than astounding. Enter faith communities. This is an ideal time for congregations to convene multi-generational learning experiences about money. (Photo © June Reed – Fotolia.com)
Here’s an amusing, yet insightful, look at what constitutes “tithing.” Click here to watch a YouTube video entitled “Tithing = ten percent…of what?” (Photo by seo_gun used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
One aspect of the Christian life that often gets little attention in most Lutheran confirmation programs is environmental stewardship. Following is a six-session program that concentrates on how each individual person interacts with his or her surrounding environment. The program has three basic goals; an awareness of how many resources it takes for each of us to live, an awareness of the amounts and kinds of waste each of us generates, and an awareness of our human and Christian responsibility to steward the use of God’s creation.
Consumerism is arguably the dominant cultural force in the United States, but our Christian faith challenges consumerism’s assumptions. Here are six study guides — on topics ranging from “Stuff Love,” “Mastering Mammon” and “Discovering Your True Identity” — to help you explore. (Photo by Pandah, used by Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Here is a nice assortment of stewardship materials to equip and educate your congregation for a pledge campaign. It includes sample documents, PowerPoint Presentations and promotional materials. From the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. (Photo by JOnBon, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
James Murdoch examines through a theological lens what it means to be a faithful disciple of Christ and a good steward and challenges other Christians to do the same. Peruse the full text of his e-book Stewardship: A Way of Life for People and Churches at no cost or download for Christian education or church leadership retreats. (Photo by Alicia-Lee-07 used under a Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
The biblical call to stewardship will lead us to foster quality of life. The quality of life that is measured only by material goods and economic factors is incomplete. Total quality of life must include the health and stability of the natural world, relative justice and peace for people, and the free and true worship of God Almighty. It is on this basis, on this biblical vision, that Christians are motivated to respond to ecological crises.”
