Stewardship is the great “Silent Subject” in many churches. There is very little teaching from the pulpit, and when stewardship is mentioned, it is a code word for giving. Very few churches provide training on how to implement biblical principles into one’s daily financial life. Yet there are profound practical and spiritual reasons why the […]
Here’s a wonderful resource to enhance your worship service that celebrates God’s creation! Poet, biblical scholar and environmentalist Norman C. Habel has written earth- and creation-centered lyrics to the tunes of familiar hymns that are in the public domain. For instance, using the tune from “A Mighty Fortress,” Habel’s hymn is “A Mighty Wonder is […]
There’s a fine line between being tired and actually burning out. The challenge is, once you cross the line, it’s so difficult to get back. Eleven years ago, I entered into the darkest period of my life. People had always warned me I would burn out. I thought I could prove them wrong. And usually I did. I […]
Our faith communities are continually concerned about how to raise income or offset expenses especially during the summer months when attendance is lower. One approach to supplementing income in the church is to establish a Wish-List — needed items that your members can sign up to donate. It’s the approach that churches often use when there’s […]
This is a great all-in-one resource for your congregation’s monthly stewardship communications. You’ll find “cut-and-paste” short “Stewardship Snippets” tied to the RCL readings for every Sunday’s bulletin, articles for your monthly newsletter or website. Not only that, you’ll find links for resources to “Teach,” “Preach,” “Lead,” “Think’, and “Do” stewardship. Prepared by SOLI web editor […]
Church leaders are entrusted with the responsibility to lead and guide God’s people into living fully and confidently as Christian stewards — servants of God and shepherds of God’s blessings, which includes our neighbors, near and far. Accomplishing this requires a leader, first, to identify as a stewardship leader, and then follow through with attention to […]
When it comes to living longer–and feeling healthier, happier and slimmer in the meantime–your fate has never been more firmly in your hands. Research indicates that no matter your genetic predispositions, you can take real steps toward reducing your risk of dying early (even down to turning off your fat genes) by tweaking your lifestyle and […]
Giving is a part of being a disciple, right? If the pastor’s job is to raise up disciples, can he or she be said to be effectively doing his job if stewardship is not taught, preached or modeled? Could it be that one reason giving continues to decline year after year is that pastors are […]
With the rise of online shopping and electronic banking, the way people use money in the economy has changed dramatically in only a few years. Fewer and fewer people carry cash or checks to make their purchases. Yet for many congregations it’s still the 20th century when it comes to receiving offerings. Electronic and online giving […]
Noted architect David Greusel believes that Christians should care about built environments that allow all people to flourish where they work, pray, play, and gather, and that this care is part of our stewardship of creation. “The church had a central role in the discussion about what is good architecture but basically abandoned it,” he said. Read this interview from […]
