In the seemingly affluent United States, out-of-control debt is sort of a quiet monster. It’s sleeping in the suburbs, lurking in the cities, and stalking many working Christians. The good news is that some wise churches are taking on this monster, helping God’s people to manage their money and teaching them how to put their […]
Though many leaders prefer to focus on other aspects of ministry, money is an important part of your church’s work, because without it, none of that work would be possible, say authors Aubrey Malphurs and Steve Stroop. So make sure you make financial decisions for your church wisely, faithfully, and legally. Here’s how you can […]
Most people would rather to give to church electronically, according to a recent survey that found that the preference for electronic giving was strong across all age groups. Moreover, the survey found that the more active the donor was in church, the stronger the desire to give electronically. Not surprisingly, the survey found that churches […]
Sam Polk had it all — a job on Wall Street, a job that paid millions, all the stuff he could buy — but still he wanted more. That was before he had a moment of insight and walked away from it all. His insight? He was addicted to money the way alcoholics are addicted […]
Membership in Mainline congregations is aging, and the trend shows no signs of stopping. That presents not only challenges but also opportunities when it comes to stewardship, says Charles R. Lane, a popular stewardship speaker, author and consultant. He offers great advice in these essays for Luther Seminary’s Center for Stewardship Leaders. Click above for […]
Sure, you may draw closer to God when you pray, but are there other ways that prayer is good for you? Yes, say scientists have who have studied the physical, mental and emotional health of people who engage in regular prayer. They have found it to be beneficial in tangible ways. This informative article from […]
If your congregation is interested in getting more actively involved in the creation care movement, consider forming a group to align with environmental author and theologian Bill McKibben’s 350.org. The organization is dedicated to grassroots campaigns to organize, educate and advocate for policies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Great idea for a youth or […]
Many parents give their children an allowance for doing chores because it helps to build discipline. Allowance money can go numerous places, some spiritually rewarding and others detrimental. It is important for the church to help teach stewardship to children. One fun way to do this is to use “Bible Bucks.” This article from the […]
What is behind Christian stewardship? What does God expect? Why should we give? Questions like these arise all the time in the life of congregations that struggle for money, although the answers is hardly obscure. The Bible gives clear teaching on issues of financial giving and discipleship, as this concise article from biblestudytools.com makes clear. […]
3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, June 25, 2017: What’s a preacher supposed to do with these “hard” lessons for this week? If we set the discipleship bar too high, won’t that alienate the folks who want an easy life? Easy is not always the answer. In fact, most things truly worth having require expenditures of time, effort, and energy. Why should we expect the journey of faith to be any different? If Jesus’ life and ministry and the paths of his early followers are our model, most of us are in real trouble! (Photo: Barbara Kruger, Modern Art Oxford Creative Commons)
