The Lord takes the gifts we give and uses them to further God’s work. When we see giving as commissioning resources to serve God’s purpose, our attitude about giving should change from one of drudgery to one of enthusiasm. Stewardship is a kingdom investment, not an expense. So when the offering plate reaches us, let’s smile as […]
Money gets a bad rap in some churches. The thinking goes something like this: Even though we ask for money every time we collect an offering, the truth is, we shouldn’t need it; we shouldn’t want it; we should be able to get by without it, just like Jesus did. After all, money is the root […]
Through the discipline of generosity we engage in the subversive kingdom ways of Jesus. The kingdom of God is more than just a simple reform of a flawed system. Jesus is calling us to move beyond mere improvements to existing structures. The kingdom of God is an entirely new way to live. It is altogether […]
You’re probably going to give up something for Lent, so why not improve your health while you sacrifice as a spiritual discipline? Popsugar.com suggests that doing without these 10 foods can save you lots of calories and give your wellness a boost as well. Which ones are spiking your calorie intake? (Photo: Salim Virji, Creative […]
There are lots of things you can do to help your church reduce its environmental impact. Some simple techniques you can begin right away without spending lots of money or investing a lot of time. So what’s stopping you? Good tips from the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. (Photo: OpenSourceWay, Creative Commons)
Many people today, including lots of Christians, don’t understand the true meaning of stewardship. And that’s a tragedy. Why? Because stewardship is our ultimate calling as Christ followers. God commands us to be stewards over everything we are blessed with. Everything. That means our time, talents, treasure, relationships, jobs and, yes, stuff. From Chris Brown, LifeWay Leadership. […]
If you Google “teaching generosity,” most of your results will be about teaching children. But what about those tight-fisted adults who need a lesson or two in generosity? Here are some ideas for how to reach the grown-ups with the notion that generosity is good. From Character-In-Action. (Photo: Alan Light, Creative Commons)
Sure, your older members — and to some degree even the boomers — will give to your church out of duty or habit. But younger generations give because they know their donations are making a difference in the world. Are you telling your congregants the impact that their money is making? Here’s how, from MinistryMatters. […]
Especially when it comes to finance, life seems to throw us one thing after another. And the bills pile up like February drifts of snow and we think we’ll NEVER pay off those credit cards! Take heart. It can be done, but it takes wisdom and discipline to shovel out of debt. Crosswalk.com has these tips!
Climate change is causing sea levels to rise, and that imperils many of Earth’s coastal communities, including Shishmaref, Alaska. Christians there are standing with Alaska Natives who have lived and thrived there for thousands of years and working to protect ALL of God’s creation. (Photo: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Creative Commons)
