Stewardship is not about fundraising, but rather God’s mission in the world, and our mission as followers of Jesus . This resource from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship lists Bible verses for study, as well as a format for stewardship and adult education groups.
In the days of yore, kids would see their parents put their envelopes in the offering plate. Now in the age of direct-deposit checking and automatic charitable contributions, it takes some extra effort to teach children about giving and to model generosity for them, says this writer from U.S. Catholic. (Photo: Barney Moss, Creative Commons)
How we manage God’s money is a central biblical subject of extreme importance, writes stewardship author Randy Alcorn. Hence, leaders should unapologetically address financial stewardship with the people God calls us to serve. Check out Alcorn’s ideas in churchleaders.com. (Photo: Deb Nystrom, Creative Commons)
Lent can be a fruitful time of new learning, as God’s people open their hearts and minds to new insights and realities. This free Lenten devotional from Luther Seminary reinforces 10 stewardship principles through Bible study, prayer, and reflection. Produced for 2012, the dates are easily converted for use in 2018. (Photo: bhsher, Creative Commons,)
Teaching a holistic view of stewardship can be challenging, especially when parishioners may assume stewardship is simply a thinly-veiled appeal for increased offerings. Dr. Nan S. Duerling suggests several easy ways to incorporate year-round stewardship into faith formation for all ages. (Photo: minkymonkeymoo, Creative Commons)
In a culture where Sundays have become just like our busy weekend Saturday, it’s important to remember that keeping the Sabbath day holy is not just a good tip for your mental and physical health, it’s a commandment — one of the Big Ten! Make it a part of your 2018 Christian education plan to […]
Not all lessons are learned in Sunday school. Storybooks that your children will cherish can teach them important lessons in generosity, abundance, sharing, community, family and other stewardship topics. Instead of buying the child on your list the latest toy du jour that will be forgotten by New Year’s Day, consider these suggested by Familius. […]
We live in a culture where instant gratification is the norm; even our children learn to expect immediate reward at an early age. Presbyterian Pastor Christopher Edmonston writes eloquently and persuasively about the power of Advent to slow us down and teach us the grace of delayed gratification. Take a deep breath, slow down, and […]
Maybe we’re all in this kind of a bind: At the same time that we want to give our children things that they desire, we also want them to grow up grateful and not take for granted the things they have. Writing in The Atlantic, Jenn Choi describes how she found ways to instill these […]
Youth are not the church of tomorrow; they’re the church today. Be sure to include your congregation’s youth in every aspect of your year-round stewardship teaching and programming. This downloadable PDF document from the Texas Methodist Foundation will give you some good ideas that you can begin to implement now. (Photo: Wayne Miller, Creative Commons)
