Browsing by Rob Blezard
Common Stewardship Pitfalls
Though many churches have no stewardship plan whatsoever, some work at it but fail time and again. Why? They focus on the wrong things, continue with ineffective strategies, fail to integrate a program with congregtional buy-in or vision — to name but a few. Here are some common mistakes. Which are your congregtaion making? How can you do better? (Photo: Eugene Zemlyanskiy, Creative Commons)
Getting Started in Stewardship Ministry
Your congregation will benefit from a blueprint for a comprehensive financial stewardship ministry that serves each participant within the congregation and community. This resource from the New Jersey Synod, ELCA, will help you chart a way forward. (Photo: Planetlight, Creative Commons)
Does Your Church Lack Financial Cred?
A study suggests that the number one reason American Christians don’t give away more money is due to a lack of trust in the in church. To respond to that, here are thirty-six questions your church should be able to answer about money. Good policy builds trust and creates an environment for generosity to flourish. […]
The Spirituality of Stewardship
Jesus talked about money a lot but his point was about a spirituality of stewardship, that is, what is our attitude toward the goods of creation. Here are the four scriptural marks of a spirituality of stewardship, from the Paulist Center Boston.
De-Clutter Your Calendar, Simplify Your Life
It’s easy to understand why so many people struggle to make time for giving back. Work, school, home, sports, family and church activities leave little room for anything else. Being intentional about your schedule allows you to make time for the things you value most, and this article from Thrivent.com offers tips on how. (Photo […]
Book Review: ‘Stewardshift’ by Bob Sitze
While the church is undergoing change, we can encourage shifts in thinking about stewardship for renewal. The word ‘steward’ is “a continually active verb,†Bob Sitze explains, as he urges us to keep moving forward in our thinking and practices about stewardship, says this review from the Rev. Rosanna Anderson.
Eco-Evangelism in Action
Congregations do more than save money and energy when they put solar electric panels on their roofs, retrofit their buildings with new heating systems and lights. They also send a message that as Christians they are concerned about climate change, fossil-fuel consumption and minimizing their environmental footprint. And they show by example that everyone can take steps to help solve these big global problems.(Photo: Michael Coghlan, Creative Commons)
Understanding Biblical Stewardship
Though too often associated merely with money, stewardship also applies to time, talent, and treasure. But stewardship isn’t just about being a good manager of our schedules, our skills, and our stuff. The discipline of biblical stewardship calls us to use all these things in the way the Lord wants, says this article from LifeWay. […]
Christian Wallet Principles
“What’s in your wallet?” It’s good for Christians to wrestle with the question because there is no clearer indicator of our ultimate values than our financial priorities and practices — how we spend, how we live, how we save, and how we give reveal the true altar of our hearts, says pastor, author and speaker […]
Beware Pitfalls of Church Credit Cards
Many churches find that it’s easier and quicker to use credit cards for business purchases than other pyament methods, but there are cautions and drawbacks. Wise administrators should be aware of these and establish policies accordingly, says this article from LifeWay.
