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People, Passion, and Possibilities

What does it mean to lead a Stewardship Ministry? I have come to understand ithe varied cultures in which we serve. What meets the needs of one church may not meet the needs of another congregation. What works in the culture of a large congregation may not fit into the culture of a smaller congregation. I find three steps to be an effective way for us to design a stewardship ministry.

Freed to be Free—Really Free

Lectionary Reflection for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, June 26, 2016
Perhaps being good stewards of love is what we need in these tumultuous times. We would do well to cultivate those Spirit fruits in hopes of providing an alternative voice and way in the midst of the rancor of this current election cycle. By serving one another, we serve God. (Photo: Mervi Eskelinen, Creative Commons)

‘Meet the Stewards’ Emphasis

Here’s a stewardship series for this fall! “Meet the Stewards” introduces your congregation to the four members of the Steward family, each of whom exemplifies a different area of stewardship. Sabbatha pays attention to Sunday worship and rest, Christian Ed, learning; Holly (who goes by “Volly”), serving; and Buck, giving. Lift up one of these characters per Sunday as a way to teach lifte stewardship values.(Photo: Jarrod Doll, Creative Commons)

Stewards of Faith in Troubling Times

Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, June 19, 2016
Maybe this week we need to remind one another of what it means to be good stewards of faith in times of trouble and tragedy. How can we, as people of faith, change the narrative of woe and shift the focus to love of God and love of neighbor? (Photo:

7 Habits of a Highly Effective Steward

Much has been written about the habits it takes to be a highly effective person, or a highly effective family or a highly effective teen. This series of seven brief reflections — which your congregation can reprint in a bulletin or newsletter — explores the habits of a highly effective steward. Since stewardship is a part of discipleship, and discipleship is a journey for each of us, we hope that these habits will help us reflect on this area of our Christian life. (Photo: Fit Approach, Creative Commons)

Why God Doesn’t Do Division

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, June 12, 2016
The good news this week is that God doesn’t do division. It’s just not in the Creator’s wheelhouse. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is all about addition and erasing the lines of division between “us” and “them.” These are words we sorely need to hear and live. (Photo: Chad Kainz, Creative Commons))

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)

Called from Death to Life

Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, June 5, 2016
We never know how God’s going to show up and change our trajectory. Just look at how the lives of the widows were altered. The best thing we can do is be ready to give it all up and give it all away for the sake of the gospel. In dying to that which really doesn’t matter anyway, we are freed in Christ to truly live. (Photo: Lucas H S Gulmaraes, Creative Commons)

What Gospel?

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, May 29, 2016
What kind of letter might Paul pen to 21st century western Christians today with concern for false gospels? Would it be as strongly worded as his missive to the Galatian church? (Photo: Ted, Creative Commons)

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)