If we want to have stewardship-minded adults who are generous with their time talent and treasure, the place to start is to teach them as children. Here is a fun guide that has bible-based activities and lessons on generosity that you can use in Sunday school or a special session to accompany your stewardship campaign. From the Salvation […]
Can anybody ever learn enough biblical stewardship? I don’t think so, either. Crosswalk.com offers a really good weekly stewardship Bible study that you can get delivered right to your email box! Each study starts with a brief passage from scripture, offers a stewardship reflection, and then some questions for thought and prayer. From the NIV […]
You’ve tried sermons, campaigns, special offerings — the works — and biblical stewardship is still not part of your church’s culture. Stewardship isn’t a once-and-done endeavor, nor is it entirely about tithing, giving or your church’s budget. Stewardship will become woven through your church’s culture only when you embrace it as multifaceted, holistic and ongoing, says StewardshipCentral.org. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Benchmarks are useful for measuring progress or setting standards in lots of fields of endeavor, including athletics, work and education. Yet many Sunday schools and faith formation programs do not have benchmarks. For example, what can one expect a 12-year-old to know about the Bible? What about a 6-year-old? A 30-year-old? This article from buildingfaith.com explores […]
How do we teach children – anyone really – to be good stewards of God’s gifts? I’m often asked about curriculum, lessons, exercises. To be honest, I don’t think that’s how it works. We don’t learn to be good stewards just from a program or curriculum, a one-day service event, a one-time mission trip, or a […]
For folks who an in-depth understanding of stewardship and how it relates to theology and church life, here’s a wonderful free series of six lessons that provide everything you need! Each lesson begins with a 15-minute video talk from Dr. Joel Biermann of Concordia Seminary and has a study guide to let you take it […]
A ‘temple talk” is one of the best ways to teach people about stewardship. Powerful temple talks occur when member of the congregation speaks during a worship service conveying a spiritual message on how God has been present in their lives and how that has led to generosity. Here are some ideas for great temple talks. From the Center for Steward Leadership at Luther Seminary. (Photo: Daniel Dionne, Creative Commons)
This brilliant and insightful workshop by former ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson helps bring church members into a fuller understanding of holistic stewardship. “Stewardship is like a magnet passing over the jumbled pins and needles of our life, organizing them into a meaningful pattern. Stewardship is the Christian lifestyle.” (Photo: Mimi_K, Creative Commons)
