Posts by Betsy Schwarzentraub
Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving
Plenty of stewardship programs out there offer some good ideas, yet fail to provide leaders with practical help, such as sermons, orders of worship, email messages, letters, newsletter announcements, and marketing tools. Other programs talk a little bit about the role of giving in spiritual life, but do not involve church members in thinking and…
Read MoreFull Disclosure on the Bible and Financial Giving
Herb Miller, nationally known author of the “Consecration Sunday” annual stewardship program and syndicated columnist, now has gone back to the source, giving us a much-needed resource: Full Disclosure: Everything the Bible Says About Financial Giving (Discipleship Resources, 2003). This book is not meant primarily for the academic student, but rather for someone who wants…
Read MoreBlessings to Share
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work!” (2 Cor. 9:8) “The One Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest…
Read MoreScripture Texts in “Enough” Program Guide
6 Key Financial Principles: 1. 2 Cor. 9:6-7 – Pay tithe and offerings first 2. Prov. 27:23f – Create budget & track expenses 3. Mt. 6:19-33 – simplify your lifestyle / live below your means 4. 1 Tim. 6:9-12 – Set up an emergency fund now 5. Prov. 22:7 – Pay off credit cards; use…
Read MoreSongs about stewardship in “The Faith We Sing”
2185 For One Great Peace – Stewardship as participating in God’s work 2036 Give Thanks – Acting on our gratitude 2239 Go Ye, Go Ye into the World – Participating in God’s work 2048 God Weeps – Participating in God’s work 2162 Grace Alone –Participating in God’s work 2178 Here Am I – Participating in…
Read MoreSongs about Stewardship in The United Methodist Hymnal
413 A Charge to Keep I Have – Especially verse 2; Stewardship as participating in God’s work 147 All Things Bright and Beautiful – The abundance of God’s creation 588 All Things Come of Thee – Giving back from what God has given to us 451 Be Thou My Vision – God as our greatest…
Read MoreSongs about Stewardship in Worship & Song
3011 All My Days – Verse 3 God’s gift of time 3120 Amazing Abundance – Stewards of God’s love for all the nations 3002 Blessed Be Your Name – Thanks for God’s blessing in times of scarcity or abundance 3157 Come, Let Us Dream – Participating in God’s work 3174 Christ, We Are Blest –…
Read MoreCovenant Prayer by John Wesley
I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt; rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing; put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low by thee. Let me be full; let me be empty.…
Read MoreStewardship Ministry
SERVING THE NEEDS OF LEADERS IN FOUNDATIONAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES: STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY What would it look like to lead a congregation of joyful, generous gospel stewards? Stewardship is what we do with what God has entrusted to us. Vibrant Christian stewardship includes what we do on God’s behalf in our relationships; use of time, skills, abilities,…
Read MoreWhat is a Narrative Budget?
Every congregation has a Line Item Budget. This budget form reports income and expenses, line by line, so the church’s committees can monitor their activities internally, making sure that expenditures don’t exceed income by categories throughout the year. But a Line Item Budget is not a motivating tool! It is not inspiring (even to those…
Read MoreFactors That Predict Generosity
From Growing Up Generous: Engaging Youth in Giving and Serving By Eugene Roehlkepartain, Elanah Dalyah, and Laura Musegades (Alban Institute, 2000) Studies of giving and serving among youth and adults identify several consistent themes. How can your congregation create or encourage opportunities for young people to have more opportunities for these experiences that shape their…
Read MoreThe Bible and Simple Living
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8 “Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.” I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than…
Read MoreUnited Methodist Stewardship Creed
UNITED METHODIST CREED FOR CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP Approved by 1988 General Conference “We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.” From “The Social…
Read MoreTwo Resources for Family Finances
What might you do if you wanted to help members of your congregation hone their personal or family financial planning? Here are three resources that would encourage them and also help them with practical financial issues: 1. Freed-Up Financial Living is a terrific plug-and-play resource that gives both foundational biblical financial principles and all the…
Read MoreGenerosity – Yielding to God’s grace
When we consider the “Y” in “Generosity,” we realize it could stand for yielding to God’s grace. One phrase I read somewhere years ago has earned a cherished place in my home. It says “choosing to be utterly dependent on God.” Of course, we always are utterly dependent upon God, but it is the act…
Read More