Congregational Stewardship

Mike Bryant Turquoise fired wash basin and bowl

Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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…

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Full Disclosure on the Bible and Financial Giving

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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…

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Blessings to Share

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

“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…

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Scripture Texts in “Enough” Program Guide

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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…

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Songs about stewardship in “The Faith We Sing”

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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…

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Songs about Stewardship in The United Methodist Hymnal

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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…

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Songs about Stewardship in Worship & Song

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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 –…

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Covenant Prayer by John Wesley

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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.…

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Stewardship Ministry

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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,…

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What is a Narrative Budget?

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | January 8, 2014

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…

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