The Bible offers about The Bible offers about 500 verses each on prayer 500 verses each on prayer and faith, but nearly 2,000 on money-and faith, but nearly 2,000 on money-related topics. related topics.

TheThe BibleBible andand MoneyMoney

Money is a spiritual Money is a spiritual issue. But money issue. But money can also be the can also be the cause of pain.cause of pain.

Ass

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Myths about GivingMyths about Giving1. People don’t want to give2. If we help people, they will

generously give to the church3. When the economy is down, we

can’t expect people to give4. All we need to do is teach the Bible

and pray5. If we urge people to give, they’ll get

angry

NOT AT ALL SOMEWHAT MOSTLYDo we believe this?

1.1. God owns everythingGod owns everything2.2. God’s people are his managersGod’s people are his managers3.3. Stewardship is responsibility with Stewardship is responsibility with

accountabilityaccountability4.4. Good stewardship demands Good stewardship demands

a commitment to othersa commitment to others5.5. Stewardship has eternalStewardship has eternal

consequencesconsequences““Orient your life around fulfillment of what matters Orient your life around fulfillment of what matters

most. Since you can’t have everything, most. Since you can’t have everything, use your money to buy things that have use your money to buy things that have the most meaning. “the most meaning. “

Stewardship PrinciplesStewardship Principles

““Baptism – needs Baptism – needs to include the to include the wallet too!”wallet too!”

The Discipleship of StewardshipThe Discipleship of Stewardship1. Underlying motivation1. Underlying motivation– Raising disciples, not dollarsRaising disciples, not dollars– ““How you spend money is spiritual” How you spend money is spiritual” Ray LinderRay Linder

– ““Where your heart is there your treasure is Where your heart is there your treasure is also.” Matthew 6:21also.” Matthew 6:21

Did Jesus say this? What did He mean?Did Jesus say this? What did He mean?

StewardshipStewardship

2. Issues for new churches2. Issues for new churches- Young families: typically in debt & need to Young families: typically in debt & need to

learn life management. learn life management. - Unchurched: no habit of giving. Need to be Unchurched: no habit of giving. Need to be

taught and brought along.taught and brought along.- IE need more people in order to support the IE need more people in order to support the

budgetbudget

Discipleship of StewardshipDiscipleship of Stewardship- The path of least resistance will The path of least resistance will

generate the least income, will help generate the least income, will help people grow the least, and undermine people grow the least, and undermine future ministry and mission growth.future ministry and mission growth.

3. Reality Check: $100,000 3. Reality Check: $100,000 Church must be atChurch must be at

200 people with $500/capita/yr200 people with $500/capita/yr143 people with $700/capita/yr143 people with $700/capita/yr100 people with $1000/capita/yr100 people with $1000/capita/yr

Note: Ave in existing EC churches is $1800+/capita/yrNote: Ave in existing EC churches is $1800+/capita/yr

Discipleship of StewardshipDiscipleship of Stewardship

4. Strategies4. Strategies- Set a stewardship culture from day 1Set a stewardship culture from day 1- Cover expectations in membership classesCover expectations in membership classes- Use the offering to: teach on stewardship, share Use the offering to: teach on stewardship, share

the missional impact of the church, THANK the missional impact of the church, THANK people, help them see it as WORSHIP!people, help them see it as WORSHIP!

- Teach on it as a spiritual discipleship growth Teach on it as a spiritual discipleship growth issue (model: the pastor needs to tithe as well)issue (model: the pastor needs to tithe as well)

- Teach whole-life stewardship over several Teach whole-life stewardship over several weeks so people know it’s more than giving $weeks so people know it’s more than giving $

““That was the best sermon That was the best sermon on giving I’ve ever heard.”on giving I’ve ever heard.”

How

To

How

To

1.1. Have a Vision that inspires & a Mission Have a Vision that inspires & a Mission that incarnates your vision!that incarnates your vision!

2.2. Build your budget to incarnate your Build your budget to incarnate your Mission! Be realistic. Possibly 2 budgets.Mission! Be realistic. Possibly 2 budgets.

3.3. Work on the Income Side: and appeal to Work on the Income Side: and appeal to the different ‘pockets’ of givers.the different ‘pockets’ of givers.

4.4. Communicate with your givers: 1Communicate with your givers: 1stst time, time, quarterly statements, year-end special and quarterly statements, year-end special and year-end statement and thanks.year-end statement and thanks.

8 Steps to a Stewardship Plan8 Steps to a Stewardship Plan

1

2

3

4

How

To

How

To

5. Teach children the importance 5. Teach children the importance of giving of giving

8 Steps to a Stewardship Plan8 Steps to a Stewardship Plan

8

7

6

5

8.8. Teach stewardship to members – Teach stewardship to members – as whole-life discipleship.as whole-life discipleship.

7. Plan a stewardship month7. Plan a stewardship month

6. 6. Use the offering to teach, thank Use the offering to teach, thank people, and worship God!people, and worship God!

Whole-Life Stewardship of Time, Whole-Life Stewardship of Time, Talent, Testimony & TreasureTalent, Testimony & Treasure

- Help people commit to “whole-life” stewardship Help people commit to “whole-life” stewardship annually as God leadsannually as God leads

- Find a way (even starting in Preview Stage) for Find a way (even starting in Preview Stage) for people to serve according to their gifts through 4+ people to serve according to their gifts through 4+ Ministry TeamsMinistry Teams- Biblical, Devotional, Missional, ConnectionalBiblical, Devotional, Missional, Connectional- Worship, Children, Small Groups, Assimilation Worship, Children, Small Groups, Assimilation

(& Evangelism) (& Evangelism)- EG: you can have a Launch Team meeting where EG: you can have a Launch Team meeting where

you cast the vision, then break into ministry you cast the vision, then break into ministry teams… This shares the ministry + sets the DNA teams… This shares the ministry + sets the DNA from the start.from the start.

Discipleship of StewardshipDiscipleship of Stewardship

- Use testimoniesUse testimonies- Use appeals as a way to help people Use appeals as a way to help people

beginbegin- Develop an end-of-year strategyDevelop an end-of-year strategy- Find a way to communicate church giving Find a way to communicate church giving

trends in a biblical way trends in a biblical way (see next slide)(see next slide)

Help people see where they are and ask them if Help people see where they are and ask them if God would have them take the “next step”God would have them take the “next step”

Help people Help people understand how understand how the biblical the biblical principle of tithing principle of tithing can help raise can help raise much more for much more for the kingdom.the kingdom.

Help them set a Help them set a goal of increasing goal of increasing by 1% a year until by 1% a year until they get to the they get to the tithe – not as a tithe – not as a legalism, but as a legalism, but as a way to grow in way to grow in their faith.their faith.

C3 Annual Health Survey (you could do this as 4-T’s, or the 4 ‘Al’s,’ or 5 ‘G’s.’ or your core values)

At C3 we are concerned with your health and the health of our ministry. We realize that setting regular goals is a necessity in achieving this health. Therefore, annually as a renewal of you membership, you will be asked to prayerfully evaluate the previous year while setting goals for the next. Be as specific as possible, realizing that we are under grace, not the law!

Spiritually – Where do I hope to grow spiritually? What spiritually disciplines would I like to begin or further pursue? What will this look like? (i.e. begin a daily time with God using a devotional I picked up at C3)

C3 Annual Health SurveyC3 Annual Health SurveyEmotionally – Where do I need to grow emotionally? What do I need to get under control? What do I need to release? What steps will I take? (i.e. get my anger under control by seeing a counselor)

Relationally – Who do I think I need to grow in relationship with? What relationship/s are in need of healing? How will I pursue these? Am I committing enough time to my family? (i.e. to befriend my next door neighbor by inviting them over for Monday Night Football, forgive my dad, I will take my kids out to breakfast once a month.)

Service - What is God calling me to participate in? What ministry will I commit to as my primary ministry? Where will I help out? (i.e. I will be a leader in an ALPHA course and I will help monthly in the kids ministry)

Giving - I realize that financially giving is also a part of partnership. I believe my Tithe (10%) will be

and I hope to give above and beyond this to other ministries in the amount of .

MINISTRIES AMOUNT

Sample Budget for a New Church:

INCOME: Core Group $34,000New Attenders $ 6,000Appropriation $50,000Special Gifts $ 5,000

$95,000

EXPENSES:Salary (includes FICA & housing allowance) $48,000Health Insurance $14,000Pension (12.5% of salary) $ 6,000Auto Reimbursement (8,500 mi at $.44/mi) $ 3,783Church/Pastor Cell Phone $ 840Office Equipment $ 1,000Office Rent FCCOffice Supplies $ 600Utilities FCCFacility Rental FCCChristian Education & Children’s Ministries $ 2,000Music $ 1,400Launch Expenses $ 7,000Pastor’s Continuing Education $ 1,000Pastors Conferences $ 2,000Mission Giving – ECC (10% of local giving)* $ 3,000Mission Giving – GLC (5.5% of local giving)* $ 1,750

$92,373