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January 5, 2009
Searching for your next stewardship sermon?
If you're looking for some ideas for your next stewardship sermon or sermon series, Church Tithe Stewardship & Church Tithing has four good suggestions:
- Saving
- Debt
- Budgeting
- Faith and Trust
I agree that we need to focus on developing the "process" instead of focusing on the "results." Too often we settle into "you must give to the church or God will curse you..." type rhetoric when in fact we need to turn our attention to what creates and cultivates generous givers.
This will no doubt require a change in presentation and vocabulary on the part of the church leader. (See Pulpit vs. Pew.)
How can church leaders develop sustainable funding models that provide for fully funded budgets and long-term, sustainable ministry? That's the conversation we're having. And if you've just stumbled upon this blog, feel free to search the catagories to the right of this post for past material.
If you're a an avid reader, thank you. (And I'd appreciate it if you'd pass on what has been helpful to you to your friends and peers. The more people involved in the conversation, the more likely we are to address the pressing needs you are facing.)
This is an important conversation. It always has been. Given the current social and economic climate, perhaps this conversation has moved from "important" to "vital."
Posted by bstroup at January 5, 2009 12:22 PM
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Comments
Ben,
Check out Andy Stanley's new series that he began last week. You can find it on Northpoint's website. You would expect something of this caliber from Andy.
Keep on writing!
Mark Brooks
Posted by: Mark Brooks at January 6, 2009 8:29 AM
Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.
Blessings!
Posted by: Ben Stroup 
at January 6, 2009 9:43 AM