Whose idea was this anyway? Oh wait; it was God’s idea.

“Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.”

God does not need our money, but as His people we NEED to give.  The act of sacrificial giving is not primarily about funding ministry, but about developing the character of God’s people.  When God’s people are not obedient in the matter of giving, they are deprived of Spiritual Blessings, the Joy of Obedience, and the Deeper Life of Faith.

In the Church, we sometimes are hesitant to address the issue of giving.  Since the P.T.L. scandal there has been a concerted effort to paint a call for giving as corrupt. When asking people to give, we need to do so with conviction and love because the church and only the church is doing the great work of the Gospel.  We need to emphasize that it is God’s idea to call His people to give.  And we need to remember that God doesn’t need our money.   But we need to give for our own spiritual, emotional and relational well-being.

Rather than speak boldly about giving and stewardship we, as church leaders, have been afraid.  We are afraid people will feel that we have ulterior motives, that we are getting too personal, that we have been too demanding, or for some other reason will be offended.  This reflects our materialistic culture that has, in some cases, crept into the church.  In the typical American Church, 20% of the congregation gives 80% of the offerings, 30% of the congregation gives 20% of the offerings and 50% of the congregation gives nothing.  Those who give little or nothing are missing out on blessings that God would give them.  Their giving may also reflect a spiritual problem.  Not to mention that our failure to speak honestly, faithfully, and Biblically about God's command to give is a failure on our part to be faithful as leaders.

Our stewardship training is designed to lead Christians to answer the call to Biblical stewardship and to commit themselves to the discipline of faithful, consistent giving for one year.  In that year, they will be putting God to the test.  And as they see that God is faithful to care for them their faith will grow deeper and stronger.

We Can Help You With Stewardship Development.
The objective of stewardship development is not to raise money, fund projects, or meet budgets.  The objective is to develop disciples who are obedient to the Lord and become life-long stewards of the life and resources God gives them.  Rather than a quick fix or sermon series, this is a congregation-wide challenge to take God and His Word serious.

Call us and let us custom design a stewardship campaign for your congregation.
Charlie Crowe
352-548-4837