Church Stewardship Programs
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The most effective church stewardship programs are centered on Scriptural principles about the use of resources. Though most people think of money when they hear the word "stewardship," the concept also applies to the best use of one's time, talents, and other resources. Jesus' parable of the talents is a familiar one. "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey" (Matthew 25:14-15). The servants who were entrusted with five talents and two talents put the money to good use and doubled the amount. The servant who was given one talent buried it. When the traveler returned, he praised the first two servants, telling each one, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:21). The third servant was called "wicked and slothful" (see Matthew 25:26). The word "talent" in the Matthew 25 passage refers to a monetary coin. But it's interesting that this archaic word holds a different meaning to modern-day readers. Holistic church stewardship programs will emphasize both renderings of "talent" as money and as abilities.
Some people have a talent for leadership, others for administration, and still others in creative pursuits such as music or drama. All these talents are gifts bestowed by God and are to be used for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom. It's not too farfetched to say that the rich man in Matthew 25, who symbolizes God in the parable, is interested in how his servants use the non-monetary gifts he gave them. The talented individual who buries her talent may hear the same frightening pronouncement heard by the wicked and slothful servant: "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:30). Well-rounded church stewardship programs will include an emphasis on helping individuals recognize their special talents and assist the church leaders in establishing ministries or areas of service where these talents can be used. In this way, individuals are able to devote both time and talent to the furtherance of God's kingdom in meaningful and significant ways. The leader can lead, the administrator can administrate, the musician can sing or play an instrument, and the dramatist can showcase Biblical truths in entertaining and thought-provoking messages.
Of course, an important element of church stewardship programs is proper money management. These can be divided into two basic types. The first is for the church as a whole, perhaps as part of a capital building campaign. The second is for the individual members of the congregation and centers on personal financial issues. Let's look at each type separately. When a congregation outgrows its building or perhaps is looking for property for the first time, there is a need for an enormous amount of revenue. A plan needs to be created to meet the need for the down payment or perhaps even the entire cost of either purchasing a particular property or the construction of a new facility. There are several different types of programs that are especially designed to help the church leaders educate and motivate their members to give the needed money for these large expenditures. For example, a particular program may include a series of sermons on giving for capital needs. The promotional campaign may include colorful posters and bulletin inserts. Members of the congregation may be encouraged to fill out a pledge card of what they intend to give over a certain period of time. Some congregations conduct these types of pledge drives once a year as a way to set an operating budget. Instead of raising money for a capital project, these congregations are using church stewardship programs to educate the members about the amount of money needed to meet the annual expenditures.
The second type of stewardship program focuses on the needs of individual members and their family household budgets. Here again, the most effective programs are based on Scriptural principles. Individuals and families are given the tools to set realistic budgets, get out of debt, and invest for the future. The basics of tithing are taught so that individuals and families become joyful and generous stewards of God's resources. These church stewardship programs are often designed especially for use in small groups. DVD or video lessons are supplemented with workbooks and other relevant materials. The lessons may be designed as a one-day seminar, a workshop series, or perhaps a multi-week series. The flexibility of the program allows church leaders to use the format that works best for their members.
Interested people can find reviews of a variety of church stewardship programs by going online. There are many Scripturally-based plans available that will help a congregation meet its particular goals. Personal finance workshops are beneficial to members and can also be used as an outreach tool, especially in difficult economic times. The small group option allows the participants to receive needed support as they apply Biblical principles to their household budget. An annual campaign can assist leaders in setting the yearly budget for the congregation, including its own gifts to other ministries and missions. For capital projects, such as purchasing property or new construction, some type of program is needed to encourage sacrificial giving. Whatever the goal, there are many church stewardship programs that can benefit the congregation. But the leaders must remember that stewardship is about more than just money. Individuals want to contribute in other ways, too. A well-rounded program will link together the stewardship principles for money, time, and talents.
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