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Browse articles on stewardship and generosity.

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Passing the Whole Baton

For the past few years, nonprofit organizations and churches have been hearing about the upcoming generational wealth transfer. Estimates range anywhere from $60 to $90 trillion dollars that will be passed from Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation to their heirs and the causes they care about over the next 30 years.

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Why is it So Hard to Give?

It’s no easy task trying to get people to understand the beauty of giving and generosity. Giving is an expression of worship, an invitation to partner with God in everything. It requires you to “place your bet” on the work of God over the physical comfort of predictability. Many of us have felt the discomfort of calculating the amount of money God has deemed his tithe and tried to do the math on how that would impact our wallet.

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Generosity CSN Generosity CSN

Unconventional Ways Churches Can Inspire Generosity

Generosity is a core principle of Christianity and a fundamental teaching of Jesus, which every church leader wants their congregation to embrace and practice. While traditional methods such as tithing and fundraising campaigns have long been used, there is growing evidence that unconventional methods of generosity can have a profound impact. In this article, we'll explore three unique ways churches can inspire and cultivate a culture of generosity.

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The Problem with Your General Fund and How to Fix It

"General Fund" and “Tithes” are the most common designations churches use to support day-to-day operations like staff salaries, facilities maintenance, and outreach programs. 

These things, while perhaps not as tangible or inspiring as, say, digging a well in Somalia, are crucial. They ARE the cost of doing good

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Generosity CSN Generosity CSN

Tax-Advantaged Giving

The program year is already in full swing and, soon enough, you will be wrapping up another year of ministry. Now is the time to consider how you will engage your donors during this important giving season by encouraging tax-advantaged giving.

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Loveless Giving

If you’ve been a Christian for a minute, you’ve been exposed to messages on giving to the church or requests to give to a capital campaign. There’s nothing wrong with messages on giving or fundraising for worthwhile ministry projects. The danger comes when giving is portrayed and communicated as a duty we Christians have to perform instead of a loving response to a God who’s been extravagantly generous to us.

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Financial Success in the Kingdom of God

I've been fascinated by the many new and creative ways people are making a living these days. By using platforms like Etsy, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube, to name just a few, many people are ditching the 9-5, climbing the corporate ladder, way of making a living. These solopreneurs, mostly the younger generation, are seeking something that the standard career paths cannot provide.

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Managing Money CSN Managing Money CSN

Maintaining the Right Balance in Our Saving

The other day my wife Natalie and I were casually talking about where we are regarding our retirement plans. After about 30 minutes of looking and talking through the different income sources we expect to be drawing from, an uneasy, perhaps even fearful mood gripped both of us. For a brief period of time, filled with worry about the future, we lost focus of who we are and what we've been called to be, faithful followers of Christ, seeking God's will and not our own.

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Help People to Trust God More, and Giving Will Follow

When it comes to giving, a minority of churchgoers are still financially supporting a majority of church ministry. Usually less than 20 percent of churchgoers contribute regularly to their church. This is discouraging, first, because of the lack of resources for the church. Second, because of what it reveals; a lack of trust in God concerning money.

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Generosity CSN Generosity CSN

Money Reveals Our Priorities

The late Larry Burkett used to say, "Show me your checkbook, and I'll tell you what you care about most." What we spend money on is revealing. As it relates to money, it's not what you say that matters most, but what you do.

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What the Widow’s Gift Says about Giving

It’s a common feeling for many believers to feel “called” to advance the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s as if God is constantly looking for donors to fund his mission; he’s got a goal set and those buckets keep sloshing around dimes and nickels. Pair that with the trend in many churches to do capital campaigns where Pastors reveal a “number” God gave them, and if we’re not careful, it can feel like we’re doing God a favor by giving generously.

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True Generosity

We’ve all heard about extravagant acts of generosity. Some are quite incredible, which makes me wonder whether these people are uniquely gifted or just plain crazy? Come on, I know I’m not the only one who’s thought this! So, what does real generosity look like? How much do I have to give, and how will I know when I’m really generous?

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