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.

Financial management plays a significant role in our lives today. However, for Christians, the concept of financial stewardship goes beyond sheer money management. It is rooted in biblical principles that guide believers to view and manage their finances as a resource entrusted to them by God. In this article, we will define the principles of biblical financial stewardship and provide some practical steps you can take to live as a faithful steward.

Having financial goals is important; without goals, it's hard to know if we're on track when it comes to Biblical stewardship. But goals themselves aren't enough - we also need to instill the habits necessary to reach them. It's great to have a goal to pay off our credit cards, but if we don't put in place the disciplines needed to get there, the goal itself doesn't help us. 

In our last article, we shared the difference between stewardship and generosity; you can read about it here. In this article, we're diving deeper into generosity and what it really means to be generous.

In recent years generosity and generosity ministry has gained popularity in the Church and non-profit organizations. Many church leaders have begun to use generosity in place of stewardship. This may seem like a better way to communicate the same thing for some, but do generosity and stewardship mean the same thing?

"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. 

Many things about our natural lives conflict with our spiritual lives. Living by the spirit in a natural and often enticing world isn't easy. Even the apostle Paul confessed, "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate." (Romans 7:15 NLT) One of the challenges we have to contend with is wealth and how we, as Christians, should relate to it.

There's a real danger in Christianity today to believe that all it takes to be saved and enter the kingdom of heaven is to say a prayer. Don't get me wrong! The prayer of confession is absolutely necessary. But, the scripture says explicitly, "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) 

The start of a new year is always a great motivator to improve your finances. It's one of the top goals for Americans each year and a worthy one considering the state of our economy, a looming recession, and the growing uncertainty of the future. Regardless of where you find yourself financially, these two components will ensure you succeed in managing your money well.

The time between Christmas and New Year's is slower for most. It's a time to sleep in, get cozy, watch a movie marathon, and enjoy some well-deserved rest. For me, it's also a time when I take inventory of the passing year and begin to look to the next.

Do you have a difficult time saving money? Do you find yourself constantly having to rob your saving account to get through an emergency? You're not alone. The personal saving rate over the past few months has taken a nose-dive. Inflation has been a big factor, but it's hardly the reason for Americans’ historical lack of savings.

The holiday season is upon us. It's that wonderful time of the year. I love Christmas! But I must confess, I get a bit cynical because of the consumerism that accompanies this season.

If your year was anything like mine, then maybe you can’t believe it’s already almost over. When I’m not working for CSN, I’m balancing life with a preschooler and toddler - and though I thoroughly enjoy this season of life, it’s busy.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there's been a considerable amount of press on the economic woes of millennials. Comparisons between Generation Y and older generations have them at a considerable disadvantage. There's no doubt that millennials face some challenges, but is their economic outlook and long-term ability to do well really as bad as the talking heads predict?

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.

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.

Remember when you learned to drive? You had to concentrate constantly on your steering, the foot pressure on the accelerator, and how much pressure to apply when breaking while constantly scanning your mirrors. It took intense focus, and having a drivers-ed teacher, or worse, a parent continually watching and judging your performance, it's a miracle you got through it! But you did get through it. After years of learning and gaining experience, you've developed a routine, a habit, that makes driving easy. The same can be true about developing good money habits.

Christianity doesn’t insulate you from worldly problems. Most Christians, if asked, would say they agree with that statement. Yet, when faced with difficult situations, we act as if something bizarre and unexpected is happening to us. Some of us even go as far as questioning God’s faithfulness towards them, especially when faced with financial hardships.

We live in a fast-changing world. Those changes also impact churches. For instance, we have levels of inflation not seen in the last 40 years. Things ebb and flow, and what’s different today is unpredictability. It comes from rapid cultural change, shifting demographics, rapidly evolving technology, and an interdependent global economic climate.

There's little doubt that the past two years have significantly impacted The Church. Phrases like "pre-pandemic and post-pandemic" indicate new realities and how we're all trying to deal with them. Most noteworthy is the increase in apathy toward God and the relevance of The Church.