This document discusses leading congregations to actively follow Jesus Christ through stewardship. It provides examples of effective stewardship campaigns that communicate the church's mission and encourage people to grow in their giving. Preaching on biblical stewardship principles is an essential element, as is identifying and developing giving leaders who can share their personal stories. The goal is to motivate people to generously support the church's work through both annual campaigns and ongoing education.

1. Leading congregations to lead people to actively follow Jesus Christ

2. Introductions Your Name The church where you currently serve or attend What you would like most to get out of our time together

3. Devotion- Psalm 8 NIV O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise [b] because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

4. Devotion- Psalm 8 NIV 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c] and crowned him with glory and honor.

5. Devotion- Psalm 8 NIV 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

6. Motivations for Giving Malachi 3:10 – Giving out of a sense of duty 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

7. Motivations for Giving Giving to make a difference – Paul’s offering for Macedonia 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 MSG 1-4Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. 5-7This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.

8. Motivations for Giving Giving as a natural extension of relationship – An Attitude of Gratitude1 Thessalonians NIV 5:18 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

9. Motivations for Giving Where are you? Why do you give? How has that changed over the years? What motivated the change?

10. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today Matthew 6:19-21, 24 NIV – Jesus taught Stewardship 19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

11. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today “Here’s what the devil knows: If he can get you in debt, he can make you a slave. If he can convince you to spend all you have, you’ll never offer your tithes to God, never help the poor as you could have, and never use what you do have to accomplish God’s purposes. If he can tempt you to become a slave to creditors, you will not know simplicity, generosity, or joy. He will have neutralized your effectiveness for the Kingdom and choked the gospel out of your life.” Adam Hamilton, Enough p. 22

12. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today Galatians 5:16-21 MSG – A Necessary Correction 16-18My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

13. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today 19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

14. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today Galatians 5:22-23 MSG – A Necessary Correction 22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

15. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today Galatians 5:25-26 MSG – A Necessary Correction 25-26Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

16. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today “affluenza, n. 1. The bloated, sluggish, and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste, and indebtedness caused by the dogged pursuit of the American Dream. 3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth.” www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza “Credit-itis is the opportunity for us to buy now and pay later. It’s an illness that is brought on by promises of “six months same as cash,” or a 20 percent discount if you use your store credit card. It’s basically the idea that you can enjoy something today and pay for it tomorrow, and it feeds on our desire for instant gratification.” Adam Hamilton, Enough p. 16

17. The Importance of Teaching Stewardship Today Living below your Means “There was a pastor who invited a missionary to speak at his church about social justice and ministry with the poor. As the pastor and missionary were pulling into the parking lot of the church, a man driving a brand new, top-of-the-line Lexus drove in beside them. The missionary said, “Now that’s what I’m talking about right there, I’m talking about those people driving cars like that.” The pastor replied, “Let me straighten you out about one thing. I know this guy. He makes a million dollars a year. He gives $700,000 a year away to run the mission for the poor in our city, This guy is humble and caring. He could be driving a Rolls Royce, but he lives five steps below his means. So don’t criticize him. Would to God that you and I gave away as much of what we have as he does.” Adam Hamilton, Enough p. 12-13

18. Contentment Prayer “Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don’t need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity.” Adam Hamilton, Enough

19. Leading congregations to lead people to actively follow Jesus Christ

21. Teaching Stewardship in the Local Church The Giver’s need to give vs. Raising a Budget Narrative budgets Communication of church giving Annual Event or Year Round or Both Meeting people where they are – Encouraging a next step in giving

22. Your Experiences What was the best stewardship campaign you have been a part of? What made it work for you?

23. Your Experiences What was the least effective stewardship campaign you have been a part of? What didn’t work for you?

24. Essential Elements of a Successful Stewardship Campaign The role of Prayer

25. Essential Elements of a Successful Stewardship Campaign The role of the Leader Do you tithe? Does the leadership of your church tithe? Can you speak freely and comfortably about money?

26. Essential Elements of a Successful Stewardship Campaign Sharing the story Letters and written communication

27. Your Story of Giving Compose a letter about the important role giving plays in your own life Share your letter with your group

28. Essential Elements of a Successful Stewardship Campaign Sharing the story Videos and testimony “mission moments” and other communications during the year

30. Essential Elements of a Successful Stewardship Campaign Preaching Stewardship Context Scriptures Desired outcome **

31. Begin a Sermon Search the list of Scriptures and pick one to build a message around In groups, share your choice and reasons for picking it My favorites

32. What is Your Context? What is your preaching outlet? Who are you trying to reach? What is the “desired outcome”? Share your answers with your group

33. What is Your Point? In one sentence summarize the point of your message.

34. Building a Team Who are the giving leaders? How do you identify them?

35. Resources Conference Stewardship Manual

36. Follow-Up

37. Leading congregations to lead people to actively follow Jesus Christ