Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate
Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate

Author: J. Clif Christopher

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Published: 2010-09-01

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 1426723385

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Hearing a young attorney speak of the faith-based reasons for which he had just made a substantial monetary gift to a community youth center, Clif Christopher asked the speaker if he would consider making a similar contribution to the congregation of which he was an active member. "Lord no, they wouldn't know what to do with it" was the answer. That, in a nutshell, describes the problem churches are facing in their stewardship efforts, says Christopher. Unlike leading nonprofit agencies and institutions, we too often fail to convince potential givers that their gifts will have impact and significance. In this book, Christopher lays out the main reasons for this failure to capture the imagination of potential givers, including our frequent failure simply to ask. Written with the needs of pastors and stewardship teams in mind, Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate provides immediate, practical guidance to all who seek to help God’s people be better stewards of their resources.

Not Your Parents' Offering Plate
Not Your Parents' Offering Plate

Author: Dr. J. Clif Christopher

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Published: 2015-04-22

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 1501804936

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People don’t give to church because we don’t offer them a compelling vision of the good their giving will achieve. Hearing a young attorney speak of the faithbased reasons for which he had just made a substantial monetary gift to a community youth center, Clif Christopher asked the speaker if he would consider making a similar contribution to the congregation of which he was an active member. “Lord, no they would not know what to do with it” was the answer. That, in a nutshell, describes the problem churches are facing in their stewardship efforts, says Christopher. Unlike leading nonprofit agencies and institutions, we too often fail to convince potential givers that their gifts will have impact and significance. In this book, Christopher lays out the main reasons for this failure to capture the imagination of potential givers, including our frequent failure simply to ask. Written with the needs of pastors and stewardship teams in mind, Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate provides immediate, practical guidance to all who seek to help God’s people be better stewards of their resources.

Ask, Thank, Tell
Ask, Thank, Tell

Author: Charles R. Lane

Publisher: Augsburg Books

Published: 2006-01-01

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 9781451405057

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The goal of this book, says author Charles Lane, is to perform a dramatic rescue of stewardship, freeing it from any connection whatsoever to "paying the bills." When the Bible talks about stewardship it almost always talks about the intimate connection between how a person handles financial matters and that person's relationship with God. Stewardship is an intensely spiritual matter that lies close to a disciple's relationship with Jesus.The book is designed especially for use in congregational planning and study. Congregational stewardship leaders will come back to three foundational verbs ? ask, thank, tell ? over and over as they help individuals experience the joy of giving generously. The author makes the convincing case that there is little in life today that can help a disciple grow in relationship with Jesus more than a solid intentional biblical stewardship.

Holy Smoke!
Holy Smoke!

Author: J. Clif Christopher

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780881772845

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Holy Smoke! proposes tithing as a way for us to symbolize and renew our relationship with God. In 6 chapters, the authors present- a survey of the current literature on tithing and as viewed in scripture and church history; - questions and answers about tithing; - a step-by-step process to develop the spiritual discipline of tithing.

Beyond the Offering Plate
Beyond the Offering Plate

Author: Adam J. Copeland

Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press

Published: 2017-08-15

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 1611648114

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Everyone knows that stewardship is more than money and finances. Nevertheless, seldom do we give time to explore the profound concept of stewardship in its many dimensions, including stewardship of time, work, body, mind, spirit, community, technology, and more. Beyond the Offering Plate does just that. Written by ten engaging pastors, seminary professors, and church leaders, this unique resource offers a diverse and holistic approach to stewardship. In ten accessible chapters, readers will learn how they can faithfully and practically discuss and engage with stewardship on a regular basis. Ideal for church leaders, seminary students, and pastors, this book includes questions for reflection and applications for life together at the end of each chapter. Copeland adds a special section with biblical references and preaching themes at the end of the book. Featured contributors include: Margaret P. Aymer, Associate Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas Kathleen A. Cahalan, Professor of Theology at Saint John's University School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota MaryAnn McKibben Dana, author of Sabbath in the Suburbs David Gambrell, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) David P. King, Karen Lake Buttrey Director of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving and Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana Neal D. Presa, pastor and former moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Ellie Roscher, Director of Youth and Story Development at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities in Minneapolis and author of How Coffee Saved My Life Mary Hinkle Shore, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Brevard, North Carolina John W. Vest, Visiting Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia

Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church
Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church

Author: Kennon L. Callahan

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 1997-08-25

Total Pages: 147

ISBN-13: 078793867X

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This complete guide to giving and stewardship sheds new light on solid financial resources, one of the 12 keys to building an effective church. Here is a practical plan for the growth and development of giving and stewardship in your congregation, complete with action worksheets that advance the progress of the plan over four years.

Stewardship in African-american Churches
Stewardship in African-american Churches

Author: Melvin Amerson

Publisher:

Published: 2015-09

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 9780881777710

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"When the church embraces the responsibility of living as faith managers of God's vast resources [as Psalm 24:1 teaches], the community of faith will prosper." So begins this practical and theological study of stewardship, both in the context of the African-American church tradition and beyond. After all, a systematic approach to stewardship undergirds the ministry and mission of the church universal. A stewardship consultant, Amerson draws upon his experience to help churches develop a theology of generosity; define stewardship leadership roles; celebrate the offering each week; and establish endowment giving. While recognizing still-relevant traditions, he also points to newer tactics and strategies convenient to both members and congregations--including electronic giving, contribution statements, and year-end giving. A highlight of the book is Amerson's explanation of the development of a narrative budget/narrative spending plan. He also writes about stewardship education at multiple levels. This book is a solid resource for financial stewardship education.

The Church Money Manual
The Church Money Manual

Author: J. Clif Christopher

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 92

ISBN-13: 9781426796579

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The church leader's guide to thoughtfully managing church finances. Each mini-chapter attacks a particular problem or perennially critical theme related to church money management and stewardship.

A Better Offering
A Better Offering

Author: Donald a Smith

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2020-12-11

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13:

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When in-person worship came to a screeching halt in 2020, many church leaders lamented, "What are we going to do if we can't pass the plate/basket for the offering?" Creative pivoting happened for many who sought to navigate the unexpected pandemic and post-pandemic path. The result-funding for ministry and mission that exceeded pre-pandemic projections. Many lamenters were surprised when they heard themselves say, "We never have to pass the plate again!" Donald A. Smith is a generosity strategist, mentor, and coach to pastors and church leaders. Author of the book, "A Better Offering: 5 Unmistakable Habits of Generous Churches," Don encourages readers to use the challenges of this unimaginable season as an opportunity to assess every practice in the church, especially those related to generosity and communicating the mission of the church.As a former pastor, Smith offers a host of stories from his own life, from his fruitful pastoral ministry, and from his work as a generosity strategist to churches and their leaders. Ultimately, he invites church leaders to envision a better offering and to consider five unmistakable habits that churches have found to be effective in growing generosity. In his Foreword to the book, Dr. J. Clif Christopher (a colleague of Don's who has authored many books on generosity, including "Not Your Parents' Offering Plate") writes: "For the last fifteen years Don has become a mentor to countless pastors and congregations while helping to bring new life in our changing times to the churches he has served. Now it is his turn to write his story so that even more people can learn from his vast experience. Every pastor and financial leader of a congregation should read and study this book, then use it." Don's story will equip churches to tell their stories in a way that will inspire greater generosity. The result-a better offering.