CHURCH GIVING, TITHING, GENEROSITY, AND STEWARDSHIP
These resources for church leaders form part of the LifeandLeadership.com listings on Church Administration
- FIRST READS OVERALL on Church Giving, Tithing, Generosity & Stewardship
- THEOLOGICAL & SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS on Church Giving, Tithing, Generosity & Stewarship
- Christian Social Conscience on Stewardship of Possessions
- Spirituality of Church Giving
- Sociological Trends on Church Giving
- Development Guides on Church Giving
- Development Guides on Church Giving, Family-Focused
- Development Guides, Faith-Based Finance Education
- Related Ministry Resources
**Ministry resources listed in recommended order, unless alphabetical
First Reads Overall on Church Giving, Tithing, Generosity and Stewardship
- Wesley K. Willmer, A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to be Rich Toward God – Offers over 400 pages of the best wisdom on most conceivable areas of stewardship, tithing, and church giving, distilled from over twenty leading scholars and practitioners. Excellent blend of theology and practice.
- Chris Willard and Jim Shepherd, Contagious Generosity: Creating a Culture of Giving in Your Church – The best on showing leaders how to create and sustain a congregational culture where generosity is the norm.
Theological & Spiritual Foundations on Church Giving, Tithing, Generosity and Stewardship
First Reads:
- Craig Blomberg, Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions – A well researched, balanced, and thorough development of biblical teaching on the subject of wealth and poverty. This is the foundational reading on the subject.
- Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity. Revised and Updated Edition — Reflects Alcorn’s most thorough and passionate teaching on the subject. Reads like a very engaging and substantive sermon on all things money. More popular-level than Blomberg.
- David Croteau, Editor, Perspectives on Tithing: Four Views – offers a point-counterpoint on four views of tithing.
Other Helpful Resources:
- David L. Baker, Tight Fists or Open Hands: Wealth and Poverty in the Old Testament – A substantive, detailed (440 pages) development of the Old Testament teaching on the subject of poverty and wealth. Good Old Testament supplement to Blomberg.
- Justo Gonzalez, Faith and Wealth: A History of Early Christian Ideas on the Origin, Significance, and Use of Money – For evangelical Christians whose faith has been shaped in economically advantaged social-majority environments, Gonzalez, as a liberation theologian, may provide a good balance to their grasp of the biblical teaching on money and possessions.
- James Hudnut-Beumler, Generous Saints: Congregations Rethinking Ethics and Money (Money, Faith, and Lifestyle Series) – An excellent series of reflections on moving congregations beyond simply meeting budgets to being good stewards of what God and others have entrusted to them.
- Sondra Ely Wheeler, Wealth as Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions — Excellent exposition on the New Testament teaching on possessions, focusing on five texts: Mark 10:17-31; Luke 12:22-34; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; and James 5:1-6. Good supplement to Blomberg on the New Testament.
- Ben Witherington, Jesus and Money: A Guide for Times of Financial Crisis — A thorough challenge toward the excesses of “health-and-wealth” preachers who cherry-pick scriptures and misuse texts such as the Jabez prayer. Also includes helpful guides for Christians to move beyond materialism into lives of stewardship and generosity. Good supplement to Blomberg on the Gospels.
Christian Social Conscience on Stewardship of Possessions
- See section “Social Ministries, Biblically-Based Calls to Social Conscience and Action,” in Theological and Philosophical Foundations of Social Ministry and Social Justice
Spirituality of Church Giving
- Mark Allan Powell, Giving to God: The Bible’s Good News About Living a Generous Life – Approaches giving and stewardship from the angle of spiritual formation. The essential core is that stewardship is an act of worship, an expression of faith, and a discipline for spiritual growth.
- Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity. Revised and Updated Edition — See above for description under “First Reads – Theological and Spiritual Foundations.”
- Gordon MacDonald, Secrets of the Generous Life – A series of devotional reflections written for those who want to know how to use what they have been given for the purpose of building God’s kingdom. This book is intended to encourage and motivate people to live generously.
- Wesley K. Willmer and Martyn Smith, God and Your Stuff: The Vital Link Between Your Possessions and Your Soul — An excellent treatment on the spirituality of possessions, aimed at showing the relationship between generosity and spiritual maturity.
Sociological Trends on Church Giving
First Reads:
- Christian Smith, Michael O. Emerson, and Patricia Snell, Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money – The best on the subject. A probing and incredibly well-researched text on the subject of giving patterns among American Christians.
- Dean R. Hoge, Patrick H. McNamara, Charles Zech. Plain Talk About Churches and Money (Money, Faith, and Lifestyle Series) — Builds on research about what motivates people to give, and helps church leaders understand the causes of resistance and how to unlock the most generous inclinations of their members.
Other Helpful Volumes:
- Loren Mead, Financial Meltdown in the Mainline? (Money, Faith and Lifestyle Series) — A hard-hitting, no holds barred look at the financial crisis in churches and related institutions.
- Lyle Schaller, The New Context for Ministry: Competing for the Charitable Dollar – The long recognized guru of congregational life looks carefully at the effect of consumerism on churches. Makes several creative suggestions.
- Robert Wuthnow, God and Mammon in America — Although older, a still interesting, well-researched look at to what degree religious convictions influence economic behavior, including material acquisition, consumption, career choices, social justice, etc.
- Robert Wuthnow, The Crisis in the Churches: Spiritual Malaise, Fiscal Woe — Discusses research revealing that churches do very little to equip their people spiritually, educationally, or administratively to provide financial support for mission.
Development Guides on Church Giving
First Reads:
- Wesley K. Willmer, A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to be Rich Toward God — The most comprehensive manual on the subject. Excellent blend of theology and practice.
- Chris Willard and Jim Shepherd, Contagious Generosity: Creating a Culture of Giving in Your Church. Leadership Network Innovation Series, Zondervan, 2012. – The best on showing leaders how to create and sustain a congregational culture where generosity is the norm.
- Charles R. Lane, Ask, Thank, Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation – Focuses on stewardship as the growth of each giver in their primary relationship with Jesus Christ rather than on the good of the congregation. Less daring than Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate.
- J. Clif Christopher, Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship — Helps congregations increase their giving in the 21st century context with its proliferation of other worthy non-profit enterprises. Bold and highly pragmatic.
- Janice Johnson and Ruben Swint, Weaving Our Lives Together: A Stewardship Program for Your Congregation — Emphasizes building a strong sense of congregational unity, functioning as community of faith sharing in God’s work.
- Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson, Maximize: How to Develop Extravagant Givers in Your Church. Also, Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson, The Generosity Ladder: Your Next Step to Financial Peace. — Maximize describes the essential philosophy of a program whereby Searcy’s church increased giving over 60% during a six-month period. Generosity Ladder is a companion volume for church leaders.
- Randy Alcorn, Managing God’s Money: A Biblical Guide – Good for personal financial development, but for church leaders, it is a helpful tool for stewardship education.
- Kennon L. Callahan, Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church: A Guide for Every Member — Part of Callahan’s Twelve Keys library. Works the philosophy that “As you grow the mission, you will grow the giving. And as you grow the giving, you be in a stronger position to focus your best energies on the mission.” Companion to Effective Church Finances.
Other Helpful Resources:
- George Barna, How to Increase Giving in Your Church: A Practical Guide to the Sensitive Task of Raising Money For Your Church or Ministry — Helps church leaders understand their donor-base demographics (personal background), psychographics (attitudes and values), and theolographics (spiritual perspectives and practices). Describes five categories of donors, and suggests how to move people from one category to the next to raise the level of commitment.
- Michael Durall, Creating Congregations of Generous People — Good on strategies for pledge drives, approached from the angle of spiritual development.
- Kim Klein, Ask and You Shall Receive: A Fundraising Training Program for Religious Organizations and Projects. Includes Leader and Participant Manual — A complete training on congregational fund-raising. A good supplement to volumes listed above.
- Patrick H. McNamara, More Than Money: Portraits of Transformative Stewardship (Money, Faith, and Lifestyle Series) – The story of 11 churches of several different Protestant “stripes” that have successfully increased stewardship and generosity among their members.
- John Ronsvalle, Sylvia Ronsvalle, U. Milo Kaufmann. At Ease: Discussing Money and Values in Small Groups — Describes a method for making people comfortable discussing the difficult issues of linking money with values.
- Lyle Schaller, 44 Ways to Expand the Financial Base of Your Church — A older but still valuable treasury of ideas on how to increase congregational generosity.
- Stan Toler and Elmer Towns, Developing a Giving Church — The appendices include sermons, stories, quotes, and a pastor’s stewardship checklist.
- Ken Blanchard and Truett S. Cathey, The Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure — Not written to churches, but may provide useful insights, anecdotes, and illustrations for teaching and practice.
Development Guides on Church Giving, Tithing, and Stewardship – Family-Focused
- Eugene C. Roehjlkepartain, Elanah Dalyah Naftali, and Laura Musegades, Growing Up Generous: Engaging Youth in Giving and Serving – A substantive, well-researched, and practical guide to nurturing a spirit of generosity and service among teens.
- Carol Wehrheim, Giving Together: A Stewardship Guide for Families — Helps to involve the whole family in coming to grips with the relationship between faith and money, time, and talents.
Development Guides on Church Giving, Tithing, and Stewardship – Faith-Based Financial Education
- Crown Financial Ministries — Produces a number of excellent materials for individuals and churches, with unique tools geared to specific age groups. The most widely known and trusted organization of its kind, having reached over 50 million people in over 80 nations.
- Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University — Ramsey is the most widely recognized financial educator in America. The mission of his organization is to “provide biblically-based, common-sense education and empowerment which gives HOPE to everyone from the financially secure to the financially distressed.”
- Good $ense Ministries, Willow Creek Association — A highly acclaimed stewardship education program used by Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington (suburban Chicago), Illinois, as well as many churches affiliated with the Willow Creek Association.
- Brian Kluth Stewardship Ministries — Kluth’s resources enjoy wide use. His monthly newsletter has over 15,000 subscribers.
- Generous Giving — An excellent collection of resources on generosity, endorsed by outstanding Christian leaders such as Rick Warren, Tim Keller, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others.
Related Ministry Resources
Other Ministry Resources on Church Administration:
- Church Administration, General Manuals
- Stewardship of Church Money, Church Finance
- Church Giving, Tithing, and Financial Stewardship
Related Ministry Resources:
- Change and Transition for Church Leaders
- Conflict in the Church
- Church Leadership and Renewal
- Managing Volunteers
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