July 28, 2026
Money
A personal testimony on money, tithing, debt, stewardship, and financial accountability calls churches to teach wise biblical financial practices and protect ministry resources with integrity.
Articles for tag: Financial Peace University
March 1, 2022
Authentic Community
By Rick Lowry God created every person with a “community gene.” We all have a natural longing to be with other human beings. From an early age, we have known the value of being a member of a group. Everyone grew up in some version of a family, a place where we belonged, living with significant others who helped shape us. We are in community, in groups, every day: the staff team at work, the board or committee on which we serve, the Thursday night Bunko ladies group, the guys who gather to watch NFL games—all small groups that satisfy,
May 7, 2018
Lesson for May 13, 2018: Bringing Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-14, 22)
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 4 (weeks 17–20; April 29—May 20, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott Our laughter and our tears display our hearts, but our calendars and checkbooks display our priorities. God wanted his people to get first things first. This principle related to every category of their lives. A reoccurring phrase in the book of Leviticus is, “I am the Lord.” God’s peoples’ conduct
February 27, 2017
How Ministers Can Respond to Financial Pressures
By Michael C. Mack CT Pastors recently reported, “Today, 90 percent of pastors feel financial stress in their family and church work, 76 percent of pastors know other pastors who left the ministry due to financial pressures, 31 percent of pastors work a second job to help make ends meet, and almost 60 percent of pastors do not receive health insurance or retirement funds from their church.” We asked pastors: What would help, or what would have helped you in responding well to these circumstances? Here are a few of the responses: “Some problems, not all by any means, could
September 2, 2016
Costly””The Price of Avoiding Sermons about Money
By Eddie Lowen “Our minister doesn”t teach on giving, at least not very directly or often.” I haven”t counted how many times staff members or elders from other churches have said something similar to me, but I”m sure the tally is approaching 50 by now. It makes me wonder. . . . During the last year, how many churches have hosted a four-week series on biblical money management that emphasizes tithing (or growing generosity) to the church? How many churches regularly offer Financial Peace University or a similar series that equips people to master their finances? How many churches have
July 3, 2016
Worship””Filling the AbyssÂ
By Tim Harlow Financial campaigns are good because they remind us where to look for the help everyone is seeking. Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French philosopher and mathematician, is often quoted as saying there is a “God-shaped vacuum” inside of us. That”s a preacher”s abbreviation of the following paragraph: What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help
January 8, 2015
A Healthy Church Manages Debt Well
By Don Anderson Thank you for even starting to read an article about an important topic that is seldom considered exciting. I am certain I could find church leaders who would argue that an indebted church cannot be considered “healthy.” And others would argue that debt has little to do with a church”s overall health. I think the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes. Debt can be like a noose squeezing the necks of leaders, or it can be a useful tool for eliminating real obstacles to growth, such as the lack of seating or parking. Debt and commercial
November 14, 2014
Church on Mission: Church at the Mission
By Jennifer Johnson “I”ve done church planting, I”ve done megachurch, and I”ve done microchurch,” says Blake Ryan. “I think this is the only thing God could call me to that would fulfill my heart in ministry.” “This” is Church at the Mission Corona, a new congregation that launched in January at the Corona/Norco (CA) Rescue Mission. Ryan serves as lead pastor of the church and director of the mission as well as managing principal at PlainJoe Studios, a design and media company also based in Corona. “We were part of Church at the Mission”s first location in Tustin, CA, and
August 11, 2010
Interview with Bart Stone
Bart Stone reflects on launching Momentum Christian Church in a Georgia warehouse, building a serving culture, navigating growth, and preparing the congregation for its next risk.
It Doesn’t Take a Village
Christian Community Services Inc. unites two Nashville churches to help families pursue self-sufficiency through financial training, mentoring, matched savings, tutoring, and long-term relational support.
June 1, 2008
Learning the ABC’s
Brad Dupray explores how churches used The ABC's of Financial Freedom to teach biblical stewardship, address debt, encourage tithing, and help members experience practical financial change.
