In our last podcast, we addressed the stewardship conversation with two segments of our congregations: those in financial crisis (Lane 1) and those who are making ends meet but not making real financial progress (Lane 2). We identified their needs for stability and clarity and discussed how we might disciple them toward those goals.

The stewardship conversation with folks in Lane 3 looks very different than the other two conversations, and it can be a bit daunting. Often as pastors and leaders, we fall into one of two patterns around engaging our Lane 3 believers with the stewardship conversation:

1. We avoid the conversation because we believe Lane 3 folks already know more about handling finances than we do; or
2. We pursue the conversation with the goal of increasing giving to the church.

Both of these approaches fall short of discipling our Lane 3 members and rob them of the opportunity to learn from God's Word and grow in their stewardship. Many of these folks may actually have the gift of giving but are not deploying that gift because they haven't been discipled in stewardship. So potential kingdom impact isn't realized and we leave our Lane 3 people without a vision for the joy that God may have in store for them.

Podcast host James Lenhoff shows us the importance of these conversations with Lane 3 believers and guides us in casting vision for personal discipleship and kingdom impact.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.

This will be our last episode for a while. We are taking a break and don't know when we will return.

Leading the stewardship conversation in church can be difficult. It can come across as self-serving ("the church just wants me to give more"). Or we can miss the mark by focusing on one financial condition ("I'm not in debt, so this doesn't apply to me").

Biblical principles apply across all financial conditions. Principles of God's ownership, and values like generosity, gratitude, and contentment are relevant regardless of income and wealth. Big ideas - like being a faithful steward, a diligent earner, a prudent spender, a generous giver, a wise saver, and a cautious debtor - connect with our entire congregations. But these big ideas look very different in various financial situations. Our stewardship conversations must address the entire congregation, not just a segment in a certain financial state.

Some believers are in financial crisis. Struggling to pay bills each month, they accumulate more and more debt over time. They need hope and a plan to get to a place of stability. They likely need to make some big decisions and changes for a period of time to stabilize their cash flow.

Others are in a place of making ends meet month to month. They think they're doing OK because they're paying all the bills, but they're not making real progress. They're not growing their net worth with the resources God has provided. They're treating their money as their own, not as trustees of Another's assets. They need to get clear on stewardship principles and how to apply them in their situation.

Podcast host James Lenhoff provides guidance on speaking to believers in these two different financial conditions. Emphasizing a grace-filled, practical approach based on Biblical wisdom, James shows us how to disciple these believers in the area of finances. Next episode will tackle the conversation with a third segment of the congregation - those who have more than enough.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.

Fear of missing out. Fear of rejection, of not fitting in. Fear of not having enough. These and other worries drive much of our behavior.

Marketers and media know this. So they play on our fears to manipulate our decisions or pique our interest. And we find ourselves driven by the things that other people tell us we need to be afraid of.

This can lead to bad stewardship decisions. We fear loss, so we invest too conservatively and miss out on opportunities to multiply rfdesources. We fear not having enough, so we overwork and oversave - at the expense of relationships with others and with God.

Scripture tells us that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." There's a freedom that faith brings - freedom from fear and uncertainty. This is also the freedom that stewardship brings; if everything belongs to God and he is our provider, then we don't have to worry about the future.

Podcast host James Lenhoff explores the contrast between faith and fear and outlines a 3-step process for dealing with our fears in a way that ultimately leads to joy.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.