Download or read book Cultivating Generosity Giving What S Right Not What S Left written by Rem Stokes and published by LifeRich Publishing. This book was released on 2013-10-23 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At last! An insightful book about cultivating generosity from a generous lay leader and donor, and not from a professional fundraiser or clergy leader. Rem Stokes alone knows more about the psychology of donorsand has demonstrated that insight over more yearsthan a whole busload of ministers and consultants put together. If you want to understand how to change the culture of your congregation or group in the direction of abundance, not scarcity, this is your guidebook. Rev. John Buehrens, former president of the Unitarian Universalist Association Money pervades all aspects of our lives, but we dare not discuss it for fear of touching the proverbial third rail. The discomfort we experience may be that it reveals more than we want it to. All individuals fear rejection and want acceptance. And money becomes the agent of compensation, the hopium of the masses. But it is a false hope. Money is extrinsic and can only buy external things. Money simply cannot buy the things most worth having. Wherever there is pain or embarrassment, there is essential learning to be done. I believe churches should address the stranglehold that money has on our attitudes. Churches cannot be truly relevant to their members real-life issues without addressing the money dimension that underlies their attitudes and behaviors. You cannot compartmentalize a person into secular and spiritual categories without damaging his wholeness. This book addresses that issue head on. Churches need programs that let money permeate the environment in a wholesome and constructive way. Those programs should help overcome the reluctance to discuss money and cultivate a culture of generosity. This book provides a set of exercises and a rationale for churches to achieve these goals, moving members from self-interest to self-esteem.
Download or read book Contagious Generosity written by Chris Willard and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2012-07-03 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The general practices related to church funding aren’t producing the same results they have in the past. There is a general acceptance that something has changed but little talk or interest is coming from traditional church leader training sources such as denominational entities and seminaries. Pastors are largely left to their own devices to “figure this out.” They need a lifeline. While some churches are experiencing exponential growth, some churches - despite their best efforts - have been unsuccessful at moving beyond survival mode. Coupled with increased competition from other nonprofits and a decline in the commitment to give to the church first, churches risk losing the funding they need. A growing number of leaders are beginning to discover there is another way and are struggling to understand what makes one church generous and another not. There is a need in the market to offer a simple, working definition of “generosity” and reveal the “secrets” some church leaders seem to have simply stumbled upon which are resulting in unexplainable ministry growth and unprecedented church funding even in the midst of tough economic times. The content of this material was developed and refined by Jim Sheppard and Chris Willard through years of ministry leadership in the local church, consulting with church leaders across a broad spectrum of church settings, and through participation in and leadership of the Generous Church Leadership Community facilitated by Leadership Network. Of particular benefit will be the collection of observations and best practices gleaned during the Generous Church Leadership Community that originated within real-life church leadership situations and scenarios by highlighting specific challenges, methods, and successes.
Download or read book Tithing After the Cross written by David a. Croteau and published by Energion Publications. This book was released on 2013-07-03 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some in the church find it very difficult to talk about money, but it's a subject that cannot be avoided. The church needs money to continue to function. Missionaries need money to carry the gospel. As a result, however reluctant we are to talk about it, we have to do so. And when we do so, we often generate more confusion and resentment than cash. Some churches require that members be tithers before they can take positions of leadership. This in turn can result in a sort of spying by one believer on another. How much do we each earn? Is our giving equal to 10% of our income? On the other hand there are those who discount tithing, and consider themselves tithers because they give two or three percent of their income. They may say that they "tithe" 3% of their income. But what exactly does the Bible teach about tithing and how does that apply to us today? Is there a way for us to become grace-filled givers? Can stewardship, giving, and financing the work of building the kingdom become a joy rather than a duty or a source of dissension? David Croteau has written at length on this topic before. In this volume of the Areopagus Critical Christian Issues series, he undertakes a brief examination of tithing, stewardship, and giving. He starts by asking just what the Israelites were called on to give by the scriptures. He then follows through the various arguments in favor of tithing as a law applicable to Christians and shows how these arguments fail. Finally, he discusses a basis for gracious, joyful giving as God directs each of us. In just 96 pages (including all the front matter) you'll find your understanding of Christian stewardship changed. You won't find here a license for apathy or selfishness. Instead, you'll find a challenge to discover and do God's will in your finances as in every other area of your life.
Download or read book Going Deep written by Gordon MacDonald and published by Thomas Nelson Inc. This book was released on 2011-10-18 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The future of the Christian faith will not be determined by the number of people who fill the pews but by the spiritual depth of those people. Pastor Gordon MacDonald revisits the fictional New England congregation of his critically acclaimed book Who Stole My Church to deal with a new dilemma: What's his church's story? What is it doing that justifies its existence? The importance of these questions is anything but fiction. Through a series of e-mails and discussions with friends and parishioners, Pastor Gordon's search for their story leads him to realize that the future of the Christian faith, and thus the church, is at risk. As MacDonald says, "We seem to know how to get unchurched people to visit our buildings. We even seem to know how to draw them across the line into a declaration of personal faith in Jesus. But what we do not seem to know is how to cultivate spiritually deep people. Tomorrow's church could be headed for trouble." Deep people. People who possess spiritual awareness and maturity, people with solid, grounded, life-altering faith. MacDonald shows that the church needs people with a passion for God's presence and a desperate hunger to seek him above all things. Join Pastor MacDonald and his congregation on their quest to cultivate spiritual depth and grow into a community of believers whose hearts and minds are truly focused on God.
Download or read book So Amazing So Divine written by Isaac Watts and published by Paraclete Press (MA). This book was released on 1997 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A remarkably contemporary treatment of prayer, So Amazing, So Divine! was written by Isaac Watts, the great Christian teacher and hymn writer of the 18th century. He wrote over 600 hymns, many of which are still favorites. Watts guides the reader on a step-by-step spiritual pilgrimage into communication with the Almighty.
Download or read book Practicing Extravagant Generosity written by Robert C. Schnase and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 101 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Help implant the heart of giving within a congregation.
Download or read book Abundant written by Todd Harper and published by . This book was released on 2016-05-01 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hardcover Version
Download or read book The Generous Wife written by Lori Byerly and published by Karis Publishing. This book was released on 2004-11 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Would you like to have more intimacy and tenderness in your marriage? Generosity has a way of turning distance and disinterest into warmth and intimacy. Being generous is a skill that can be learned! This book is a how-to manual on generosity, containing a year's worth of ideas for building your marriage through prayer, romance, encouragement, practical service, communication, quality time, gifts, and bedroom play. Additional sections: Massage Holiday Ideas Gift Giving Date Ideas ... and more. Lori Byerly began e-mailing generous tips in 2001. Her daily tips and website material encourage generous wives around the world.
Download or read book Money Possessions and Eternity written by Randy Alcorn and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2011-11-15 with total page 493 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Who wants to settle for fleeting treasures on earth . . . when God offers everlasting treasures in heaven? It’s time to rethink our perspectives on money and possessions. In this thoroughly researched classic, Randy Alcorn shows us how to view these things accurately—as God’s provision for our good, the good of others, and his glory. Alcorn presents a biblical and comprehensive view of money and possessions, including the following: Why is money so important to God? Is prosperity theology right or wrong? How can we be liberated from materialism? What should we do about debt? How much does God want us to give? How can we best help the poor and reach the lost? What about gambling? Investing? Insurance? Saving? Retirement? Inheritance? How can we leave our children a true heritage? How can we use money in ways that God rewards? This practical and refreshing theology of money contains topical and Scripture indexes, a study guide, and five helpful appendices.
Download or read book I Like Giving written by Brad Formsma and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2014-02-18 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rich with inspiring stories and practical suggestions, I Like Giving will help you create a lifestyle of generosity. Choosing to live a generous life can transform you and the world around you. Something incredible happens when giving becomes your own idea, not something you do out of duty or obligation. When you move from awareness to action, miracles happen. As you make giving a lifestyle, you’ll realize you’re not only loving life more, you’re also creating a more generous world— a better world for all of us. Inside you’ll find tips about: • Thinking of giving as something you get to do, not something you have to do. • How to raise kids with a sensitivity to others’ needs. • Making a difference without being a millionaire. • Practical ideas for ways to give to people around you every day. I Like Giving shows you how to experience the joy of giving because we all have something to give. Beyond money or things, giving can be a listening ear, a touch, or simply the gift of time. Giving is living.
Download or read book Faith Driven Entrepreneur written by Henry Kaestner and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2021-08 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I'm excited about Faith Driven Entrepreneur. Anyone who is following the example of their creator God can find echoes of their work in this book." --Lecrae Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. But it doesn't need to be. God has a purpose and a plan for all those entrepreneurial dreams and creative gifts he gave you. The work you do today--the company you've built, the employees you work with, the customers you serve, the shareholders you report to, all of it--serves as an active part of what God wants to accomplish on earth. You are not alone in this journey. Join other faith-driven entrepreneurs as, together, we identify the values, habits, and traits that empower us to successfully build businesses, serve our communities, and faithfully pursue a loving relationship with God; read stories that exemplify how those values, habits, and traits unfold in everyday life; and discover the potential God wants to unleash through our work. Each book purchase includes access to the eight-session Faith Driven Entrepreneur video series, a discussion guide to encourage conversation among peers, and an invitation to join a Faith Driven Entrepreneur Group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs.
Download or read book A Revolution in Generosity written by Wesley K. Willmer and published by Moody Publishers. This book was released on 2008-05-01 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Give over $100 today and get this personalized state-of-the-art fountain pen free!" "Become a gold sponsor and your name wll be featured on our exclusive Wall of Fame!" "Send in your donation by December 31st and enjoy the benefits of giving on your next tax return!" Who hasn't heard fundraising gimmicks like these? Or, who hasn't used these gimmicks on others? As Wes Willmer writes, generosity is the natural outcome of God's transforming work in individuals when they are conformed to the image of Christ. Fundraising and giving are not simply drops in the bucket. Capital campaigns and raising funds go deeper than the money. They are spiritual activities in becoming more like Christ. A Revolution in Generosity is a work by some of the best scholars and practitioners on the subject of funding Christian organizations. As Willmer writes, "The foundation for realizing a revolution in generosity is understanding the biblical view of possessions, generosity, and asking for resources." With over twenty expert contributors, this book is a must-read for organizations striving to rid themselves of secular, asking practices and gain an eternal approach.
Download or read book Genius of Generosity Book Lessons from a Secret Pact Between Two Friends written by Chip Ingram and published by . This book was released on 2010-12-01 with total page 99 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Generous Justice written by Timothy Keller and published by Penguin Books. This book was released on 2012-08-07 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Keller explores a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace.
Download or read book Jesus Economy written by John D. Barry and published by Whitaker House. This book was released on 2019-01-08 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You know people around the world are struggling. A homeless man holds a sign that reads, “Anything helps.” A poor child lives in a slum swarming with flies. A refugee mother is on the brink of starvation. You ask yourself, “But what can I do about such big problems?” You’re looking for long-term solutions. John D. Barry shares incredible, and often shocking, stories about working among the impoverished and unchurched in the U.S. and abroad. And since Barry is a Bible scholar, Jesus’ Economy is also deeply rooted in the Scriptures. It is a personal, sometimes funny, often heartbreaking account that presents a revolutionary pattern for lasting change. Jesus' Economy is based on self-sacrifice. His currency is love. It’s called Jesus’ Economy because it’s about creating a spiritual and physical economy for those who need it most. Here is a thoroughly biblical and compassionate pattern for addressing issues of poverty and offering the hope of the gospel. Jesus’ Economy: • Shows how you as an individual can best encourage renewal in your community. • Demonstrates how your church community or any group can alleviate poverty. • Presents a unified plan for creating jobs, spreading the gospel, and meeting basic needs. • Focuses on community development and sustainability—lasting change, globally and locally. Jesus’ Economy is a call to address our own spiritual poverty—as people who can too easily become distant from Christ—and it is a call to address the physical poverty all around us in a smart and sustainable way. Jesus’ teachings show that with simple, everyday choices, you can make the world a better place and create enduring change. Here’s how to live Jesus’ economy—a currency of love. 100% of author's proceeds go to the nonprofit Jesus' Economy, to fuel the movement of creating jobs and churches in the developing world.
Download or read book The Giving Tree written by Shel Silverstein and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2014-02-18 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As The Giving Tree turns fifty, this timeless classic is available for the first time ever in ebook format. This digital edition allows young readers and lifelong fans to continue the legacy and love of a classic that will now reach an even wider audience. "Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. This moving parable for all ages offers a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein's incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator began with Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. He is also the creator of picture books including A Giraffe and a Half, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, The Missing Piece, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favorite The Giving Tree, and of classic poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Every Thing On It, Don't Bump the Glump!, and Runny Babbit. And don't miss the other Shel Silverstein ebooks, Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic!
Download or read book Propel written by Clayton L. Smith and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 133 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pastors and other church leaders often feel ill-equipped in the critical area of stewardship and giving. Propel: Good Stewardship, Greater Generosity fills that need by offering a comprehensive course in church stewardship for the pastor, stewardship leader, or seminarian. Author Clayton Smith gives clear instructions for the organization and implementation of annual campaigns, planned giving programs, memorial gifts, and much more. He offers an extraordinary depth and breadth of practical information along with the wisdom that comes with decades of real church leadership experience. “Every pastor should have a copy of Propel readily at hand all year long. It is as complete a guide to all phases of Christian financial stewardship as exists today. I highly recommend it because of the excellent content but also because of the author. Clayton Smith has been a student of financial stewardship all his life. I am thrilled that now others may learn from him. I wish I had this book forty years ago when I started out. Propel will make a difference in your ministry!” —J. Clif Christopher, President and CEO, Horizons Stewardship Company “As leaders, we often know we must do something differently, but we are not sure what or how. Clayton Smith propels us forward. This amazing resource identifies the many wayswe can lead our congregations into a bright future. Smith’s strategies and methods for generosity apply to every church leader, any size church, and all denominations. This is more than a stewardship or finance book. It helps build a culture in which Christians can become the generous people they are intended to be.” —Donald W. Joiner, Director of Operations and Stewardship, General Board of Discipleship “Propel demystifies the practices of generosity and stewardship in local congregations. It is both a scholarly guide for pastors and a detailed handbook for lay leaders. Smith covers giving of all varieties and offers proven techniques that work in churches of all sizes and contexts. Propel is a valuable guide for every leader, clergy or lay, who sees generosity as an inescapable element of Christian discipleship.” —Byrd L. Bonner, AIF, President, United Methodist Church Foundation "Clayton Smith in his wonderful book Propel: Good Stewardship, Greater Generosity, describes six different ways to help people grow in their giving." —Margaret Marcuson, Marcuson Leadership Circle
