Many preachers dread preaching about stewardship.
They say things like:
What is there left to say? Stewardship is the same thing year after year: give your time, talent, and treasure!
I feel so much pressure. The outcome of our parish budget rests on our stewardship campaign, and a lot of the campaign depends on my preaching.
I hate asking for money!
If we don’t bring enough money, what will happen to my income? Will I still have a job next year?
The Wrong focus Creates Dread
The problem with this thinking is it puts the cart before the horse.
In this case the “cart” is the outcome: the amount of time, talent, and treasure people give on which the parish budget and programs depend.
This cart contains idols of scarcity and desperation to achieve that which is beyond our control: what people feel they can, should, and are called to offer in God’s service.
In the end, that decision to give rests only between the listener and God—and we are not privy to, nor have control over that conversation.
Where to Focus Instead
Rather than be concerned about what people place in their metaphorical stewardship carts, we can be concerned about the “horse.”
That is, we can concern ourselves with what leads the way:
the spiritual needs of our congregation to love God first and most
to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength
to live in gratitude, placing all we have and all we are at God’s disposal.
When we place our discernment there, we’ll discover the gaps between what God offers us—and what we hold back.
A Guide to Refocus Your Stewardship Preaching
To that end, we’ve created this guide to alleviate some of the stress of stewardship preaching.
It includes 5 discernment steps you can complete in less than an hour, stewardship dozens of scriptures to inform your perspective and preaching, and an example of the process at work.
Download it for free below, and discern a stewardship message you believe in and are excited to preach.