What should we be doing to ensure the promises of kingdom finances flow to Christians in our flock and to our churches? read more

Are there certain aspects of the offertory in your church that are working or not working? read more

Do you have any responsibility in regards to biblical stewardship in the lives of your congregation members? read more

If your church is struggling financially, is it a money problem or a stewardship problem? read more

With all of your sermons on tithing and giving, are you practicing what you preach? read more

Some of these factors in how much pastors and church staff might come as a surprise to many. read more

How does your church handle offering time? Here are some suggestions to help boost your congregation's attitudes about giving. read more

There are many misconceptions that a lot of people hold about Christians and wealth. Here are only a few. read more

Here are some explanations for how the concept of tithing at many churches has become dysfunctional. read more

Here's why pastors must always be wary of the temptation to manipulate people, whether intentionally or not. read more

Many people believe that pastors have an affinity for talking about money in their sermons. Brandon Cox says the opposite is true, and that it's a necessity for individuals. Here's why. read more

A pastor's salary can be a source of contention for a church's congregation and its pastor. Here's why. read more

When your congregation hears a sermon on money, many tend to protect their wallets. Here's how to approach the subject a little differently. read more

We don't have to worship money in order to use it. Here are some qualities to consider when Scripture talks about money. read more

It’s common sense: Church leaders can’t expect people to grow in generosity if it’s not talked about.

While some leaders try to avoid the topic at all costs, the truth is most churchgoers aren’t as resistant to talking about money as we think. In fact, many already give to a variety of organizations and causes.

This shows there is a gap to fill between what we know the Bible says about money and our willingness to act on what we know.

Talking about money in church can be tough for the person on the platform and the person in the crowd. But it’s not impossible to do—and do well. You just need to better understand what to say and when to say it. read more

Most church leaders who don’t have a plan for engaging financial leaders in their church lack one for these two reasons:

1. The belief that engaging financial leaders will make them feel as if all the church cares about is their money or it shows favoritism to certain givers.

2. The lack of confidence to engage financial leaders in a way that encourages them to become significant givers.

However, as churches look to climb out of the tough times caused by the recession, we can no longer exclude anyone—including those with financial means—when it comes to developing a giving ministry. At the same time, confidence is developed when we know the proper techniques to use and the right questions to ask. read more

The worst time to preach on money is when you need some, pastor. The second worst time is when the church needs some.

The best time to preach on money is all the other times.

That said, here are a number of cautions for you to consider before walking into that lions’ den to tame the monster called greed.

1. Get your own house in order. Now, it’s possible to preach on prayer while knowing you have a long way to go in that respect. You can preach on good works and witnessing even if your record is spotty. You can do so because everyone has room for improvement in these areas. But when it comes to giving/stewardship, you can know when you are doing well. read more

During my first six months at Newport-Mesa as pastor, the church emptied out. You could have fired a shotgun in the sanctuary on Sunday morning and not hit anybody. Even the church finances began drying up. I had been faithful to build on the strengths God had given me, but I was a total failure.

That’s when I came face to face with another principle of godly leadership. It’s not enough to build on your own strengths, because they’re not enough to build God’s kingdom.

As a pastor, I’ve always found it difficult to talk about money, but I decided to bring the problem to the board. I asked the seven deacons to begin meeting me every Saturday at 6 a.m. for breakfast at a restaurant where we could have a private table. We would do three things: eat breakfast, pray and decide what bills to pay during the upcoming week. read more

A friend of mine just lost his job. He’s in his 50s with two kids in college, and he’s worried. Another friend just laid off a large number of employees. And a surprising number of recent college graduates that I know are not landing jobs.

That’s a negative headline—but it’s a true headline. There are some job openings, people are getting hired, and there is hope! But we must admit it’s tough out there right now.

I talk with pastors around the country every week and “church finance” is all over the place. Some churches are doing well financially, and many are not. Few are just holding steady, it’s more like holding on. read more

Overhearing other people’s conversations can be dangerous! I stood in our church office and overheard someone talking about our benevolence giving.

“But is it reaping a return? Do any of these people ever come back and be part of the church?”

That short moment of eavesdropping changed how I view life and church. Do you give in order to receive?

We are all guilty of it. We work hard all week, but if all we get are negative reviews, we feel cheated and let down; or we stay with a family because it is our job, and hope that when this crisis is over they will become stalwart members of the congregation. We give to a woman in need and then feel let down when she doesn’t bring her kids on Sunday. read more