Steward-Raising Sustainability through a Biblically Bold Approach A Work in Progress !

1. Steward-Raising Sustainability through a Biblically Bold ApproachA Work in Progress! A new paradigm A steward-raising approach discipling Christians to be rich toward God

2. Why – our valuesWhat – our view of successHow to implement this approach A new paradigm in communication purpose and process

3. God and possessions • God and giving • God and asking

4. Jesus Feeds 5,000

5. Presuppositions • God owns all • Highest title • There are two Kingdoms • Earth • Heaven • Vital link between earthly possessions and eternal soul • We will be held eternally accountable • God cares about how we use our possessions

6. Love Prayer Possessions Belief Possessions in Scripture • 3 times more than love • 7 times more than prayer • 8 times more than belief

7. Possessions in parables • In 17 of 38 parables, Christ deals with possessions Possessions Other topics

8. Why does God spend so much time teaching on possessions?

9. Stuffocation • People, however, became convinced they owned it all. • They surrounded themselves with possessions and became stuffocated.

10. Hiding They didn’t want to hear about it in sermons, so the pastors didn’t preach it, and seminaries stopped teaching it.

11. The center was moved The Self came to replace God as the center of all things Self God

12. The Church moved God from the center in favor of cultural relevance Church God “In short, in society and in the Church the consumer is now in the driver’s seat.” - David Wells, Above All Earthly Pow’rs

13. Without God (the owner) of all, there can be no stewardship relationship • A steward requires an owner to serve • Without God in the center, there is only self • The steward relationship disappears

14. Per capita giving is low • General population < 1 % • Roman Catholics 1.5 % • Mainline Protestants 2.8 % • Evangelicals 4 %

15. It is broken from both a secular and spiritual perspective The system the Creator-King had established was broken.

16. Difference in Giving: Rich vs. Poor Statistically, the wealthier an individual, the less they will give in proportion to their income • Possible reasons • The poor are closer to social problems, therefore identify with the issues personally • Money is part of how the rich identify themselves, therefore are less likely to part with it Wealth Giving as % of Income

17. Steward Raising as a priority Craig Blomberg, in Revolution in Generosity raises the core question: why is it that “Christian ministries raising money do not stress the central biblical truths that giving is a part of whole-life transformation, that stewardship and sanctification go together as signs of Christian obedience and maturity, and that God will call us to account for what we do with 100 percent of the possessions He has loaned us.” (2008)

18. Crisis in culture and church • Our culture is increasingly materialistic, and generous giving has diminished.

19. Few Americans reach “maximum faith” in their lifetimes 10. Profound intimacy w God/others 9. Profound intimacy w God 8. Real surrender to His agenda, 7. See our brokenness; rid self Church programming is NOT Transformational 6. Struggle “doesn’t get better than this?” 5. Born again + active 4. Born again 3. Aware of sin & concerned 2. Aware of sin 1. Born unaware of sin

20. New Paradigm • Developing followers of Christ • Aligned

21. What – our view of success

22. What is being a good steward? Make the budget • Protective, non-risky • Efficient + effective • Well-honed methods and calculations Trust in God’s abundance • Open to God’s possibilities • Listen + step out in faith; bigger? • Be “the case” example Our control God limited Downward trend His control God unleashed Exponential potential

23. Being where God wants us to be Letting go and letting God

24. Make me Rich toward God • Becoming broken • Understanding scripture; growing in new ways • Evaluating life; stepping out in new ways • Growing to a life of abundance in Him

25. transformational steward journey Lord, what do you want me to do with YOURmoney? YOUR Time Lord, what do You want me to do with MY money? YOUR Talent MY Time MY Talent

26. God’s Abundance Kingdom View 6) Mature Steward 5) Generous Giver 4) Individual 3) Conformer Man’s Scarcity Org View 2) Modeler 1) Imitator Faith and Stewardship Maturity Stages: A choice of Two Kingdoms sustained joy stuff, entitled

27. What we’re responsible for? Secular economy = we make ourselves responsible for it ALL God’s economy = He takes responsibility for Kingdom Impact God’s economy = we’re only responsible for our part

28. Then, what we’re notresponsible for? WHO prays, volunteers, gives HOW MUCH they pray, serve, give HOW OFTEN they pray, serve, give WHAT they pray for, capacity stewarded, give to

29. Let’s compare focuses

30. Which metrics are key?

31. And what is each view’s end?

32. Where should our • approach map? Christian Nonprofits Why not here? Most fundraising agencies play here Steward- raising Approach Resource- raising approach Secular Nonprofits

33. How our model changes the process? Historical resourcing-raising Org agenda supports donates Ministry org Person $ Transformational steward-raising disciples facilitates partners Time Talent $$$ His agenda Ministry org Person

34. A transformation of the whole community • A “community of love” • each on God’s agenda • givers and receivers • all-in together; collaborating • all peers in God’s economy • inviting, not asking • The beauty of love • the power of sincere relationships • discovering beauty and sustaining joy • transformation & genuine stewardship giving God Person Other persons Org His story. Our stories. Participation > Engagement > Ownership Radical generosity – freedom from money Multiplication-- radical community loving & building

35. Getting there: The road to becoming rich toward God

36. How to implement this approach

37. The Road to Becoming Rich Toward God

38. STEP 2 – Common Message Four Shifts Christian Leaders can make to encourage grace-filled, Spirit-led generosity (Gary Hoag) Law • “have to” • reactive / compulsion Percentage • tithe • limited Obligation • planned Earthly • self • scarcity Love • “get to” • proactive Participation • spirit-filled generosity • limitless Opportunity • gratitude, Christ-like care • step out, counter-culture Eternal • God • abundance • caring at every opportunity

39. Step 3: Two-WayCommunication Org Steward

40. 6) Mature Steward 5) Generous Giver 4) Individual 3) Conformer 2) Modeler 1) Imitator Step 4: Conversations, new actions & Stories Steward Maturity Stages Organization Discipling stewards where they are

41. Ministry acts as a conduit between stewards to facilitate their development. Step 5 Ministry Steward Steward

42. Step 5 Ministry Steward Steward

43. Stewards are able to connect and share the stories and experiences God has blessed them with through Giving. Step 6 Stories Experiences Partnering Steward Steward

44. Channels

45. A steward-raising approach discipling Christians to be rich toward God Steward Development Facilitation (SDF) • WHAT we are trying to accomplish by helping stewards see where they are and where they want to journey? • WHO is being partnered and communicated with (the stewards)? • HOW to converse by building a community of stewards among and within organizations, as well as individuals.