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Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Date post: 31-Oct-2014
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This is from a clergy association presentation in the Petersburg, VA District of the United Methodist Church.
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Stewardship A Measure of Spiritual Fitness
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Page 1: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Stewardship

A Measure of Spiritual Fitness

Page 2: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Stewardship

Ask the Question:

Is there a difference between the concept of stewardship and generosity?

Discuss

Page 3: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Stewardship

Ask the Question:

True of False, Generosity begets generosity?

Discuss

Page 4: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Stewardship

Watch Blue Fish TV

And

Discuss

Page 5: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Stewardship

Brainstorm the subject of growing generous disciples:

What do you need to do personally to grow in generosity?

In what way(s) can you help lead your congregation to grow in generosity?

Page 6: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Stewardship

An NPR program on Generosity:

Generous behavior makes us feel good.(Chemistry in the Brain)

What is the theological basis for this?

Page 7: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Spirit of StewardshipPsalm 24: The earth is the Lord’s and all that is within it …

• There is no transfer of ownership. • God gives but retains ownership of the gift.

God gives us power to gain wealth

God is the source of our in-gathering

Gift must be passed on else it becomes personal property

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!!

Gen 12ff

Page 8: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

What Is Stewardship?Steward’ship

• Likely comes from old English for sty-warden or one who watches over the owner’s livestock (pigs)• Lesson learned here:

– The steward did not own the livestock– The steward cared for the livestock– The steward cares for the owner’s possessions both for the benefit of the owner and for the benefit of others who depend on the owner for their well being (see Luke 20).

• The steward has the immediate ear of the master and sits at the highest place in the household

Humanity sit at the highest place of God’s economic kingdom (Psalm 8)

Page 9: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Biblical Stewardship as Vision

The goal of stewardship ministry is to help God’s people grow in their relationship with Jesus through the use of the time, talents, {Spiritual

Gifts,} and finances God has entrusted them.Ask, Thank, Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry In Your Congregation, by Charles R. Lane

Task:

Transforming members of congregations into disciples of Jesus Christ

Shifting relationship from church to God

Story of two ways of giving?

Page 10: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

State of Our SoulsTwo questions:

How much money does the church need?

OR

God has blessed me in so many ways, how do I feel God is calling me to respond to those blessings?

Can we know what the soul is related to in each question?

Page 11: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Why People Give?

Three secular reasons:• Belief in the mission

–People give to what is effective• Belief in the leadership / staff

–People give to effective relationships• Belief in fiscal solvency of the organization

–People give when they see good financial practices

Page 12: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Three Pockets of Finances

Fiscally responsible people try to establish their “three legged stool” for financial security

$

Stock/Bonds Savings/Money Market

Estate/Insurance

“Three Musts:” Personal Safety / Security / Health

Page 13: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Three Pockets of Giving

Sources of wealth to give from

$

Dividend Income Pay Check / Income

Will / After Death Estate: Assign 10 % in will & testament

E.G. Tithe in all areas

Tithe is simply a measure of sacrificial commitment

Page 14: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Anecdotal Stories of Giving

Writing Narrative Budgets

*People today want to know what they are buying: Impact!

Doing Personal Witnessing

Having People tell why they give where they give

Having people witness to what they are going to do to grow in their giving

Page 15: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Chosen for Leadership

More often than not, people are chosen as leaders because they are perceived as invested persons, when in the end they simply talk

a lot.

Authentic Leaders Give Generously

Stewardship is a spiritual work that is lived out 365 days a year

Financial giving needs to be a measure for leadership

Put into leadership positions those who give generously their resources to the church

Page 16: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Clergy / Laity Disclose

Create an atmosphere of high expectations for discipleship and stewardship

Lead by example

Pastor fully discloses to leadership income and giving

Lay leadership expected to do the same

people will grumble -- their hearts will be exposed

Everyone will grow in discipleship

Page 17: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Discipleship Expectations

Discipleship• Disciplined reading of scripture and prayer daily• Fasting one 24 hour period monthly (then weekly)• Fasting regularly from things / relationships to which one

clings • Involved in weekly small group for study or prayer• Serve one mission area of the church• Weekly attend worship and regularly receive

sacrament of Holy Communion• Grow giving 2 % each year until reaching tithe • Have completed a financial program and plan

Page 18: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Notional Disclosure & Plan $45,804.00 INCOME

$2,800.00 Inv Div

$48,604.00 Gross (pre tax)

3% (local church and conference)

$1,458.12

5% (goal for 2012)

$2,430.20

10% (goal for 2013)

$4,860.40

Page 19: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Tithing in Bible

Tithe first fruits (gross and not post-tax) given to support the institutional structures of the religion

(e.g: Gen 28: 20-22 & Neh 10:37)

The three-year tithe given to care for the poor and needy every three years (Deut 26:12ff)

Gross aggregated giving is 13 1/3 % per annum

This minimum

Page 20: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Jesus Says:

The poor you will always have with you …

• Is he prescribing this to be a true and permanent state of our social life live together? That we can do nothing about it?

Or

• Is he describing the way it is because he knows we cling to the gifts God has given and fear to use for the reasons given to us?

Jesus wants our souls first and then our mammon

Page 21: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Ten Things To Do

1. Pastor first gets his / her act together

2. Enlist leadership to help build a “high expectation culture resulting in discipling transformation

• Membership class for all members (old and new)• Inculcate commitment within all new members before

uniting

3. Solicit weekly witnessing from members /staff

4. Incorporate on-going financial planning / stewardship classes as part of # 2

5. Preach directly on money once a quarter

Page 22: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Five More

1. Target all correspondence as marketing strategy• Use all methods of communication that fits demographics

and giving abilities

2. Spend more time with major donors• State of their soul requires this

3. Write ten thank you notes a week

4. Review individual giving monthly

5. Always prepare a narrative budget that tells the story of lives being changed

• Never again send out a line-item budget

Page 23: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Create Extravagant Generosity

Stewardship becomes a part of a person’s soul through their living generously every day

This requires a concentrated effort on behalf of the church to hold up the vision, encourage,

instruct, and hold accountable

Remember the task: Helping disciples make Jesus the center of their heart.

Page 24: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Change Hearts?

Sound Biblical Stewardship requires changing of hearts.

True / False ??

Want a stronger heart, then exercise it / Want an extravagantly generous heart -- then give extravagantly

until the heart is changed.

Page 25: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Giving

Core Theme of Stewardship

What, how and where people give of their financial resources is one true metric (measurement) for evaluating Transformation in that person’s life --

… for knowing that person’s heart

Page 26: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Fitness

Every effective organization has annual fitness reports

Congregation’s annual fitness report is the evaluation of that communities giving

The state of a person’s soul can be measured by that person’s spirit of generosity.

Pastors need to know what people give

Christ’s warning about riches is our model:

Our souls and pocketbooks are related

Page 27: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Pastor as Fundraiser

People want pastors to ask them to give:

• It makes them feel counted • It invites them to belong and take ownership

• It commits them to become a part of something larger than themselves

Everyone likes to be invited to the party

Page 28: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

12-Month Process

• Month One: Assess past giving performance (# giving units etc)• Month Two: Seek key lay-leaders support (and pastor as well)• Month Three and Four: Engage key congregational leadership

– Circle groups, small home groups, listening groups to talk about generous giving as spiritual discipline

– Seek guidance on actions to take to grow spirit of generosity

– Invite leadership to take ownership

– Do not use survey

– Develop and recommend a road-map for action

Transformation is concentrated 365-day/year level of workFrom: Creating Congregations of Generous People by Michael Durall

Page 29: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

12-Month Process-Cont

• Month Five, Six and Seven: Report findings and identify actions to larger church leadership body

– Focus on key leadership and begin to develop narrative budgets

• Month Eight and Nine: Begin focus on next levels of leadership– Repeat of what was done with key leadership

– Enlist this level to implement road-map to realize the program

• Month Ten and Eleven: Celebrate what is going to happen• Month Twelve: Worship

Transformation is concentrated 365-day/year level of workFrom: Creating Congregations of Generous People by Michael Durall

Page 30: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Transformation Process

Actions ResourcesFuture Reality

VisionCurrent Reality

Remember: It’s a journey from “here to there.”

Page 31: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Stewardship

A Measure of Spiritual Fitness

Page 32: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

What one new thing are you going to do this year?

Page 33: Extravagant Generosity by John Fair

Reading

Key pastoral leadership first read:

Ask, Thank, Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation, by Charles R. Lane

(theological basis)

Key stewardship leadership read: Creating Congregations of Generous People, by Michael Durall

(contextual reality and ways to work with it)


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