Disciples Share Their
Resources for Mission
Module 6: Stewardship
Ken Sloane
Director of Stewardship, GBOD
LOVING
Formation Questions
• How have you experienced the
presence of God
• Who have you met with to work on
the Missions assignment?
• What are you learning about being a
spiritual leader?
LOVING
LEARNING
Scope
• Stewardship: Broad meaning
– Environmental
– Human Resources (leadership)
– D.C.M.: “Steward of Vision” ) ¶608
– More…all good applications
• My Focus: Giving & Generosity
LEARNING
Unlearning Stewardship
FALL
PLEDGE
CAMPAIGN
LEARNING
Stewardship & Relationships
• “It’s all about relationships…”
 With God, with Christ
 With local church
 Global church
 With all God’s children
 With money our stuff.
UMNS PHOTO BY MIKE DUBOSE
LEARNING
Wesley’s Heart for Giving
LEARNING
Jesus on Money & Possessions
• Taught more about this than any
other subject
• No single prescription
• Goal for us not wealth or prosperity,
but abundant life!
• Prayer:
– “daily bread”
UMNS PHOTO BY DAN GANGLER
LEARNING
Key Themes Hebrew Scriptures
•
•
•
•
Wealth is a Blessing
Importance of Community
Vocation of Human Beings
God is trustworthy
UMNS PHOTO BY MIKE DUBOSE
Essay: Thinking Theologically About Wealth, Including
Money; Carol Johnston; www.resourcingchristianity.org
LEARNING
Key Theological Questions
• How do we understand God’s role in
what we have?
• How much do we trust God?
Essay: Thinking Theologically About Wealth, Including
Money; Carol Johnston; www.resourcingchristianity.org
LEARNING
Fear and Scarcity Thinking
• Consider Jesus’ Feeding of 5000
– “We don’t have enough…”
– “We can’t afford…”
– Lesson about trust?
LEARNING
It Is All About Us
Journey begins by looking at ourselves
How do I see money?
Does money motivate me?
How much is enough?
Why can’t I seem to save?
Does money equal security?
Do I use money as a
medicine for unhappiness?
• Can money buy love?
• Can it buy “like”?
•
•
•
•
•
•
UMNS PHOTO BY JESS WAMOCK
LEARNING
Generosity and Joy
4 Keys to Cultivating Contentment
1.
2.
3.
4.
It could be worse.
How long will this make me happy?
Develop a grateful heart.
Where does my soul find true
satisfaction?
From Enough: Discovering Joy Through
Simplicity and Generosity, Adam Hamilton
(Abingdon Press, 2009)
UMNS PHOTO BY MIKE DUBOSE
LEARNING
Discovering Simplicity
5 Steps to Simplify Your Life
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reduce consumption, make do with less
First ask, “Do I need this?”
Use what have before buying new.
Simplify entertainment choices.
Are there major changes to make?
From Enough: Discovering Joy Through
Simplicity and Generosity, Adam Hamilton
(Abingdon Press, 2009)
UMNS PHOTO BY PAUL JEFFREY
LEARNING
Priorities and Boundaries
Insert “10 Apples” Video here
LEARNING
Discussion
In groups of 2 or 3, brainstorm ways
you could approach a discussion of
tithing with your congregation by
talking about priorities and boundaries.
– What’s most important?
– What do I need to say “no” to so I can
say “yes” to something else?
UMNS PHOTO BY MIKE DUBOSE
LEARNING
Questions?
LEADING
Five Key Elements
1. Self-Examination
LEADING
Five Key Elements
2. First Fruits Teaching
– “A brush fire is approaching your house
and you have five minutes to get out
(with your family and pets). What
would you carry out with you?”
LEADING
Five Key Elements
3. Personal Witness
• Find leaders who
– Get it
– Talk it
– Live it
• Make time for
personal witness
• Make it part of
your culture
LEADING
Five Key Elements
4. Clear Mission
– Reasons People Chose to Give
• Belief in Mission
• Regard for Leadership
• Fiscal Responsibility
UMNS PHOTO BY MIKE DUBOSE
LEADING
Five Key Elements
4. Clear Mission
– Clear & Concise?
– Do people know it?
• Weems & Berlin
– Read for Module 7
– Two Important Words
• “…so that…”
• Is there Fruit?
LEADING
Five Key Elements
5. High Expectations
– Jon Stewart, Daily Show
– "Being a Methodist is easy,”
Stewart said on his show.
“It's like the University of
Phoenix of religions: you
just send them 50 bucks and
click ‘I agree’ and you are
saved.”
LEADING
Five Key Elements
5. High Expectations
“Yet churches that ask something of
their members tend to have a more
engaged and active laity who feel
empowered for the work of the
ministry. Young people, in
particular, are eager to invest their
lives in something bigger than
themselves.” (Robin Russell, UM Reporter)
LEADING
W O R KS
!
!
SE L F EX AM IN
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Five Key Elements
H EE T : 5
C LE A R
M I S S IO N
HIG H
EXPECTA
T
M ENTS F
W H ER E
I
C HUR C H S MY
RI G HT
NOW ?
TI O N
O R S H IF T
IN G T H E
W H ER E
CO
W E B E A ULD
YE
F R O M N AR
OW?
FOC US : F
UNDR AIS
WHAT A
R E T HE
FI R S T A
C T IO N
STEPS?
Self-Examination
First Fruits Teaching
Clear Mission
Personal
Witness
HOMEWORK
High Expectation
F I R ST F R
UI
T E A C H IN T S
G
PER S ON A
L
W I T N E SS
K EY E L E
ING T O G
EN
WHO
C ON G R E
COLLAB
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3. ______
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I ON
!
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!
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LEADING
Funding the Mission
• Is there a mission worth funding?
– Is raising money just to keep doors open
reason enough?
– If your church
closed tomorrow
who would
notice?
LEADING
Spreadsheet vs. Narrative
Sample from Extravagant Generosity, The Heart of Giving,
Michael Reeves & Jennifer Tyler (Abingdon Press, 2011)
LEADING
Mission vs. Mortar
“The leader of the
missional church is
committed to make sure
ministry and mission are
not sacrificed on the altar
of mortar. In fact, I want
to make sure that the
mission line items that
benefits those outside
Gighamsburg’s walls
exceed all capital
expenses each year”
LEADING
Mission vs. Mortar
Ginghamsburg UMC, 2009
MISSION
34%
MORTAR
22%
Sudan
Project
Debt
Reduction
Facilities
Upkeep/
Capital
Personnel
Global
& Local
Initiatives/
Missionaries
Agencies
Personnel
MINISTRY/
DISCIPLESHIP
30%
Discipleship
Budgets
Missionary
Budgets
ADMINISTRATIVE
14%
Personnel
Administrative
Budgets
Personnel
Based on data provided in the book, Change the World
by Mike Slaughter (Abingdon Press, 2010)
LEADING
Mission vs. Mortar
Insert “Sudan” Video here
LEADING
Mission vs. Mortar
N
MISSIO
AR
MORT
ATIVE
R
T
S
I
N
ADMI
M
P
LESHI
P
I
C
S
I
Y/D
INISTR
LEADING
Missional Storytellers
Insert “Liberia2Louisiana” Video here
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
In 2010, United Methodists gave $6.2
billion dollars to local church
• On average, $121 million each Sunday
• That’s $12,000 every minute, 24/7!
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
Insert “Receiving the Gift of Hope” Video here
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
In a United
Methodist School
in Zimbabwe,
this child eats a
simple lunch
because through
our offerings we
reached him
together.
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
Could your
local church
do that every
day, for all of
these children,
on your own?
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
Before we can try to
“move the needle”
and increase giving
to the local church or
the connection,
people need to be
convinced that their
giving does make a
difference.
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
Twenty years ago, some United Methodists
had a dream that we could do something that
would have long-term implications for the
suffering of people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Together, we did what no one
church could do alone…
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
Many local churches face
tremendous financial
pressures because
expenses have increased
faster than giving.
• Staff Salaries…
• Healthcare costs…
• Fuel costs…
• Property Insurance
Connectional giving
requirements are harder and
harder to meet, and yet…
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
In 2005, when our people were
confronted with the human
suffering caused by the
Tsunami in Indonesia…
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
…and the devastation
inflicted by Hurricanes
Katrina & Rita in the US…
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
United Methodists gave
over $100 million, plus
thousands of flood
buckets, health kits, and
VIM Team hours to
help ease the suffering.
LEADING
Tell the Mission Story
Q: So why this
incredible response,
even in the midst of
these other financial
pressures?
A: When a need is
presented in a way
that touches people’s
hearts they will give.
LEADING
Closing Thoughts
There is no…
magic wand,
no answer in a box.
money tree,
Holy lottery number
Praying for a bequest
A good thing,
Not the answer to question:
“How do we grow a church of
generous disciples?”
LEADING
Closing Thoughts
Developing generous disciples…
Hard work,
Like growing a garden
Doesn’t happen in one day
Fruit harvest, well worth it
Time of change and uncertainty
One thing I know for sure
World needs Jesus Christ
LEADING
W O R KS
!
!
SE L F EX AM IN
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Five Key Elements
H EE T : 5
C LE A R
M I S S IO N
HIG H
EXPECTA
T
M ENTS F
W H ER E
I
C HUR C H S MY
RI G HT
NOW ?
TI O N
O R S H IF T
IN G T H E
W H ER E
CO
W E B E A ULD
YE
F R O M N AR
OW?
FOC US : F
UNDR AIS
WHAT A
R E T HE
FI R S T A
C T IO N
STEPS?
Self-Examination
First Fruits Teaching
Clear Mission
Personal
Witness
HOMEWORK
High Expectation
F I R ST F R
UI
T E A C H IN T S
G
PER S ON A
L
W I T N E SS
K EY E L E
ING T O G
EN
WHO
C ON G R E
COLLAB
1. ______
_____
2. ______
_____
3. ______
_____
1. ______
______
2. ______
_______
3. ______
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1. ______
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2. ______
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_
3. ______
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1. ______
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2. ______
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3. ______
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I ON
!
!
!
1. ______
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3. ______
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LEADING
Close in
Prayer