Stewardship

& Generosity

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much"- Luke 16:10

For disciples, stewardship and generosity are not simply terms for how the church fund-raises money. It is a way of life that recognizes that everything we have belongs to God, and is freely given to us so that we will freely give as well; we are priviledged to be managers of God's resources here on earth.

The Bible is filled with examples of God's generosity, and good ways to make the most of our blessings. The Bible also teaches about our personal responsibility to share with others, and warns against selfishness and misuse of God's blessings - especially economic resources. As such, John Wesley encouraged early Methodists to practice financial stewardship and generosity in all ways, and through all means: "Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can."

Therefore, we join together as one congregation to help all of God's children whenever and wherever we can. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes of one boy's lunch to feed the hungry crowd of thousands, we joyfully give of our portion so that God can do immeasurably more than we can imagine.

STEWARDSHIP: PRACTICAL RESOURCES

BUDGETS AND SPENDING PLANS

What's the difference between a budget and a spending plan?

Basically, a budget tells you where all your money went, and a spending plan tells your money where to go. Think of them like two sides of the same coin. A budget helps you understand your past financial responsibilities and habits, while a Spending Plan helps you plan your finances so that they align with your goals and dreams.

As Zig Ziglar once said, "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." Most people are aiming at nothing with their money, and so they live in a cycle of paycheck to paycheck that prevents them from saving for retirement and being charitable with their church and community. By developing a budget and spending plan, you assess where your finances are, and aim at where you want them to go.

EVERYDOLLAR - FREE APP FOR BUDGETING AND SPENDING PLANS

SAM - Smart About Money's 10-Steps for Creating a Spending Plan

FINANCIAL PEACE - Dave Ramsey's guide to creating emergency funds, paying off debt, and planning for retirement

STEWARDSHIP: SERMON RESOURCES

JOHN WESLEY'S SERMONS ON STEWARDSHIP:

  • "SERMON 50: THE USE OF MONEY" Read it here, or listen to it here.
  • "SERMON 51: THE GOOD STEWARD" Read it here, or listen to it here.


FUMCM SERMONS ON STEWARDSHIP

Contact Us for your copy of the manuscripts from the following sermons and series:

  • "I GIVE" (OCT, 2018): by Benji Van Fleet. A sermon on giving as a means of discipleship.
  • "CREATE: GENEROSITY" (APR, 2018): by Benji Van Fleet. A sermon on developing habits of generosity and charity.
  • "STEWARD" (NOV, 2016): by Benji Van Fleet. A three-week series on what stewardship is all about.