Talking
About
Money

Stewardship and Money

Stewardship is about responding to the call of God in our lives with all our gifts – time, talent and treasure. Even though it makes us uncomfortable to talk about our finances, what we do with our money is a large part of stewardship.

There are over 2,500 Bible passages that talk about money and material possessions – more than any other subject! When we don’t talk about money, it exerts a powerful influence in our lives – at home, at work, or in the church. It’s simply not biblical or healthy to be anxious, afraid or cynical about money.

If we learn to talk about money, like Jesus does in the Bible, it begins to feel more comfortable. By talking about financial stewardship throughout the year – both what we do with our money and how we can share it –through preaching, reporting, bulletins and children’s messages, we can connect our lives with God’s mission.

Find tools to help your congregation talk about money, use bulletin inserts, explore different ways to say thank you, analyze and celebrate the gifts given to your congregation with a generosity assessment, and learn how to set up legacy funds.

“We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be; all that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee.”

Book of Praise, #661

Learn about Different Ways to give $:

Digital Giving

Implement and promote online giving and giving apps to your congregation.

Pre-Authorized Remittance

Give intentionally, proportionally and faithfully through regular monthly offerings.

Bequests and Other Legacy Gifts

Set-up planned giving in your church.

Contents and Links

“We are surrounded by God’s benefits. The best use of these benefits is an unceasing expression of gratitude..”

John Calvin

A tithe is one-tenth or ten percent of something. In the Old Testament we find people instructed to give one tenth of the first fruits of their crops to God as an act of worship. In the New Testament, we find Jesus critiquing people for following the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law. Some were very careful to give their tithe but neglected to show love and compassion to their neighbour.

Today, Christians are encouraged to follow the spirit of the tithe and consider giving a portion of our income back to God as an act of worship and thanksgiving. This giving is not compulsory – or obligatory – but something we do out of love for God and love for our neighbour. Like a tithe, setting aside a regular proportion of our income keeps our hearts focused on God. You may decide you would like to grow your giving each year – working towards a tithe – or even surpassing it! Check out the ‘How Much Should we Give?’ bulletin for a chart which shows how much a weekly offering would be if determined as a percent of your income.

Using envelopes or the Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) program you can give to your church intentionally, proportionally and faithfully. PAR also helps provide your church with a dependable flow of contributions, even when you can’t attend. PAR makes budgeting easier and reduces paper work for churches. Click here to learn more about monthly giving through pre-authorized remittance.

Tools and Information for Congregations

Resources that Talk about Money (Free)

Presbyterians Sharing brochure

Presbyterians Sharing: Living Our Faith Together

Share how Presbyterians Sharing stewards gifts from congregations and individuals as it supports the overall mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Giving Guide

This insert is a springboard to discussion about giving. We are called to give regularly, cheerfully, gratefully and proportionally. Includes a weekly percentage giving guide that calculates a proportional weekly gift based on income.

Giving Patterns by Generation Chart

This informative chart highlights some of the events and trends that impact giving patterns in North America by generations as a whole. Includes insights into the formative experiences and the meaning of money for each generation.

Webinar:
Jesus talks about money; we can too.

Talking about money can feel scary. This webinar discusses how to talk about money from a Biblical perspective in a joyful and generous way. Did Jesus really mean we had to give away all we had to follow him? What does the tithe mean today? Starting with the principle that “money follows mission,” this presentation discusses how people are motivated to give and ways to motivate giving with sincere stories of lives changed.

For more information about Stewardship & Planned Giving, send us an email or call 1-800-619-7301. ext. 272.