Second Half Stewardship

Do you find it challenging talking to your kids about money? What about your friends? Jesus invites us to be vulnerable with our struggles with other Christians. As well, he invites us into a lifelong journey of discipleship and multiplication. In this episode, we discuss how we teach our own kids to use money. We share how we use strategies like the envelope system to help our kids manage money d...

This week, Spencer and Austin finish their series with Michael Blue. We talk about the transformative concept of giving sacrificially, drawing inspiration from Acts 4:32.  Michael reflects on the potential pitfalls of individualism, cautioning against the danger of pride and ownership even when working diligently and living simply.  We explore the connection between grace, generosity, and the chal...

In this episode we continue our conversation with Michael Blue about living simply and making spending decisions with God's Kingdom in mind.  Explore the counterintuitive nature of simplicity in the context of financial stewardship and how it aligns with seeking first the Kingdom of God. Michael draws on wisdom from Richard Foster's book Celebration of Discipline and Freedom of Simplicity, emphasi...

In this episode, we have a special guest, Michael Blue, who is the director of discipleship for the Ron Blue Institute. He's also an attorney and a thought leader in stewardship. Join us as we dive into the heart of stewardship and explore the concept of "God owning it all" and how we respond as faithful stewards. We're discussing key insights from Michael's book, "Free to Follow." This video is j...

Welcome back to our two-part look at what Jesus teaches about money in the Bible. In this video, Austin and Spencer continue examining five key themes related to Jesus' teachings on money and possessions: 1. God is our provider 2. Relationship with Jesus is most valuable 3. We live exchanged lives 4. Money competes with God 5. Use money to care for the poor This video features many passages from t...

Was Jesus neutral about money? Austin and Spencer discuss what Jesus actually taught about money and possessions. Over the next two episodes, they will cover five themes that emerged from Jesus' teachings on this topic. Join us for the first three in this episode! We analyze several impactful passages where Jesus proclaims God as our ultimate provider, declares that a relationship with Him is infi...

In this episode, Spencer and Austin discuss how we can't be good stewards without believing that God is our provider. From "My body, my choice!" to "Don't tread on me!" society tells us to pursue self-fulfillment, while the Bible calls us to find contentment and joy in Christ.  They unpack Philippians 4:10-13 where Paul expresses contentment in times of plenty and scarcity, because Christ strength...

Austin and Spencer explore how the pursuit of success and financial independence can lead Christians away from their faith. Drawing insights from the biblical accounts of Solomon and David, they highlight the dangers of self-reliance and the importance of trusting in God as the ultimate provider.  Discover how breaking the link between success and personal gain can lead to a more meaningful and jo...

Pentecost, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, caused the early church approach to finances radically. In this episode, Spencer and Austin explore the cultural significance of language, individualism, and communal sharing in light of the Holy Spirit's work.  Discover how the first Christians lived with radical openness to God and each other and how their example challenges us to reconsider our own...

Spencer and Austin explore the deep-seated human fear of insufficiency and the quest for "enough." They draw insights from frugal multimillionaires and everyday individuals, revealing our vulnerability and desire for control.   The conversation centers on God's process of providing, with a focus on biblical accounts of Adam and Eve, as well as the Israelites in the desert. They explore God's uncon...

There is an alarming rise in the levels of anxiety in modern culture, especially after the pandemic. From a spiritual perspective, what is one way that we can press back against the fears that often entangle? We discuss how placing our trust in God's provision can bring rest and peace in the midst of life's uncertainties. Join Spencer and Austin as they uncover the choice between anxiety and faith...

How can Christians honor God with their giving? In this episode, we explore the crucial topic of giving with a focus on how Christians can honor God with their finances. We discuss the cultural trend of impulsive giving and advocate for a thoughtful process in determining where to give. Understanding that everything belongs to God causes us to consider the importance of stewardship and trust in Go...

Choosing where to give charitably can be incredibly overwhelming. Friends, churches, and organizations always have needs, and God regularly gives us opportunities to help those in need. How can you determine the best places to give charitably? Where does the Bible suggest that you give financially? Cameron Doolittle's book Joy Giving gives some helpful insights into ways to categorize giving decis...

Conversations about charitable giving often revolve around how much you should give. What if that is the wrong question to ask? What if a more important question is how much should you keep? As we explore a biblical view of giving, we begin with the belief that God is our provider. Then we live in response to His generosity towards us. If God has given us abundance, why should we not give abundant...

Giving money to church, missions organizations, or other charities can at times feel unsatisfying. Why is that? What causes us to feel apathetic towards giving? God desires that we experience fullness of life with Him, and this can come as we participate with Him in His work in the world through giving. Often times, however, we miss out on the joy of participating with God in giving because we are...

Gifts. Talents. Calling. These are all words that we regularly use to describe what we think that we are good at and where we should serve. To know when and where to use our gifts, stewards need to listen to God and listen to the body of Christ. When you login to your favorite social media site you might be greeted with a quick quiz that will tell you what kind of dog you are, or what the best job...

Every day people around the world struggle with nagging questions about their identity. Am I enough? Is the work I do fulfilling? Am I important? Essentially, we are trying to justify our existence apart from God. This inevitably will lead to internal striving and turmoil. It will drain our vitality in this life. What if we are asking the wrong questions? What if instead of asking, "Who am I?" we...

The easiest way to do damage to a relationship is through trying to control and manipulate. We all know this is true, but we often use our time and money as a way to control the people around us. What does it mean to be a generous steward of the relationships that we have? How might we use the time that we have with people or the money that we have to enhance relationships rather than control peop...

Choosing who to invest your time with is an important question for every steward? When you consider who you spend your time with, are you seeking the Lord for wisdom in those moments? Paul, in 2 Timothy, instructs Timothy to teach faithful men who will teach other faithful men. This passage is often used as we talk about discipleship, but what does it have to do with stewardship? How might we be g...

Who is the next steward?  Are they prepared?  How much is enough for the next steward? In the United States, estate planning typically follows this formula: Net Worth / Number of Kids = Amount to the Beneficiary. We rarely stop and ask whether that will be beneficial to the next generation. The Bible encourages us to pass along wisdom to those around us. This is especially important as we consider...

Almost daily, we are inundated with images of poverty that can desensitize us to the vulnerable in our midst. Often, instead of taking steps towards the vulnerable, sadly we can move away. However, throughout Scripture we see that God loves the vulnerable and wants to show his kindness towards them. The Bible highlights four groups of people that are especially vulnerable: the poor, the foreigner/...

We are constantly surrounded of images of the good life. From trends on social media to the mall to the university, our eyes and ears are bombarded with opportunities to live your best life. This vision of the good life distracts us from true life that is found in Jesus Christ.  The Lord, in Jeremiah 2:13 says, "for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living...

Jesus, even though he lived 2000 years ago in a time of greater technological simplicity, recognized the need to take time away from the hustle and bustle of life and connect with the Father. This is evident from the nine times that Luke recounts Jesus withdrawing to quiet places to pray. After spending 40 days alone in the desert Jesus was filled with the Spirit and dependence on the Father. Thro...

What does the Bible say about growing and passing on wealth? One of the most challenging money questions that we will continue to be faced with is "How much is enough?" Over our decades of reading the Scriptures, we have not found a verse where God gives us a clear number or percent. As faithful stewards, we need to ask the Lord "How much is enough" on a regular basis, and be ready to hear His wor...

How many times have you rejoiced when it was time to pay your taxes? This is a challenging question to consider, especially if we are not fond of what the government is doing with our finances. Taxes, however, are a sign of God's provision for you! When we pay our taxes, we ought to fall to our knees and rejoice that the Lord has given us income. Join us as we wrestle with a biblical view of payin...