Stewardship Leader

What if your business isn’t something you own, but something God has entrusted you to steward? In this second conversation with Chad Everett, Co-Founder and CEO of Purpose Factory, we explore what it means for business owners and marketplace leaders to see their work as ministry. Chad and Leo discuss the freedom that comes from exchanging ownership for stewardship, why faith and business were neve...

Business owners and marketplace leaders often carry tremendous responsibility and influence, yet many churches lack an intentional discipleship pathway designed to equip them for their unique calling. In this episode of the Stewardship Leader Podcast, Leo Sabo sits down with Chad Everett, Co-Founder and CEO of Purpose Factory, to explore why business leaders are often among the most under-disciple...

Why don't people give more? Is it simply because they can't afford to, or are there deeper barriers keeping people from growing in generosity? In this episode of the Stewardship Leader Podcast, Leo Sabo continues his conversation with Ron Sellers of Grey Matter Research to examine what the data reveals about generosity. They discuss financial capacity, why people dramatically overestimate the perc...

Giving among evangelical Christians has declined significantly since 2020, but the numbers tell a much bigger story than dollars and percentages. In this episode, Leo Sabo talks with Ron Sellers of Grey Matter Research about declining giving and tithing, common assumptions about volunteering and political giving, and the strongest predictor of generosity: spiritual engagement. Their conversation r...

What if generosity isn't primarily something Christians need to be taught to do, but the natural fruit of becoming more like Christ? In this episode of Stewardship Leader , Leo Sabo welcomes back Jeff Ward, COO of Simple, for a conversation about the connection between discipleship, stewardship, and generosity. Jeff shares how God used lessons from his parents, early marriage, missionary support,...

What does discipleship that truly reproduces look like? In this episode, Leo Sabo sits down with Jeff Ward, COO of Simple, to explore the experiences that shaped Jeff's passion for disciple-making—from a life-changing encounter with God on a mission trip to Haiti to years spent training pastors and church planters in India. Together, they discuss why information alone doesn't produce mature discip...

In this second episode of our conversation with DeWayne McNally from MortarStone, we move from understanding the generosity data to putting it into action. Together, we explore why generosity is fundamentally a discipleship issue, how churches can intentionally guide people from a first gift to lifelong generosity, and what the healthiest churches are doing to build a year-round culture of steward...

Key Takeaways Giving is finally outpacing inflation, providing encouraging news for churches. Participation in giving is increasing, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z. Younger generations are giving more frequently, but their average gifts remain significantly smaller than those of previous generations. The greatest challenge facing churches today is not fundraising—it is stewardship discip...

Key Takeaways Lasting change begins with understanding people, not simply solving financial problems. Coaches and church leaders must learn to manage their own emotions before helping others navigate theirs. People move through six distinct stages of change, and each stage requires a different coaching approach. Pushing someone to change before they are ready can actually move them backward. Relap...

Key Takeaways Financial problems are often behavior problems, not knowledge problems. The emotional side of the brain processes information faster than the logical side, often driving financial decisions before reason can catch up. Budgeting is important, but budgeting alone rarely changes deeply rooted money behaviors. More financial education can create the illusion of progress without producing...

Key Takeaways Giving campaigns can produce short-term results, but discipleship produces long-term transformation Churches should focus on building a culture of generosity , not just funding needs Emotional giving can move people temporarily, but transformed hearts create lasting generosity Stewardship discipleship must move beyond inspiration into practical transformation Financial transformation...

Key Takeaways Financial brokenness often becomes the starting point for true stewardship transformation Stewardship begins with surrendering control and trusting God with the outcome Money is deeply connected to identity, security, and trust Tracking “net given” instead of just “net worth” reframes financial success through an eternal lens Accumulation alone is a poor scoreboard for Kingdom-minded...

Key Takeaways Biblical stewardship is a core part of discipleship , not just financial management Stewardship is more than giving—it is a lifestyle of faithful management Life Institute’s five financial priorities are: - Give - Save - Spend - Offerings - Luxuries Giving is motivated by: - God’s generosity - gratitude - worship - obedience - breaking the power of money Saving is not a sign of wealt...

Key Takeaways Stewardship is not primarily about money—it is about discipleship and worship Financial behavior change without gospel transformation can lead to misaligned desires and priorities Biblical stewardship must be rooted in a robust understanding of the gospel , not just practical tools Money is a means of serving and worshiping God , not simply meeting personal needs A gospel-centered ap...

Key Takeaways Most money struggles in marriage are not about knowledge—they are about communication and alignment Every individual brings a unique “money story” shaped by their upbringing, experiences, and beliefs Financial decisions are often emotional and relational, not purely logical Couples often misinterpret differences (spender vs saver) as conflict instead of complementary strengths A budg...

Key Takeaways What gets celebrated gets replicated Churches should celebrate spiritual decisions , not favoritism or status A first-time gift is a spiritual milestone and should be acknowledged Thanking first-time givers increases the likelihood of continued engagement Celebration should reinforce discipleship and assimilation Healthy celebration helps people see the impact of their generosity Gen...

Key Takeaways Most churches are serving three financial realities: struggling, stable, and surplus Roughly 70% of most congregations are financially struggling , making this the primary discipleship opportunity People in each category face different financial pressures, time horizons, and spiritual needs Churches must teach both spiritual truth and practical financial wisdom Core spiritual princip...

Key Takeaways Generosity discipleship begins in the pulpit. If churches want to develop generous disciples, pastors must intentionally teach what Scripture says about money and stewardship. Preaching about giving is not the same as preaching about money. Focusing only on giving limits the conversation. Biblical stewardship includes spending, saving, debt, investing, generosity, and trusting God wi...

Key Takeaways Financial discipleship extends beyond budgeting and generosity sermons. 316 Financial was created to bridge the gap between faith and finance. The bank commits to giving 10% of profits to faith-based organizations. Generosity should be woven into everyday financial life. Churches need to cultivate relationships with lenders early on. Preparation is key for churches navigating lending...

Key Takeaways Church leaders often overlook the topic of investing. Gen Z is starting to invest earlier than any previous generation. Gamification of investing platforms can lead to risky behaviors. Teaching biblical principles of stewardship is crucial for young investors. Young people have the valuable asset of time for compounding investments. Social media influences can mislead young investors...

Key Takeaways The Bible provides wisdom on investing and finances. Investing is not just about getting rich quickly. Fear and greed can negatively impact financial decisions. A steady, long-term approach to investing is beneficial. Understanding market history helps manage emotional responses. Dollar cost averaging can ease the emotional burden of investing. Target date funds simplify the investme...

In this episode of Stewardship Leader, the third in a three-part series, Dr. Russell James joins Leo Sabo to discuss practical ways to apply biblical principles to fundraising. Drawing on insights from his book, "The Biblical Fundraiser In Modern Practice: Helping Christians Enjoy Their Wealth," Dr. James provides guidance on engaging donors, designing meaningful giving opportunities, and helping...

In this episode of Stewardship Leader, the second episode of a three-part series, Dr. Russell James joins Leo Sabo to discuss practical ways to apply biblical principles in fundraising. Drawing on insights from his book, "The Biblical Fundraiser In Modern Practice: Helping Christians Enjoy Their Wealth," Dr. James provides guidance on engaging donors, designing meaningful giving opportunities, and...

In this first episode of a three-part series on Stewardship Leader, Leo Sabo and Dr. Russell James discuss the biblical foundation of fundraising, focusing on the role of wealth holders in Christian ministry. Dr. James shares insights from his book, "The Biblical Fundraiser In Modern Practice: Helping Christians Enjoy Their Wealth," exploring how understanding God's perspective on generosity can t...

In this episode of Stewardship Leader, Leo Sabo interviews John Pizaferro, founder of My Well Ministry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping churches save money on processing fees and reinvest those funds into their ministries. John shares his inspiration for starting My Well, the importance of transparency in financial stewardship, and how their nonprofit model allows for innovative tech...