Speaking Of Stewardship

This collection of twenty-three superb model sermons offers a wealth of biblical insight, practical wisdom, illustrations, inspiration, and helpful advice about the crucial themes of stewardship, giving, and the use of money and possessions in the church. Featured are sermons by active pastors in churches large and small, as well as internationally known preaching professors Fred Craddock, Thomas Troeger, and Charles Rice.

"This concise and readable volume makes a major contribution to our understanding of stewardship. Exhibiting careful and thorough research, John Reumann traces the broad history of the stewardship concept . . . to the present day. While Reumann demonstrates that the term has had many shades of meaning in its history, he also makes clear, helpful suggestions on the meaning of stewardship for today, especially by connecting stewardship with the economy of God. I commend this book to all pastors, seminarians, and laity willing to struggle with what stewardship means for our lives and our world as we approach the twenty-first century." -WILHAM O. AVERY, Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary "With his characteristic erudition-biblical scholarship, classical and historical reflection, and contemporary application-john Reumann shows how oikonomia has been a recurring theme in the Christian life. It appears now again as 'stewardship,' and Reumann' s exhaustive investigation will help the church respond to its far-reaching imperative." -NORMAN A. HJELM, Faith and Order, National Council of Churches "For many Christians the term stewardship means fund-raising. Paradoxically, with the advent of the environmental movement, it has acquired another sense: stewardship as care for the earth. In this learned but accessible book John Reumann shows how the modem 'secular' use of the term actually derives from the Bible and Christian tradition... He constructs a theology of stewardship that is at once faithful to the Scriptures and applicable to the lives of Christians today." -ROBERT L WILKEN, University of Virginia

This beloved bestseller—over 180,000 copies sold—has helped caregivers worldwide keep themselves emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and physically healthy in the face of the sometimes overwhelming traumas they confront every day. A longtime trauma worker, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky offers a deep and empathetic survey of the often-unrecognized toll taken on those working to make the world a better place. We may feel tired, cynical, or numb or like we can never do enough. These, and other symptoms, affect us individually and collectively, sapping the energy and effectiveness we so desperately need if we are to benefit humankind, other living things, and the planet itself. In Trauma Stewardship, we are called to meet these challenges in an intentional way. Lipsky offers a variety of simple and profound practices, drawn from modern psychology and a range of spiritual traditions, that enable us to look carefully at our reactions and motivations and discover new sources of energy and renewal. She includes interviews with successful trauma stewards from different walks of life and even uses New Yorker cartoons to illustrate her points. “We can do meaningful work in a way that works for us and for those we serve,” Lipsky writes. “Taking care of ourselves while taking care of others allows us to contribute to our societies with such impact that we will leave a legacy informed by our deepest wisdom and greatest gifts instead of burdened by our struggles and despair.”

Help implant the heart of giving within a congregation.

Stewardship is an idea that most of us don’t think about … until we find ourselves in personal financial crisis, or the nation does. And we may know that stewardship is about more than money, but the whole idea can be so overwhelming. How do we figure it out? How do we live lives of stewardship? Is it achievable? What does it mean? Through 366 Exploring Stewardship notes, profiles of individuals, notes on challenges to stewardship, quotes on stewardship from respected Christians throughout the ages, and other articles and helps, the NIV Stewardship Study Bible projects a positive picture of the privilege we have in managing what God has given us to give him glory and to build his kingdom. More than just money, this Bible emphasizes stewardly responsibility in all areas of life, including relationships, creation care, money management, institutions, and caring for the poor. It’s been pulled together with the purpose of changing perceptions about what the word “stewardship” means—not something intended to be draining and guilt inducing, but rather motivating, empowering, and uplifting. The NIV Stewardship Study Bible has been endorsed by Crown Ministries, Dave Ramsey, Good $ense ministries, the Barnabas Foundation, Prison Fellowship, and various other programs and ministries that seek to encourage responsible stewardship among Christians. This Bible is a natural “next step” for people who benefit from these ministries and take part in their programs. NIV ©2011. The New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible is the world’s most popular modern-English Bible—easy to understand, yet rich with the detail found in the original languages.

Is stewardship a useful way of regarding our relationship with our environment - or is it a dangerous excuse for plunder? Is it possible for us to be effective stewards? This book gathers together expositions of stewardship with criticisms of the concept and adds other contributions written especially for this collection.

Transform from leader to steward to drive growth and make an impact Inspiring Stewardship helps leaders drive sustainable development and growth by balancing short- and long-term objectives amidst competing interests. By examining a range of exceptional individual and organisational stewards alongside insights from quantitative studies, this book unlocks the contributions you can make to enhance your influence and secure your legacy. Profiles of leaders from Ratan Tata to Bill Gates illustrate what stewardship really means, and the attributes and characteristics of steward leaders. Are they fundamentally different? Where do they get their exceptional drive and resilience? Why do they shoulder such huge responsibility? Risks, rewards, motivations and actions are explored in depth to give you a real-world view of stewardship, and to show you how to embody these principles in your own everyday life. The notion of stewardship has never been more relevant to business than it is today, as managers struggle to balance present and future interests. This book provides clarity, direction and guidance for more purpose-driven action. Understand the concepts and principles of stewardship Discover characteristics of steward leaders across cultures Learn how stewards have shifted the course of their organisations Examine the capabilities that deepen organisational resilience Today, ownership of firms is increasingly fragmented, investment structures are more and more complex and the time horizons of investors, executives and owners do not always coincide. Inspiring Stewardship helps you break through the tension and drive sustainable growth through adaptability and good leadership.

ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award Biblical Foundations Book Award Winner Sandra L. Richter cares about the Bible. She also cares about creation. An expert in ancient Israelite society and economy as well as biblical theology, she walks readers through passages familiar and not-so-familiar, showing how significant environmental theology is to the Bible's witness. She then calls Christians to apply that message to today's environmental concerns. Richter is a master Bible scholar. Each chapter draws out a biblical mandate about humanity's responsibility to care for the land, domestic and wild creatures, and people on the margins. She is also a master storyteller. Well informed on present-day environmental challenges, Richter includes case studies that connect the biblical mandates to current issues. Though modern political alliances may tempt readers to sever Christian faith from environmental stewardship, in this concise and accessible book, Richter urges us to be driven by God's values instead.