You can encourage your congregation to experience the blessings of good stewardship by conducting the Encouraging the Heart emphasis. The simple, three Sunday format has been used by churches with outstanding success and requires very little advance preparation and can be scheduled at any time of the year.
Okinomos, the Greek word used in the New Testament 20 times, means steward. A steward is one who is entrusted with the responsibility of managing the business affairs of a household. A word we use many times is “stewardship.” Stewardship is the practice of being a steward, placing commitment and responsibility into action. In a broad sense stewardship is life, not limited to any sphere of life.
Stewardship preaching is more than admonishing people to give material things; it also includes lifestyle, Christian service and worship. If we begin and end with money only, stewardship leaders will find the tasks difficult and discouraging. We need to start with commitment and stress a relationship with God, which is lived out in practical terms. Remember, when we can speak a stewardship word out of the context of a vital faith, we help people see “things” in a totally new way.
That’s why the Biblical Stewardship Group--stewardship leaders from all across the United States--has produced the stewardship emphasis package Encouraging the Heart. These emphasis materials will help church leaders plan successful, comprehensive, Biblically sound emphases. We’ve produced sermon outlines, drama scripts, Sunday School lessons and more, all for the purpose of encouraging God’s people to practice good stewardship and enjoy God’s blessings.
| Why the Theme — Encouraging the Heart? |
Christians will be generous givers when their hearts are encouraged to grow in grace, faith, love and commitment to Christ and His church. Meeting believers where their hearts are and asking God to touch and nuture them will allow believers to feel the meaning of generosity.
How thrilling it is when believers give with happy hearts. The motive of the Encouraging the Heart emphasis is to provide opportunity for our Christian family to feel good about giving. God delights in a cheerful giver whose generosity lifts the giver to a sense of good cheer and well-being because of giving. Giving is a feel-good, heart-felt Christian action. We all want this for one another as Paul wanted it for the believers in his day.
All of the Encouraging the Heart tools are free—yours for the taking! Download all of the Encouraging the Heart Tools right now:
The Pastor’s Resource Manual. A great starting point! The manual has all the basics: Sunday School activity suggestions, worship theme ideas, helpful background for preaching on stewardship, three sermons for each Sunday of the emphasis, a dramatic sketch, and sample promotional letters. You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free now.
Encouraging the Heart Overview Presentation. Need to explain the emphasis plan to your leaders? This PowerPoint presentation will help! The presentation includes background information included in the manual, plus a planning timeline.
Sunday School Lessons We’ve written Sunday School lessons and leader guides suitable for every class: adults, youth, children and pre-schoolers! You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free now.
Clip Art. Need artwork for your church bulletin, newsletter or Web site? We’re providing the attractive Encouraging the Heart logo in a variety of formats for your use! For tips and tricks on downloading, check out our download directions page.
 Letterhead. Part of the plan is sending out a letter to all members of your congregation explaining the emphasis. We’ve designed eye-catching stationary that will help you communicate your message. You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free now.
Poster. Get the word out about your stewardship emphasis using this great poster, available in black and white or color. Great for posting in classrooms, on bulletin boards and more! You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free now.
Commitment card. People will want to respond to the stewardship emphasis. Give them a tangible way to make their commitment with these cards. You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free now.
Worship handout. Just the right size for slipping into the bulletin! You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free now.
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