Let’s be honest—whenever money comes up in church, something shifts in the room. You can almost feel the tension. For so many people, conversations about giving, tithing, or stewardship trigger more than just questions; they trigger emotions, past hurts, even skepticism.

Some people have been burned by churches or leaders who used guilt and manipulation to raise money. Others feel ashamed of their financial struggles and quietly wonder if they belong in these conversations at all. And many simply don’t get why money is even a “church thing” to begin with.

Many church leaders overlook the true impact of stewardship on their ministries, often limiting it to conversations about finances. That was certainly the case for Sam Gungaloo, a lead pastor of the Washington Conference of SDA near Seattle. When invited to his first Stewardship Impact Workshop hosted by the Christian Stewardship Network (CSN), Sam wasn’t initially convinced.

Church leaders increasingly recognize that financial challenges among members aren’t just practical—they’re deeply spiritual. Teaching financial literacy through a biblical perspective equips congregants for transformative, lasting change.

Like so many areas of life, the COVID-19 pandemic turned the investing world upside down. But not in the ways you might imagine. 

We've all heard the statistics. Money issues and arguments are one of the leading causes of marital stress and divorce. And this isn't true just outside the church - it's true in our congregations as well. Discussions about money surface all kinds of emotions, and many couples aren't equipped to deal effectively with the topic.

If you’ve been a Christian for a minute, you’ve been exposed to messages on giving to the church or requests to give to a capital campaign. There’s nothing wrong with messages on giving or fundraising for worthwhile ministry projects. The danger comes when giving is portrayed and communicated as a duty we Christians have to perform instead of a loving response to a God who’s been extravagantly generous to us.

Biblical stewardship is for every person in your church, not just those struggling financially. Explore how to teach stewardship with grace and practical next steps for people in every season.

Parenting is one of the most demanding and most rewarding endeavors a person can engage in. Trying to influence, shape, and mold another human being to grow up and be a good, productive, and responsible person is difficult. One day you’re the hero, and the next, you’re the villain because kids want to do their own thing like the rest of us. When it comes to teaching kids about money, it’s essential to know when, what, and how to do it because so many major life decisions hinge on it.

Our world is out to get us when it comes to having nice things. The aggression at which we are convinced to buy items reminds me of 1 Peter 5:8: 'Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. '

People often need more than a message to give more. Discover how biblical, practical financial discipleship builds confidence, freedom, trust, and generosity.

Over the past 20 years, I have seen the language and terminology in the Church around the topic of money change. Truthfully, I've even participated in this by trying to appeal to the people in our Church. As a person who is passionate about seeing people financially free, I've gone to great lengths to improve my communication about money to ensure people understand the information as well as my motivation behind it.

There is not one book, one teaching, one study that will fully disciple people in finances. Financial discipleship is a journey of a lifetime going ever deeper into learning and applying God's principles of managing money and wealth. That's why it takes different types of teaching and curriculum to move people along the journey.

The other day I was browsing Instagram when I saw a post from a page geared towards ministering to women. I’ve seen their posts many times before, and intrigued, wandered over to their website. I found a series of devotionals, and one of them piqued my interest.

Tithing causes all kinds of heated debates and arguments. Whichever side of this issue you find yourself, for or against tithing, it's essential to be informed. There are too many opinions regarding this critical issue, not enough knowledge, which should come from one source, the Bible.

In the marketplace, outstanding quality and excellent customer service build good reputations. Take either of these two components away, and a good reputation won't be achieved. This is also true for churches.

Pink Floyd got it wrong when they lyricized that "money is the root of all evil," but they weren't far off the mark. Financial issues are cited as the number one cause of divorce, and having helped more couples work through financial issues than I can count, I've seen how money can be a destructive force in our lives.

A single class cannot meet every stewardship need in your church. Learn how to create a multi-dimensional ministry that helps people grow spiritually and practically in every financial season.