The stewardship conversation in a church congregation is difficult. People are in different situations and that means different conversations are needed. For people in Lane 3 - those that are doing well financially and building net worth - it can be difficult to even engage them in the conversation. They may feel like they don't need stewardship teaching because they're doing well.

If stewardship were only about making money and building net worth, they'd be right. But it's about much more than that. When we understand that God owns everything and has entrusted into our care resources to use for his purposes, the importance of the conversation becomes clear.

Lane 3 folks face their own unique challenges and opportunities. Often, living in Lane 3 means making some sacrifices - sacrifices of family time for career advancement, sacrifices of all pleasures for the sake of accumulation. An unbalanced lifestyle like that can lead folks to wrap their identities up in possessions, career, etc.

Another reason it's difficult to talk to Lane 3 folks is that they assume we're talking to them because we want them to give to a certain campaign or increase their overall giving to the church. We make it about our vision for the impact they could have rather than the vision that God is giving them for that impact.

Podcast host James Lenhoff guides church leaders with some important tips about the stewardship conversation in Lane 3. And if you're a Lane 3 person, this podcast will give you some things to think about!

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.

We can only spend a dollar one time. But there are so many things we want to do with it! In our culture, we're not used to "either/or" - we want "both/and". And to get that, we make all kinds of unwise financial decisions.

When we realize that we have to make some adjustments, we tend to start with the assumption that our bills are all non-negotiables. But are they really? Some of our bills - even the fixed expenses - are actually discretionary; we can choose whether we want to continue them. And some of our variable expenses - like groceries and clothes - are not discretionary; we have to have them, though we might have opportunities for savings or even for postponement of some expenses in order to straighten out our cash flow.

Sometimes, making a spending plan work is a simple matter of a few minor adjustments. But some of us find ourselves in a position where small tweaks aren't going to get us where we need to be. Instead, we need major life changes - like a different job or a less expensive house or car.

Podcast host James Lenhoff helps us work through what kinds of changes we need to make in order to make life work financially. "Either/or" doesn't have to mean that we forgo all enjoyment. It means we make choices according to what we value most.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.

People are in different situations financially. That's why one-size-fits all conversations or teachings about finance so often miss the mark. If you're struggling under a load of consumer debt, encouragement to save for retirement isn't going to mean much. On the other hand, if you're debt-free, then cajoling about getting out of debt won't apply.

As we consider the path toward financial freedom, we need to start with understanding where we are. And as we lead those who are on that path, we need to begin with an understanding of their current situation.

These different situations can be summed up broadly into three "lanes". People in the first lane are in trouble and they know it - they're having trouble making ends meet and are struggling under a load of debt. They need to get to a place of stability, but minor tweaks in spending may not get them there. Often, they'll need to make some significant life changes to get where they need to be financially.

People in the second lane are often also in trouble but they don't know it. They're getting their bills paid, making required payments on their credit cards, and are in a generally stable place. But not a growing place. They're not making progress toward financial freedom because they're not prioritizing building net worth. Often, their understanding of their financial picture is limited to monthly cash flow, so they're not prepared for the unexpected and they're certainly not prepared for the later years.

Podcast host James Lenhoff addresses people in both of these lanes - not with guilt or shaming, but with grace and hope. In this episode of The Faithful Steward, James helps set tone and direction for people who need stability and clarity in their financial picture.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.