The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood RoadSt. Louis, Missouri 63122
1-800-248-1930
“Connecting the Mission and the Money”
“What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake”
“Right and Wrong Ways of Doing Things”
Holding a golf club
Developing an investment plan
Recruiting volunteers for congregational activities
Raising Money for Your Ministry
St. Lucre Lutheran Church
“Yes, we care about people, but what we really care about is your money!”
Really???
How is money handled in your congregation?
Lead with your need? Present the budget and challenge
people to meet it? Conduct a pledge program to meet
the budget? Put money statistics regularly in
your worship bulletins and newsletters?
The Big Questions
What do we communicate as our mission or passion?
What are we as God’s people to be about--or how do we keep the main thing the main thing?
Heaven greeting Jesus after the Ascension
The angels greeting Jesus
A conversation that might have taken place
The surprising conclusion
“There is no plan-B!”
The Great Commission
All authority has been given to ME
When going… Make disciples… By baptizing… By teaching… And I am with you
always
The Need is Great
Largest Christian church in the world?
Largest Mosque in the world? What reaches twice around the
world and is getting longer? Well over half of Americans do not
attend church regularly!
The Need Continued...
People exaggerate church attendance by about 100%
About half of all churches in America did not add one new convert in the past year
More churches close (3,750) than open (1,300) annually
“Lost people lose” (85-1 ratio)
Why aren’t we reaching the unchurched?
Spiritual lethargy Growing inclusivism Growing disbelief in hell Busyness Fear of rejection Desire to be tolerant Losing the habit of witnessing
Why aren’t we reaching the unchurched? (cont.)
Lack of accountability Failure to invite We go to churches that do not
reach the unchurched THESE ARE REASONS BUT NOT
EXCUSES!
Profile of the Unchurched
Unchurched not anti-church 17 million+ people likely to accept
Christ; another 43 million are close (Ablaze Goal)
Most unchurched believe in heaven and hell
Most unchurched have a high view of the Bible
Profile (continued)
Would rather talk to a layperson than a pastor about matters of faith
Easter still a key time to invite Many wonder why Christians do not
invite them to church Most have a spiritual view of life
(1/3 of atheists make that claim)
The Rainer Scale
U5 - highly resistant, hostile (5) U4 - resistant but not hostile (21) U3 - neutral, perhaps open to
discussion (36) U2 - receptive (27) U1 - highly receptive (11)
The Need is Obvious!
The harvest fields are ripe
Many will be receptive
We are God’s instruments
The time is now
Twelve Keys to an Effective Church
Specific mission objectives Pastoral and lay visitation Corporate, dynamic worship Significant relational groups Strong leadership resources Streamlined structure and solid
participatory decision-making
Twelve Keys to an Effective Church
Several competent programs and activities
Open accessibility High visibility Adequate parking and land Adequate space and facilities Solid financial resources
Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction Levels
Success in the first six keys raises the level of satisfaction
Success in the second six keys lowers the level of dissatisfaction
Stewardship is a critical part of the picture!
Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.
Maturing stewards do the right things for the right reasons!
Managing money is only one part of stewardship
Time Talent Treasure Testimony Tissue Trash Totality
But managing money is critical to stewardship
Positive sharing of what the gifts of God’s people are doing
Developing a “narrative budget”
Connecting mission and money
Stewardship flows out of changed hearts
The Macedonian Christians
Not wealthy... But wanted to
participate “They gave
themselves first to the Lord and then to us…”
Connecting Mission and Money
Closely related Mission without
stewardship is impossible
Stewardship without mission is superfluous
LCMS Mission Statement
In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The LCMS is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world.
ABLAZE!
Praying to the Lord of the Harvest, LCMS World Mission, in collaboration with its North American and worldwide partners, will share the good news of Jesus with 100 million unreached or committed people by October 31, 2017.
“One Mission ABLAZE…Igniting the Flame”
Is your congregation’s mission statement one that makes your congregation an inviting and encouraging place?
Does your mission statement have an outward focus or an inward focus?
What about your congregation?
Mission statement?
Vision statement? Core values? Connection
between mission and money?
Practical Suggestions
Pray for lost people Remember that all people (also the
unchurched) are looking for transcendence, significance and community
Champion a face-lift at church Be more visitor friendly Create “side door” events
Practical Suggestions (continued)
Start a new worship service Revise church budget for outreach Make friends with the unchurched Hire a “paid guest” to give you a
candid evaluation of a visitor’s view of your congregation
More Practical Suggestions
Don’t just invite the unchurched, but offer to take them with you or meet them in the parking lot
Remember that those who just drop in are probably either in a “crisis situation” or “church shopping”
Make a Difference!
Connect Mission and Money in the right way
“Money really does follow mission”
“Be an ABLAZE mission outpost”
“One Mission ABLAZE…Igniting the Flame”
“What on earth are YOU doing for heaven’s sake?”
www.lcms.org/stewardship
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