Resources

Short Articles:

• Stewardship Nuggets: 4-6 line Stewardship lessons designed for placement in newsletters and church bulletins. Covers a whole range of aspects of stewardship.
• “Reflections on Stewardship” – Electronic copies of articles written for Christian Courier - suitable for Newsletters (most 750-1000 words).

Next Step Primers:

• Intentional Giving -from Leftovers to Firstfruits* - a comprehensive step-by-step manual
  
• Broaching the topic of Stewardship and Giving During a Family Visit
• Mandate for Stewardship Committee/Team/Champion
• Stewardship Week

Powerpoint Series:

• Review, Reflect, Recommit, wRite-it-down -- 2004.
  3 short 4-5 minute presentations leading up to Consecration Sunday
  (for churches having an intentional giving program)
  Part 1 (3.0 meg)    Part 2 (1.6 meg)    Part 3 (1.9 meg)
• Review, Reflect, Recommit, wRite-it-down -- 2006.
  3 short 4-5 minute presentations leading up to Consecration Sunday
  (for churches having an intentional giving program)
  Part 1 2006 (0.7 meg)    Part 2 2006 (0.7 meg)    Part 3 2006 (0.7 meg)
• Preparing for Consecration Sunday - the 4 R's -- 2008.
  2 short 3 minute presentations leading up to Consecration Sunday
  (for churches having an intentional giving program)
  Part 1&2 2008 (0.7 meg)   

Books:

• Becoming a Firstfruits Congregation, Robert C. Heerspink (CRC Publications, ISBN 1-56212-208-8) [elders, deacons, church leadership, pastors]
• Faith and Finances - Helping People Manage Their Money, Gary Nederveld and Erica Chung (CRC Publications, 1-56212-570-2. [small group study designed to help individuals and couples struggling with limited resources]
• Firstfruits, Lillian V. Grissen (Barnabas Foundation, ISBN 1-56212-019-0; copies available form CSS)
• Firstfruits Living, Lynn A. Miller (Herald Press, 08361-3543-1)
• First Things First, Learn how to manage your money from a Christian perspective by putting first things first. Mennonite Foundation of Canada (Tyndale House Publishers, ISBN 978-0-9680829-6-6) [individual and small group study - ages >16]
• For the Beauty of the Earth, Steven Bouwma-Prediger (Baker Academic, ISBN 0-8010-2298-3) [environmental stewardship]
• Generous Living, Ron Blue (Zondervan Publishing House, ISBN 0-310-21090)
• God, Money and Me - Exploring the spiritual significance of money in our lives, Mennonite Foundation of Canada (Tyndale House Publishers, ISBN 0-9680829-5-5) [individual and small group study - ages >16]
• Living on Purpose, Christine and Tom Sine (Baker Books, 0-8010-6388-4)
• Master Your Money, Ron Blue (Thomas Nelson Publishers, ISBN 0-7852-7061-2)
• Money, Possessions and Eternity, Randy Alcorn (Tyndale House Publishers, ISBN 0-8423-5360-7)
• Mustard Seed Versus McWorld, Tom Sine (Baker Books, 08010-9088-1)
• Raising Smart Kids, Ron & Judy Blue (Thosma Nelson Publishers, ISBN 0-8407-3195-7) '[parents and parents-to-be
• Servant Leaders, Ben VandeZande - Part 4, pp.47-59 (Faith Alive/CRC Pubs) [deacons/elders/church leadership]
• The Joy of Generosity - Stewardship Resources for Your Church, CRC Publications, ISBN 1-56212-817-5) [small group study guides for all ages; sermon outlines; daily devotional guide also available]
• The Passionate Steward, Michael O'Hurley-Pitts (St. Bridged Press, ISBN 0-9731378-0-0)
• The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren (Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-21074-7)
• The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn (Lifechange Books, Multnomah Publishers, www.lifechangebooks.com)
• Three Simple Rules - Guaranteed to Improve Your Finances, Theo A. Boers (Morris Publishing, ISBN 0-9749105-1-1, detailed summary available  - or order through:  www.ThreeRules.org [For individuals and couples struggling with finances free worksheets ma be downloaded]
• Your Money Counts, Howard Dayton (Crown Ministries, ISBN 0-965111-0-7)

Worship Songs:

• "My Money Talks" - Songs for Worship - a CD by Bryan Moyer Suderman.  Besides theme song: "Generous God", "Prayer of Agur", "Take Good Care", "To Be Content", "I Can Give With Joy" and more.  Available form the Mennonite Foundation of Canada or www.smalltallmusic.com. 

Videos:

• Crown ministries has several video series - see pp.39-41 of their Church Manual--(519-633-0976 or www.crowncanada.ca [all ages]
• Managing God's Good Gifts, Mennonite Foundation of Canada (519-745-7821) [adults]
• Primary Focus - 2 episodes of particular interest: "Seasons on Contentments" & "For the Love of Money" (Back to God Hour - 905-336-2920) [>10 yrs]
• Stewards by Design, from the Presbyterian Church in Canada (also a study guide, 416-441-1111) [>16 yrs]

Sermon Outlines:

• Becoming a Firstfruits Congregation, Robert C. Herspink, Appendix A pp.129-136 (available from CSS)
• Joy of Generosity, Faith Alive/CRC Pubs.
• Reformed Worship, Issue #59 March 2001, pp.20-27
• Reformed Worship, Issue #88 "Series for the Season: All Mine; All Yours" June 2008

Study/Devotional Series:

• Crown Ministries: has a very comprehensive list of proprietary materials that you can purchase from them - see pp.39-41 of their Church Manual (519-633-0976 or www.crowncanada.ca
• First Things First, Learn how to manage your money from a Christian perspective by putting first things first. Mennonite Foundation of Canada (Tyndale House Publishers, ISBN 978-0-9680829-6-6) [individual and small group study - ages >16]
• God, Money and Me - Exploring the spiritual significance of money in our lives, Mennonite Foundation of Canada (Tyndale House Publishers, ISBN 0-9680829-5-5) [individual and small group study - ages >16]
• Gotta Have It, from FaithAlive/CRC Pubs. - (Handouts and Leader's guide) [youth]
• Mastering Money in Your Marriage, Ron Blue (Group Publishing - ISBN 0-7644-2241-3) [couples]
• Stewardship - Men's Life DiscoverLife - from FaithAlive/CRC Pubs. [adults],
• Wrapped in God's Love - A Milestone Ministry Resource, Canadian Interchurch Stewardship Committee - [infancy to 18 years – faith nuture & stewardship responses] – available by request – contact CSS GinG – also available as a free download by request (pdf file).

Offering Ideas:

Make the offering a more meaningful part of worship and a moment to learn more about how we can make a difference in this world.

• 52+ Offering Ideas - compiled by Firstfruits of the Barnabas Foundation (www.barnabasfoundation.com)

Periodicals:

• "Giving", and annual publication from Ecumenical Stewardship Center, 1100 W. 42nd St., Suite 225, Indianapolis, IN 46208-3383; email: ESC@indy.net