Stewardship Calendar

This includes month-by-month recommended resources and ideas for preaching, small groups, offerings, events, communications and more. This calendar can become a core component in a church stewardship initiative.

What is a Stewardship Calendar?

Barnabas Foundation's Stewardship Calendar is a simple plan to help your church become:

Committed to developing a life-changing stewardship mindset and
Passionate about managing the gifts God has given them

January

Preaching Series

As a rule of thumb, we recommend integrating whole-life stewardship themes into all sermons. However, we suggest you lead off the year with 2-6 stewardship-focused sermons because people are thinking about making a fresh start and are more open to lifestyle changes. Also, with year-end budget needs behind you, the common perception that stewardship sermons are really "fundraising" messages is removed.

Recommended Sermon Series:

           - Treasure Principle
           - Barriers to Serving
       - More sermon ideas

Devotions

We recommend providing daily devotions with a stewardship theme both to your members for their personal use at home, as well as to your leaders for use in their meetings. This not only reinforces the stewardship mindset taught on Sunday, but also helps people grow more passionate and committed about their walk with Christ during the week.

Recommended Devotions:

           -Igniting a Life of Generosity
           - What Do I Owe? Managing the Gifts God Gave You
           - Why Give?
           - 40-Day Spiritual Journey
           - Devotions for Leaders: Biblical Principles, Money Matters, Generous Giving

February

Small Groups/Classes for All Ages

We recommend following up the sermon series with stewardship-related classes to train people in practical ways, showing them biblical principles and how to follow them in day-to-day living.

Recommended Small Groups/Classes:

           - When the Game is Over It All Goes Back in the Box - (adults) *
           - Effective Stewardship (adults) *
           - Raising Financially Freed-Up Kids (parents of kids thru high school) *
           - Generation Change (teens) *
           - In God We Trust (children) *
           - More Options

* DVD series

March

Guest Stewardship Speaker

We recommend inviting a guest speaker at one of your worship services. A representative from a ministry your church supports would be an excellent choice, allowing people's hearts and minds to become more in tune with how God is blessing their generosity.

April

Send a Giving & Ministry Update

We recommend sending a quarterly "Giving and Ministry" update to every member of your church, highlighting what they have given year-to-date, what the church has received year-to-date, and how that compares with the church's ministry needs for the year. People will feel encouraged and inspired when you thank them and share how God is using their gifts to reach people for Christ.

Click here for a sample Giving and Ministry update

May

Make Offerings More Meaningful

With the school year beginning to wind down, some churches report that the offering time can begin to feel “routine.” Bring fresh energy to this important part of worship with these creative planning ideas. For ideas such as a "reverse offering" or "noisy offering for children", click here for 52+ offering ideas.

June

Pre-Married & Young Couples

Many young couples marry in the summer. Help them get off to a great start and avoid financial heartache with practical, proven advice.

Recommended Resource:

- Faith Based Family Finances
- Marriage and Children (Money Basics Series)

July

Send Giving & Ministry Update

(see April)

Vacation Bible School

Now is a great time to introduce stewardship themes during Vacation Bible School. Although most churches work within the confines of a "packaged" VBS curriculum, opportunity is available to incorporate stewardship through the week's offering. Choose a ministry or cause that young kids can identify with and get excited about! Talk about the ministry but also take time to explain "why" we give as Christians.

Continue to Blend Stewardship Themes into Sermons

In addition to preaching a stewardship sermon series in January, you might also use this time at the half-way point of the calendar year to consider how you can weave stewardship themes (i.e. ownership, contentment, generosity, service, etc.) into other messages for the remainder of the year.

Click here for ideas from other pastor's sermons

Click here to browse Barnabas Foundation's stewardship newsletter for more ideas.

August

Highlight Stewardship Articles, Tips, and Resources

With the excitement of the school year just around the corner, kick things off with a selection of inspiring stewardship verses, quotes, tips, and articles in your church publications - a great way to help your church form a year-round stewardship mindset.

Recommended Resource:

           - Barnabas Foundation Stewardship Spotlight
           - Stewardship Thoughts and Quotes
           - NIV Stewardship Study Bible
           - Experience God as Your Provider
           - The Treasure Principle
           - Article Series (Seven Habits of a Highly Effective Steward, Ten Financial Principles, etc.)

September

Missions Emphasis

The fall is a great time to highlight the stewardship of time, talent, and treasure through outreach opportunities, missions updates, and special presentations focused on your church’s involvement in bringing the gospel to lost and suffering people. This is also a great opportunity to host a mission fair.

Click here for a complete "how to" guide and ideas for Mission Emphasis

October

Send Giving & Ministry Update

(see April)

Annual Commitment Pledge Cards

The end of the calendar year is approaching, with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming soon. If your church is considering using an annual pledge system, we recommend that you ask people to make an annual pledge as an invitation to prayerfully consider their overall kingdom investments. This will help them grow in their trust in God as they commit their resources to Him.

Click here for a sample pledge card communication

November

Encourage People to Start or Update Their Will

Approximately 70% of Americans die without a will. Consequently, significant resources that could benefit families and ministries are instead diverted to estate taxes.

Click here to contact a Barnabas Foundation representative about how to help your members with estate planning

Promote Estate Gifts in Your Church

Find out how a foundation can benefit your church and its members. You can read about Barnabas Foundation's turn-key Legacy Foundation program designed to encourage estate gifts -- or invite your church leaders to watch a webinar presentation about this program.

December

Year-End Ministry Summary and Celebration

We recommend compiling a year-end summary of ministry results and highlights. Though this is a busy time, arrange a special time early in the month to celebrate the good things God has done through your church.

Additional Suggestions

Church Stewardship Webinars

We're excited to be able to share, though technology, video and audio recordings of our church stewardship webinars to help you grow generosity and develop stewardship as a core value in your church.

Click here to access our library of church stewardship webinars.