Second Half Stewardship

What does the Bible actually teach about paying taxes? For many people, taxes feel like a burden—money lost to a system they may not fully trust or agree with. But Scripture offers a different perspective. In this episode, we explore how Christians can view taxes through the lenses of gratitude, stewardship, obedience, and trust in God's provision.

Drawing from Romans 13, the teachings of Jesus, and practical financial planning principles, they discuss why paying taxes is ultimately a heart issue, how wise tax planning differs from tax avoidance, and why gratitude should shape the way believers think about their finances.

Whether you're writing a large check to the IRS or simply wrestling with the role of government and taxation, this conversation will challenge you to think biblically about money and stewardship.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-99-paying-taxes

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Can Christians Pay Taxes with Joy? 00:57 Why Taxes Feel So Frustrating 04:01 Common Reasons People Resist Paying Taxes 06:07 Romans 13 and Government Authority 08:07 Paying Taxes as Obedience to God 11:41 Render to Caesar: What Jesus Said About Taxes 12:47 Stewardship vs. Tax Avoidance 14:25 Resentment vs. Gratitude 16:15 Wise Tax Planning and Charitable Giving 18:00 What's at Stake in Our Heart Posture 20:54 Setting Our Hope on God, Not Riches

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

What does the Bible actually say about debt? In this episode, we explore debt through the lens of Christian stewardship, discipleship, and contentment. From Proverbs 22:7 to practical wisdom about mortgages, lifestyle inflation, anxiety, greed, and generosity, this conversation examines how debt can shape our hearts, limit our freedom, and affect our trust in God.

Whether you're struggling with credit cards, considering a major purchase, or simply wanting to think more biblically about money, this episode offers practical and spiritual insight for Christians seeking wisdom and financial faithfulness.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-98-christian-debt

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Debt as a Discipleship Issue 02:11 The Connection Between Debt and Anxiety 04:01 C.S. Lewis on Giving, Comfort, and Luxury 05:38 Lifestyle Inflation and the Pursuit of More 08:19 Proverbs 22:7 — The Borrower is Slave to the Lender 11:03 How Debt Can Limit Obedience to God 13:13 1 Timothy 6 and the Love of Money 17:31 Is All Debt Sinful? A Biblical Perspective 19:24 Why Financial Margin Matters 21:13 "Make Debt Rare, Strategic, and Short-Term" 23:36 Practical Steps for Getting Out of Debt

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

When it comes to generosity, many Christians ask how much they should give—but an equally important question is where that giving should begin. In this episode, we walk through a biblical framework for prioritizing generosity, starting with the local church, then gospel-centered missions, and finally caring for those in need.

If you've ever wondered how to give wisely, faithfully, and with purpose, this conversation offers a clear and practical guide.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-97-giving-first

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe , and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Where Should Christians Give First? 01:22 The Biblical Target for Giving 03:15 Why the Local Church Comes First 06:14 What If You Don't Trust Your Church With Money? 08:20 The Second Ring: Gospel Missions 12:50 The Outer Ring: Caring for the Poor 14:40 Giving to Family, Believers, and Beyond 16:21 Giving Through Relationship, Not Guilt 17:44 Stewardship, Wisdom, and Open Hands

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

How much should Christians give? Is the tithe a rule, a starting point, or something more? Giving is more than a financial decision—it's an act of stewardship. In this episode, we explore how to approach charitable giving with both the right heart and wise strategy. Learn how to give in a way that reflects generosity while also maximizing efficiency, reducing taxes, and simplifying your record keeping.

We break down key strategies like qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), recurring giving, and donor-advised funds, along with practical tips to help you stay organized and prepared for tax season. Whether you're giving consistently or navigating more complex financial situations, this conversation will help you make thoughtful, impactful decisions with your resources. If you want to give faithfully and wisely, this episode will help you take the next step.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: https://secondhalfstewardship.com/episode/ep-96-giving-wisely

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Giving with Wisdom and Stewardship

00:28 From "How Much" to "How Do I Give?"

01:08 The Heart Behind Generosity Matters Most

02:15 Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) Explained

03:21 How QCDs Reduce Taxes and Income

08:07 Recurring Giving and Simplicity

10:42 Donor-Advised Funds: Benefits and Use Cases

14:02 Why Record Keeping Is So Important

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

How much should Christians give? Is the tithe a rule, a starting point, or something more? In this conversation, we explore the deeper biblical question behind giving—not just how much should I give, but how much should I keep. Looking at Scripture, the teachings of Jesus, and insights from Christian thinkers like John Wesley, we unpack the heart behind generosity and why giving is meant to break the power money can have over our lives.

This discussion explores the purpose of the tithe, the role of stewardship, and why generosity should flow from a joyful response to God's grace rather than simple obligation. We also examine practical ideas like setting lifestyle limits, prioritizing giving in your financial plan, and cultivating a simpler life that draws your heart closer to Christ. If you've ever wrestled with questions about tithing, stewardship, or how generosity fits into your financial life, this conversation offers biblical perspective and practical wisdom.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: https://secondhalfstewardship.com/episode/ep-95-christian-giving

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe , and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 How Much Should Christians Give?

00:25 Giving as a Response to God's Grace

01:03 The Better Question: How Much Should I Keep?

02:47 Old Testament Tithes and the 10% Baseline

04:02 Why Holiness Is More Than Hitting a Percentage

05:09 Tithing as Training Wheels for Greater Generosity

08:05 Simplicity, Maturity, and Growing Closer to Jesus

09:29 Would You Be Okay With 10% Less Income?

11:38 Where Should You Begin With Giving?

12:01 How Lifestyle Limits Shape Generosity

14:17 Give First, Save Second, Live on the Rest

18:25 What Happens When You Intentionally Live on Less

21:24 Breaking Money's Power Through Creative Generosity

21:49 Next Episode: Where Should We Deploy Our Resources?

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

Money promises security, comfort, and identity—but it can also quietly take hold of our hearts. In this episode, we explore the deeper spiritual reality behind wealth and why Jesus warned that we cannot serve both God and money.

The Bible teaches that generosity is not merely about helping others; it is a powerful spiritual discipline that frees our hearts from the grip of materialism. Join us as we discuss why money can become such a powerful competitor for our devotion, how Scripture frames the tension between God and mammon, and why giving is one of the most effective ways to break money's influence over our lives.

We also consider how generosity shifts our perspective from ownership to stewardship and helps us lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. If you've ever wondered why wealth can feel so powerful—or how to cultivate a heart that trusts God rather than money—this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

In the next episode, we'll explore an important follow-up question: how much should Christians give?

Andy Crouch's talk on Mammon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylfXtmkavzM

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: https://secondhalfstewardship.com/episode/ep-94-money-problems

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe , and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Why Money Has a Grip on Our Hearts

00:45 The Five Uses of Money: Live, Give, Owe, Grow

01:03 Jesus' Warning: You Cannot Serve God and Money

01:55 The Spiritual Battle Between God and Mammon

02:40 Money as "Stored Power" in Our Culture

04:18 Why Giving Breaks Money's Power Over Us

06:35 When Our Hearts Become Cold Toward Giving

08:08 Protecting Our Hearts from the Love of Money

10:04 Laying Up Treasures in Heaven

14:40 The Joy That Comes from Generosity

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

If you've prayerfully set financial finish lines and determined what to pass on to your heirs, the next step can feel even harder: talking about it.

In this episode, we explore how to approach these conversations with clarity, humility, and a biblical framework of stewardship. We discuss why wealth is a tool—not a trophy—how to start with values instead of numbers, and practical steps for inviting meaningful dialogue with your family.

Whether you've been having these conversations for decades or you're just beginning, it's never too late to lead with generosity, discipleship, and an eternal perspective. Learn how to pray as you prepare, explain your rationale wisely, and navigate emotions with grace—so your legacy reflects faithfulness, not just finances.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: https://secondhalfstewardship.com/episode/ep-93-hard-conversations

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe , and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Why Talking to Your Heirs Matters

02:15 The Foundation: Everything Belongs to the Lord

05:40 Wealth Is a Tool, Not a Trophy

09:10 When These Conversations Feel Hard

13:25 The Danger of Unearned Wealth

17:50 Pray as You Prepare

21:30 Start with Values, Not Numbers

25:45 Explain Your Rationale Clearly

29:10 Invite Dialogue and Ongoing Conversation

33:20 It's Never Too Late to Start

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

For many families, the default plan is simple: divide the estate equally and pass it on. But is that always wise? In this episode, we explore how to set thoughtful financial finish lines for your heirs—balancing stewardship, generosity, discipleship, and the realities of culture.

We discuss practical ways to determine how much is enough, how to bless children and grandchildren without creating spiritual or financial harm, and how gradual giving can reveal both character and readiness. Drawing on biblical stewardship principles and wisdom from John Wesley, this conversation challenges the assumption that more inheritance is always better.

If you want to steward wealth faithfully while strengthening your family for generations to come, this episode will help you think differently about what you pass on—and why.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: https://secondhalfstewardship.com/episode/ep-92-savings-heirs

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe , and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: How Much Is Enough for Your Heirs?

00:46 Why Setting Finish Lines for Heirs Is So Challenging

01:41 The Cultural Default: Divide It Equally 04:02 What a Financial Finish Line Actually Means

05:06 Treating Children Equally vs. Wisely

07:55 John Wesley on Wealth and Inheritance

11:08 Is Money a Trap for the Next Generation?

12:30 Blessing Heirs Gradually and Observing Stewardship

16:26 Practical Ways to Set Caps for Heirs

19:31 Deploying Resources During Your Lifetime

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

How do Christians know when they've saved enough for retirement? This episode explores retirement planning through a biblical stewardship lens. We discuss setting a prayerful "finish line" for savings, avoiding the dangers of unchecked accumulation, and pursuing generosity once your needs are met.

Drawing from Proverbs, James, the Sermon on the Mount, and John Wesley's wisdom on money, this conversation helps believers think faithfully about saving, giving, and trusting God with their resources.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: https://secondhalfstewardship.com/episode/ep-91-enough-savings

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

0:00 How Much Is Enough? A Discipleship Question

1:06 The Backpacking Story: Carrying More Than Needed

2:23 When People Have Already Saved Enough

3:23 Proverbs 30 — Neither Poverty Nor Riches

5:14 Pursuing Generosity After Hitting Your Goal

6:29 The Danger of Unchecked Accumulation

7:19 Foundational Financial Planning Principles

9:20 Treasures on Earth vs. Treasures in Heaven

13:02 John Wesley: Gain, Save, and Give All You Can

15:14 How to Determine Your Savings Finish Line

19:02 What to Do Once You Hit the Finish Line

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

How Much Money Is Enough? Setting Your Financial Finish Line

In any race, the finish line changes everything—and the same is true for your money. In this episode, we talk about setting a "How Much Money Is Enough?" for your lifestyle spending so you can avoid lifestyle creep, live with contentment, and steward God's resources with wisdom.

We'll also walk through James 1:5, why there's no one-size-fits-all budget, and how a 90-day finish line pledge can help you reset your spending with clarity and purpose. #christianstewardship #finance

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: https://secondhalfstewardship.com/episode/ep-90-finish-lines

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Why a finish line matters in money and life

01:00 Defining "enough" to avoid lifestyle creep

01:40 Start with wisdom: Why James 1:5 is the foundation

02:55 No one-size-fits-all: Principles over formulas

04:30 "Where does your money flow effortlessly?" (exposing heart motives)

05:45 Find your baseline: Know what you're spending right now

07:40 Stewardship mindset: We're stewards, not owners

09:05 Using the Financial Finish Line calculator (percentiles + perspective)

14:35 The 90-day Financial Finish Line pledge (practical next step)

18:45 Why finish lines matter for kids, grandkids, and spiritual growth

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.