Stewardship Leader

What does it really mean to believe that God is enough? And how would our lives change if we stopped trying to earn His approval, control our circumstances, or find security in the things we possess?

In this second conversation with Dr. R. Scott Rodin, author of Enough: Finding Deep Contentment in an Anxious and Fearful World, Leo Sabo explores the connection between God's love, genuine contentment, and faithful stewardship. Scott challenges us to move beyond simply knowing that God loves us to personally experiencing His love and living from the assurance that we are His beloved children.

Together, they discuss how contentment is learned through daily surrender, how to trust God's presence during seasons of suffering and uncertainty, and why embracing our identity as stewards rather than owners brings freedom from the burden of control. They also explore how contentment transforms generosity and leadership, allowing us to serve faithfully without making our identity or security dependent on outcomes.

Discover why the path from scarcity to contentment begins not with having more, but with knowing and trusting the God who is enough.

Key Takeaways

God Himself is enough. Genuine contentment begins with experiencing His overwhelming love, not simply trusting Him to provide material needs.

Live from God's approval, not toward earning it. Scott challenges us to live as beloved children of God rather than constantly striving to prove our worth through accomplishments.

Contentment is learned through daily surrender. As Paul describes in Philippians 4, contentment develops as we repeatedly release our fears, anxieties, and desire for control to God.

God's love remains constant during suffering. Believing God is enough doesn't mean denying hardship, but trusting His presence and love even when circumstances are painful or uncertain.

Ownership creates bondage; stewardship brings freedom. Recognizing that everything belongs to God releases us from the impossible responsibility of controlling every outcome.

Faithfulness is our responsibility; the outcome belongs to God. We are called to steward what He has entrusted to us with excellence while trusting Him for the increase.

Contentment is the foundation of joyful generosity. When we trust God's provision for today and tomorrow, we become more willing to give freely and faithfully.

Steward leadership begins with personal transformation. A steward leader is first a faithful steward who has been called to lead—not someone simply practicing a different leadership technique.

Stewardship changes how we lead people and organizations. Understanding that our ministries, businesses, resources, and influence belong to God transforms our leadership decisions and relationships.

Generosity is an invitation, not merely an obligation. Giving allows us to experience the joy of participating in God's work rather than simply meeting an organization's financial needs.

Spiritual growth begins with receiving God's love. Before striving to do more for God, we must recognize our identity as His beloved sons and daughters.

Resources

Website and Resources: Enough-book.com
Buy the book: Official Book Website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Contact Dr. Scott Rodin - Contact Form

Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

Why does having more rarely make us feel like we have enough? Whether it's money, time, security, success, or control, the pursuit of more often leaves us feeling anxious, dissatisfied, and fearful about the future.

In this episode of the Stewardship Leader Podcast, Leo Sabo welcomes Dr. R. Scott Rodin, author of Enough: Finding Deep Contentment in an Anxious and Fearful World, to explore the spiritual roots of scarcity and our struggle to trust God's provision. Drawing from the Garden of Eden, Scott explains how the belief that God is withholding something from us fuels comparison, striving, and the desire to control our circumstances. Together, they discuss why contentment is essential to faithful stewardship and joyful generosity, how to distinguish wise financial planning from fear-driven accumulation, and why gratitude is a powerful first step toward freedom from scarcity.

Key Takeaways

Contentment is essential to stewardship and generosity. Without it, we struggle to faithfully manage what God has entrusted to us and give with genuine joy.

Scarcity thinking began in the Garden of Eden. The temptation was to believe God was withholding something good and that His provision wasn't enough.

The pursuit of more rarely leads to contentment because it keeps our attention focused on what we lack rather than what God has provided.

Comparison fuels discontentment by convincing us that someone else's circumstances, resources, or opportunities are better than our own.

Scarcity affects far more than finances. It influences relationships, health, ministry, leadership, and our expectations for the future.

The need for control is often rooted in fear. We attempt to manage outcomes rather than trusting God and focusing on our responsibility to be faithful.

The "when-then" mindset postpones contentment: When I have more, when circumstances improve, when I achieve that goal—then I'll be content.

Contentment is not complacency. It allows us to faithfully steward what we have today while trusting God for tomorrow.

Wise saving and financial planning are biblical, but our security must remain in God rather than our reserves, investments, or retirement accounts.

Gratitude is a first step toward overcoming scarcity. Jesus giving thanks for the five loaves and two fish reminds us to acknowledge God's provision even when our resources seem insufficient.

Resources

Website and Resources: Enough-book.com
Buy the book: Official Book Website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Contact Dr. Scott Rodin - Contact Form

Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

What if your business isn’t something you own, but something God has entrusted you to steward? In this second conversation with Chad Everett, Co-Founder and CEO of Purpose Factory, we explore what it means for business owners and marketplace leaders to see their work as ministry. Chad and Leo discuss the freedom that comes from exchanging ownership for stewardship, why faith and business were never meant to be compartmentalized, and how success changes when the focus shifts from controlling outcomes to faithfully stewarding what God has entrusted to us. They also explore a much bigger definition of legacy, one that includes not only financial wealth, but marriages, children, employees, influence, character, and faith. And for church leaders, the conversation offers a practical challenge: rather than seeing successful business leaders primarily for their financial capacity, intentionally disciple and equip them to become ministers in the places God has already called them to serve.

Key Takeaways

Stewardship is a lifestyle, not simply a financial practice. Business leaders are stewarding their companies, influence, families, personal development, abilities, and resources.

The shift from owner to steward can bring tremendous freedom. The business belongs to God; the leader's responsibility is faithfulness with what has been entrusted to them.

Stewards aren't responsible for producing the outcome. Their responsibility is to faithfully “plant and water” while trusting God with the growth.

Business can be a genuine expression of ministry. Marketplace leaders have opportunities to be salt and light among employees, customers, vendors, and communities that church staff may never reach.

Churches don't need to pull business leaders out of the marketplace to put them into ministry. They can equip and release them to minister where God has already planted them.

Compartmentalizing faith and work creates a fragmented life. Discipleship helps leaders become the same followers of Jesus on Monday that they are on Sunday.

Legacy is much bigger than inheritance. A faithful legacy includes the character, wisdom, faith, relationships, and spiritual influence passed to children, employees, and others.

Financial success alone is an incomplete measure of success. Chad's story of a billionaire who would trade almost all his wealth for Chad's family life illustrates the importance of recognizing what is truly valuable.

Churches should not build business-leader ministries as a strategy for increasing giving. Business leaders will recognize the wrong motive. The purpose should be to serve, disciple, and equip them.

Effective ministry to business leaders requires leaders who understand their world and can create trusted communities where they can honestly discuss the pressures and challenges they face.

Transformation happens from the inside out—beginning with a leader's relationship with God and extending into marriages, families, businesses, and relationships.

Community matters. Business leaders need relationships with people who understand the unique pressures of leadership and provide a safe place to be known.

For churches considering this kind of ministry, Chad recommends beginning with prayer, identifying the right leader within the congregation, and then taking the next faithful step.

Resources

Connect with Chad Everett on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-s-everett/
Email Chad - [email protected]
Learn about Purpose Factory Remnant - purposefactory.co/remnant

Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

Are you a pastor or church leader?

At Christian Stewardship Network, we are passionate about teaching the biblical perspective on finances so that you can teach your church with authority, confidence, and integrity. Our network is a group of passionate Christ-followers with a burden to teach and equip God's people in stewardship and generosity. Sign up for our mailing list to get new content directly to your inbox!

Become a member of our network to access our entire library of online courses, participate in monthly network calls, and more!

CSN is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Help us reach more churches with the message of stewardship and generosity. Support our mission through giving.

Business owners and marketplace leaders often carry tremendous responsibility and influence, yet many churches lack an intentional discipleship pathway designed to equip them for their unique calling. In this episode of the Stewardship Leader Podcast, Leo Sabo sits down with Chad Everett, Co-Founder and CEO of Purpose Factory, to explore why business leaders are often among the most under-discipled people in our churches and what happens when we see them primarily as financial supporters rather than ministers in the marketplace. They discuss the biblical connection between ownership and stewardship, how churches can create meaningful discipleship environments for business leaders, and the impact these leaders can have on their families, businesses, and communities when they are equipped to live out their faith in every area of life.

Key Takeaways

Business owners and marketplace leaders are often underserved by traditional church discipleship programs, leaving many feeling isolated and disconnected from their church community.

Churches miss significant ministry opportunities when they view business leaders primarily as financial supporters rather than individuals who need intentional discipleship and spiritual formation.

Stewardship is about far more than giving. Business leaders are called to steward their companies, employees, relationships, influence, and God-given abilities for His purposes.

Understanding the difference between ownership and stewardship helps business leaders recognize that their companies are resources entrusted to them by God.

Business leaders have unique opportunities to reach people in the marketplace whom pastors and church staff may never encounter.

Healthy discipleship environments for business leaders require trust, meaningful relationships, shared experiences, and biblical teaching that addresses the realities of leading a business.

The Bible should be the foundation for business leadership. Churches can help leaders connect practical business principles with biblical truth and apply God's Word to their everyday decisions.

Developing a business leader ministry begins with identifying a spiritually mature leader who understands the business community and can help guide and disciple others.

The goal of discipling business leaders isn't to increase church giving. It's to help them grow in their relationship with Christ and become faithful stewards of everything God has entrusted to them.

When churches intentionally disciple marketplace leaders, the impact extends beyond the individual to their marriages, families, employees, businesses, and communities.

Business leaders are ministers in the marketplace. Churches have an opportunity to equip them to use their leadership, influence, and professional experience to advance God's Kingdom.

Resources

Connect with Chad Everett on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-s-everett/

Learn about Purpose Factory Remnant - purposefactory.co/remnant

Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

Are you a pastor or church leader?

At Christian Stewardship Network, we are passionate about teaching the biblical perspective on finances so that you can teach your church with authority, confidence, and integrity. Our network is a group of passionate Christ-followers with a burden to teach and equip God's people in stewardship and generosity. Sign up for our mailing list to get new content directly to your inbox!

Become a member of our network to access our entire library of online courses, participate in monthly network calls, and more!

CSN is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Help us reach more churches with the message of stewardship and generosity. Support our mission through giving.

Why don't people give more? Is it simply because they can't afford to, or are there deeper barriers keeping people from growing in generosity? In this episode of the Stewardship Leader Podcast, Leo Sabo continues his conversation with Ron Sellers of Grey Matter Research to examine what the data reveals about generosity. They discuss financial capacity, why people dramatically overestimate the percentage of income they give, whether charitable giving competes with church giving, and the real reasons people say they aren't more generous. The conversation concludes with an important challenge for church leaders: generosity is part of lifelong discipleship, and helping people grow may mean guiding them toward faithful, achievable next steps rather than simply presenting an end goal.

Key Takeaways

Most donors aren't giving out of financial hardship. Only 6% describe their giving as a significant financial sacrifice, while four out of ten say it involves no sacrifice at all.

Higher income doesn't automatically produce greater generosity. When generosity is measured as a percentage of income, the differences between income groups are surprisingly small.

People understand their giving in dollars much better than percentages. This creates a significant challenge when churches talk about tithing because tithing is inherently percentage-based.

People substantially overestimate their generosity when asked to express their giving as a percentage of household income.

Four out of ten American donors believe they should be giving more than they currently do.

Giving to charities doesn't generally cannibalize giving to the local church. Ron's research shows the opposite pattern: people who are more generous to charity tend to be more generous to their churches as well.

Generosity is more than making a financial transaction. Prayer, volunteering, advocacy, and engagement with the organizations we support can all be part of actively participating in generosity.

For people who believe they should give more, the largest barrier isn't necessarily income—it's uncertainty about their financial future.

Other barriers include difficulty trusting organizations, uncertainty about whether a gift will make a difference, simply not thinking about giving, and acknowledging the need to learn greater generosity.

Churches need to communicate the why behind giving—including how resources are being used and the impact generosity is making.

Generosity cannot be effectively taught in isolation through an occasional sermon series or class. It is an outgrowth of spiritual maturity and needs to be incorporated into ongoing discipleship.

Parents have tremendous influence on future generosity. Adults who frequently saw their parents give to a place of worship as children are 238% more likely to give to one themselves.

Churches should consider how they're helping parents model and discuss generosity with their children rather than unintentionally removing children from opportunities to observe giving.

For someone currently giving 1%, being told simply to give 10% can feel unreachable. Helping people identify their current reality and take a faithful next step may be a more effective discipleship approach.

Generosity is a lifelong discipleship journey. The role of spiritual leaders is to help people continue taking steps toward greater trust, maturity, and faithfulness.

Resources

Grey Matter Research - greymatteresearch.com
Connect with Ron Sellers - [email protected]

Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

Are you a pastor or church leader?

At Christian Stewardship Network, we are passionate about teaching the biblical perspective on finances so that you can teach your church with authority, confidence, and integrity. Our network is a group of passionate Christ-followers with a burden to teach and equip God's people in stewardship and generosity. Sign up for our mailing list to get new content directly to your inbox!

Become a member of our network to access our entire library of online courses, participate in monthly network calls, and more!

CSN is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Help us reach more churches with the message of stewardship and generosity. Support our mission through giving.

Browse our online resources

Giving among evangelical Christians has declined significantly since 2020, but the numbers tell a much bigger story than dollars and percentages. In this episode, Leo Sabo talks with Ron Sellers of Grey Matter Research about declining giving and tithing, common assumptions about volunteering and political giving, and the strongest predictor of generosity: spiritual engagement. Their conversation reveals why stewardship cannot be treated as an isolated church program and why generosity must be understood as part of the larger process of forming faithful disciples of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

Giving among evangelicals has declined across virtually every measure since 2020.

Fewer evangelicals are giving to churches and charities, and those who do give are contributing a smaller percentage of household income.

Only about 10% of evangelicals meet the study’s definition of tithing, even when tithing is measured generously as giving 8% or more of gross household income.

Tithing becomes less common among younger evangelicals, falling to about 5% among those under 35.

The research doesn't support the idea that people are substituting volunteering for financial giving: 98% of evangelical volunteers also give financially.

Political giving doesn't appear to be replacing church or charitable giving either; only about 12% reported giving to a political candidate, party, or cause.

Spiritual engagement is the strongest predictor of generosity. People who regularly pray, study Scripture, worship, and participate in Christian community are significantly more likely to give and volunteer.

Stewardship teaching is less effective when it is isolated into an occasional sermon series, class, or giving initiative instead of integrated into a person's overall spiritual formation.

Financial inability is not the primary barrier to giving for most people; relatively few donors describe their giving as a significant financial sacrifice.

Churches may need to rethink how they communicate about tithing, generosity, and percentages, particularly as fewer people naturally think about their finances in percentage terms.

When stewardship is treated primarily as a precursor to asking for money, people can understandably interpret the conversation as fundraising rather than discipleship.

The larger opportunity for churches is to make stewardship and generosity a normal, healthy part of following Jesus, rather than a separate financial subject.

Resources

Grey Matter Research - greymatteresearch.com
Connect with Ron Sellers - [email protected]

Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

What if generosity isn't primarily something Christians need to be taught to do, but the natural fruit of becoming more like Christ? In this episode of Stewardship Leader, Leo Sabo welcomes back Jeff Ward, COO of Simple, for a conversation about the connection between discipleship, stewardship, and generosity. Jeff shares how God used lessons from his parents, early marriage, missionary support, and experiences in India to shape his understanding that everything belongs to God and that giving is an opportunity to participate in His work. Together, Leo and Jeff explore the joy of spontaneous generosity, why faithful stewardship sometimes means not giving, how well-intentioned generosity can unintentionally create dependency, and why churches should remove unnecessary barriers when people are prompted to give. Ultimately, the conversation points back to a foundational truth: generosity is not simply a financial behavior. It is an expression of worship and a fruit of a life increasingly surrendered to Christ.

Key Takeaways

Generosity naturally flows from discipleship because becoming more like Christ means becoming more like the God who gives.

God doesn't simply give us gifts; He gives us Himself, making generosity an expression of worship rather than guilt or obligation.

A generous heart is often formed through small experiences, faithful examples, and relationships over a lifetime.

Giving shouldn't be measured simply by whether the amount increases from year to year; generosity is ultimately about listening and responding to God.

Planned giving is important, but leaving room for spontaneous generosity allows us to respond when God presents unexpected opportunities.

Everything belongs to God, which means generosity is first a stewardship decision: the steward must listen to the Owner.

Sometimes faithful stewardship means not giving, even when a legitimate need exists.

Removing unnecessary friction from giving helps people follow through when they feel prompted to be generous.

Well-intentioned generosity can sometimes create dependency and prevent others from experiencing the dignity and joy of giving themselves.

Churches and ministry leaders should consider whether their generosity is truly helping people grow or unintentionally discouraging local stewardship.

Discipling people toward generosity begins by teaching God's ownership, His worthiness, and His generous character.

The ultimate goal isn't simply to produce people who give more, but disciples who increasingly surrender everything God has entrusted to them for His glory.

Resources

Simple Website - simpledonation.com
Connect with Jeff Ward - [email protected]

Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

What does discipleship that truly reproduces look like? In this episode, Leo Sabo sits down with Jeff Ward, COO of Simple, to explore the experiences that shaped Jeff's passion for disciple-making—from a life-changing encounter with God on a mission trip to Haiti to years spent training pastors and church planters in India. Together, they discuss why information alone doesn't produce mature disciples, the importance of modeling a life of faith, and how Jesus' example of living alongside His disciples remains the pattern for the church today. Whether you're leading a stewardship ministry, serving as a pastor, or investing in the lives of others, this conversation will challenge you to think beyond teaching and toward a discipleship that reproduces itself from one generation of believers to the next.

Key Takeaways

Mission trips often transform the person serving as much as those being served.

The ultimate purpose of missions is to see God receive worship from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Healthy churches are built through disciples who reproduce, not simply through evangelistic events.

Information alone does not produce mature disciples—transformation requires modeling and application.

Jesus made disciples by living life alongside people, not just by teaching them.

Discipleship happens "as you go," through everyday relationships and ordinary moments.

Modeling faith often teaches more than formal instruction.

Practical examples of marriage, generosity, humility, and evangelism become powerful discipleship tools.

Reproducing disciples intentionally invest in others who will, in turn, disciple others.

Faith that is not lived out will not naturally reproduce.

Vulnerability and humility create trust and point people toward God's grace.

Church leaders should model confession, repentance, and dependence on Christ rather than projecting perfection.

Stewardship and generosity are natural outcomes of growing into the likeness of Christ.

The goal of discipleship is not simply informed believers but faithful followers who make more disciples.

Resources

Simple Website - simpledonation.com
Connect with Jeff Ward - [email protected]

Stewardology Podcast - https://stewardologypodcast.com/

Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

In this second episode of our conversation with DeWayne McNally from MortarStone, we move from understanding the generosity data to putting it into action. Together, we explore why generosity is fundamentally a discipleship issue, how churches can intentionally guide people from a first gift to lifelong generosity, and what the healthiest churches are doing to build a year-round culture of stewardship. If you're a pastor or church leader looking to move beyond simply encouraging giving to equipping generous disciples, this episode offers practical strategies grounded in both biblical principles and real church data.

Key Takeaways

Generosity is ultimately a discipleship issue, not merely a giving issue.

Healthy churches intentionally help people take their next spiritual step, including stewardship.

Financial generosity is often an indicator of broader spiritual engagement.

Churches should celebrate and intentionally disciple first-time givers into consistent generosity.

Thanking and encouraging givers at each stage of their journey significantly increases long-term engagement.

Churches that outperform others have a year-round stewardship strategy, not just an annual giving emphasis.

Weekly giving moments are often more influential than occasional stewardship sermon series.

Communication should be tailored to different generations and stages of the giving journey.

Churches should cast a vision larger than the budget, inviting people to participate in God's mission.

Stewardship ministry should focus on what God wants for people, not what the church wants from people.

Effective stewardship combines biblical teaching with practical financial equipping.

The senior pastor must actively champion stewardship for it to become part of the church's culture.

Resources

Mortarstone Website - mortarstone.com
Get the Annual Giving Report - Access Here

Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

What do the latest generosity trends reveal about the health of discipleship in our churches? In this episode, Leo Sabo is joined by DeWayne McNally from MortarStone to unpack insights from the latest Annual Giving Report, based on giving data from more than 600 churches and over 2.5 million givers. Together they explore encouraging trends like increasing participation among younger generations while also confronting deeper concerns, including declining median giving, poor giver retention, and the growing dependence on a small percentage of donors. More importantly, they discuss what these trends reveal about the state of stewardship discipleship and why churches must move beyond fundraising to intentionally disciple people toward faithful stewardship and biblical generosity.

Key Takeaways

Giving is finally outpacing inflation, providing encouraging news for churches.

Participation in giving is increasing, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z.

Younger generations are giving more frequently, but their average gifts remain significantly smaller than those of previous generations.

The greatest challenge facing churches today is not fundraising—it is stewardship discipleship.

Most churches lack a comprehensive discipleship strategy that helps people grow from first-time givers to generous disciples.

Fifty percent of people who gave in 2022 did not give again to the same church by 2025, revealing a significant retention challenge.

Many churches excel at welcoming first-time guests but fail to acknowledge and encourage first-time givers.

Churches need a shared theology and common language around stewardship, tithing, offerings, and generosity.

Financial stewardship should be taught consistently, not just during annual giving campaigns.

Stories of generosity should reflect every stage of the giving journey, not just large gifts from wealthy donors.

Security and contentment are discipleship issues that directly influence generosity.

Churches must intentionally disciple younger generations if they hope to sustain future ministry.

Dependence on a small percentage of high-capacity donors continues to increase and presents a long-term risk.

Stewardship conversations are ultimately about heart transformation, not simply meeting a budget.

Resources

Mortarstone Website - https://mortarstone.com/
Get the Annual Giving Report - https://mortarstone.com/annual-generosity-report-landing

Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/
Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/