Stewardship Leader

Christian Stewardship Network
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Daily

Stewardship Leader is the podcast for pastors, stewardship leaders, executive pastors, and church leaders who want to cultivate a biblical culture of stewardship and generosity in their churches. Hosted by Leo Sabo, President of the Christian Stewardship Network, each episode features practical conversations with trusted ministry leaders, pastors, researchers, and generosity practitioners who are helping churches disciple people toward financial faithfulness. Together, we explore the theology of stewardship, the principles of generosity, financial discipleship, church culture, leadership, and the strategies that move stewardship beyond fundraising and into lifelong spiritual formation. Whether you're launching a stewardship ministry, strengthening an existing one, or simply looking to lead with greater biblical clarity and confidence, Stewardship Leader will equip and encourage you to build disciples who faithfully manage all that God has entrusted to them.

  1. 4d ago

    The Most Under-Discipled People in Your Church (And Why It Costs You)

    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 - chad@purposefactory.coLearn about Purpose Factory Remnant - purposefactory.co/remnantBecome 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.

  2. Sep 22

    The Most Under-Discipled People in Your Church (And Why It Costs You)

    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.

  3. Sep 1

    Why Don’t People Give More? Understanding the Barriers to Generosity

    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.comConnect with Ron Sellers - ron@greymatterresearch.comBecome 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

  4. Aug 25

    Why Is Giving Declining? What the Data Reveals About Generosity and Discipleship

    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.comConnect with Ron Sellers - ron@greymatterresearch.comBecome a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

  5. Aug 11

    The Fruit of Discipleship: Stewardship and Generosity

    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.comConnect with Jeff Ward - jeff@simpledonation.comBecome a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

  6. Aug 4

    Discipleship that Reproduces: From Haiti to India

    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.comConnect with Jeff Ward - jeff@simpledonation.com Stewardology Podcast - https://stewardologypodcast.com/ Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

  7. Jul 14

    From Data to Discipleship: How Churches Build Generous People

    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.comGet the Annual Giving Report - Access Here Learn about the Christian Stewardship Network - https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/Become a CSN member - https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/

  8. Jul 7

    What Church Giving Data Reveals: Participation Is Up, But Something Is Missing

    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/

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5
out of 5
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About

Stewardship Leader is the podcast for pastors, stewardship leaders, executive pastors, and church leaders who want to cultivate a biblical culture of stewardship and generosity in their churches. Hosted by Leo Sabo, President of the Christian Stewardship Network, each episode features practical conversations with trusted ministry leaders, pastors, researchers, and generosity practitioners who are helping churches disciple people toward financial faithfulness. Together, we explore the theology of stewardship, the principles of generosity, financial discipleship, church culture, leadership, and the strategies that move stewardship beyond fundraising and into lifelong spiritual formation. Whether you're launching a stewardship ministry, strengthening an existing one, or simply looking to lead with greater biblical clarity and confidence, Stewardship Leader will equip and encourage you to build disciples who faithfully manage all that God has entrusted to them.

Information

  • Creator
    Christian Stewardship Network
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Christian Stewardship Network
  • Show Website
    Stewardship Leader

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