Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple

Live Your Parable
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Get your church MBA just 10 minutes at a time! On Distilled, we break down complex church financial topics into simple, actionable insights that you can use today in your church. Brought to you by Parable Bookkeeping and Accounting, we make managing church finances easier, one episode at a time.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep. 36: 8 Church Budgeting Mistakes That Pull Money Off Mission

    Episode SummaryIf someone looked at your church’s spending from the past year, could they tell what your church cares about most? A church budget is more than a spreadsheet, an annual requirement, or a set of spending limits. It is a mission map—one that reveals whether your church’s dollars are genuinely supporting the vision God has given you. In this episode, Dan and Greg unpack eight common church budgeting mistakes, from treating the budget like a checkbox and separating financial decisions from ministry vision to budgeting alone, relying on unrealistic projections, and failing to leave room for flexibility. They also explain why churches need a prioritized wish list, the right level of budget detail, and prayer woven throughout the entire process. The goal is not simply to create a budget that balances. It is to build a financial plan that gives ministry leaders clarity, creates shared ownership, and keeps every dollar moving toward the mission. One Key TakeawayMost churches do not have a giving problem—they have an alignment problem. A healthy budget helps church leaders move from reacting to expenses to intentionally directing every dollar toward the ministry priorities that matter most. Resources MentionedParable’s Church Budgeting Toolkit — Practical tools developed from serving more than 500 churchesBudgeting for a Healthy Church — A resource on using the budgeting process to clarify and pray through church prioritiesParable’s upcoming church money book — Designed to help churches move from reactive budgeting to intentional financial leadership

  2. Jul 14

    Ep. 35: Could Someone Steal From Your Church?

    Episode SummaryChurch financial theft rarely begins with a mastermind and an elaborate scheme. More often, it starts with a trusted person, a financial pressure, and a system without enough accountability. In this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, we unpack why trust alone is not a financial control—and how churches can protect their money, their people, and the generosity that fuels their mission. You’ll learn why every financial process should involve two sets of eyes, how technology can create a clear audit trail, and which reports every church leader should understand. We also introduce the Core Four: four simple numbers that give pastors and ministry leaders a clear view of their church’s financial health without requiring them to become accountants. Strong financial controls are not about treating people with suspicion. They are wise guardrails that help keep trustworthy people trustworthy, expose potential gaps, and ensure every dollar stays on mission. One Key TakeawayGood financial controls protect your church’s money. Great financial controls protect your church’s people. No single person should have complete control over the church’s bank accounts, bookkeeping, spending, or reporting. Shared oversight and clear processes reduce temptation, prevent mistakes, and strengthen trust throughout the congregation. Resources MentionedChurch Financial Toolkit A practical checklist to help your church evaluate its financial controls, oversight, reporting, and overall financial integrity. Core Four Template A simple monthly reporting tool that helps leaders track four essential numbers: Get: How much income did the church receive?Keep: How much remained after expenses?Have: How much cash does the church have?Gave: How many people gave? Upcoming Parable Book Learn more about Parable’s upcoming book on building healthy financial systems, safeguarding your church’s mission, and keeping every dollar on mission.

  3. Jun 22

    Ep. 34: Is Venmo Putting Your Church At Risk?

    Summary: Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle can make church giving feel quick and easy—but convenience can come with hidden risks. In this episode, Dan and Greg from Parable unpack why peer-to-peer payment apps can create tangled bookkeeping, donor tracking issues, tax confusion, privacy concerns, and transparency gaps for churches. They also explain the difference between personal Venmo accounts and Venmo for charities, why dedicated church giving platforms are usually safer, and how churches can transition to better systems without making giving harder for their people. One Key Takeaway: Convenience should never come at the cost of clarity, accountability, and trust. Churches need giving systems that protect donors, simplify bookkeeping, and help every dollar stay on mission. Resources Mentioned: Parable Financial Summit and budgeting toolkit: liveyourparable.com/financial-summit Recommended church giving platforms mentioned: Planning Center, Pushpay, Tithe.ly, and Overflow

  4. Jun 16

    Ep. 33: 3 Mid-Year Church Money Moves That Could Make or Break the Year

    Episode SummaryIn this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Kira and Morgan unpack 3 Mid-Year Church Money Moves That Could Make or Break the Year. The conversation walks church leaders through how to pause at the halfway point of the year, review giving trends, check cash health, and realign spending with ministry priorities. Instead of treating a mid-year financial review like a dusty accounting chore, this episode reframes it as a stewardship moment: a chance to avoid December surprises, make confident pivots, and ensure the budget still serves the mission. One Key TakeawayA mid-year financial review is not just about the numbers. It is about making sure every dollar is helping your church move toward lives changed, ministry done well, and financially healthy decisions for the second half of the year. Resources MentionedThe episode mentions Parable’s budgeting and church financial toolkits, built from experience serving over 500 churches. Listeners can download them at: liveyourparable.com/financial-summit

  5. Apr 22

    Ep. 32: Every Dollar On Mission. How to Actually Understand Your Church Finances Pt.2

    SummaryMany pastors feel overwhelmed when they look at their church’s financial reports. Spreadsheets are full of unfamiliar categories, long account lists, and numbers that feel difficult to interpret. In this episode of Distilled: Church Finances Made Simple, Dan and Kira explain how church leaders can simplify financial oversight without becoming accountants. Instead of getting lost in complicated reports, they introduce a simple framework that helps pastors understand the financial health of their church at a glance. The framework focuses on four core questions: How much did we get? How much did we keep? How much do we have? And how many people gave? By tracking these numbers consistently month-to-month and comparing trends across a 13-month window, pastors can gain a clear pulse on their church’s financial health. The goal isn’t mastering accounting theory. It’s creating clarity so leaders can steward resources wisely and focus their energy on ministry. Key TakeawayYou don’t need to understand every financial detail to lead well. Tracking a few consistent numbers over time can give pastors a clear view of their church’s financial health. Resources MentionedThe “Core Four” episode of Distilled (deep dive into Get, Keep, Have, and Gave)

  6. Apr 13

    Ep. 31: Less Math. More Ministry. How to Actually Understand Your Church Finances Pt.1

    Episode SummaryIn this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Kira and Dan unpack what it really means to move from “less math” to “more ministry.” Many pastors feel stuck managing finances instead of leading people, but the real issue isn’t just money, it’s a lack of clarity and systems. This conversation reframes church finances as a tool to fuel mission, not compete with it. By aligning every dollar with the church’s purpose and adopting a higher-level, “CFO mindset,” leaders can move out of the weeds of bookkeeping and into strategic, forward-looking decision-making. Through practical examples and real stories, Dan and Kira show how understanding your finances empowers better stewardship, builds trust, and ultimately accelerates ministry impact, not slows it down. One Key TakeawayIf you want more ministry, you have to identify where you’re stuck in “more math.” Take time this week to pinpoint the areas where finances are creating confusion, friction, or distraction, whether that’s clunky systems, lack of clarity, or avoidance altogether. Awareness is the first step toward building systems that actually support your mission. Resources MentionedParable (church financial systems & support)Distilled Podcast (for ongoing church finance insights)

  7. Mar 23

    Ep. 30: What $18 Billion in Church Giving Reveals (That Most Pastors Are Missing)

    Episode SummaryWhat can $18 billion in real church giving data teach us about generosity? In this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Kira and Dan sit down with DeWayne McNally from Mortarstone to unpack insights from one of the most comprehensive generosity studies ever conducted—spanning 661 churches, millions of households, and nearly $18 billion in donations. The data reveals a surprising tension: while overall giving and participation are rising, median giving is declining. In other words, more people are giving—but fewer are growing into consistent, mature givers. This conversation explores what’s driving that shift, including the rise of early-stage givers, increased reliance on top donors, and changing year-end giving patterns. More importantly, it challenges church leaders to rethink generosity—not as a funding strategy, but as a discipleship journey. One Key TakeawayYou don’t have a giving problem—you have a discipleship opportunity. Without intentional guidance, new givers won’t naturally grow into consistent, generous stewards. Resources MentionedMortarstone Annual Generosity ReportMortarstone Annual Giving WebinarChurch Finance Made Simple resource hub

  8. Mar 12

    Ep. 29: The 5 Seasons of Church Funding Most Pastors Skip

    pisode SummaryIn this episode of Distilled, Kira Echeandia and Dan Pourbaix sit down with Craig Fatt from Injoy Stewardship to unpack a powerful framework for church generosity: the five seasons of church funding. Too often, churches operate in constant “harvest mode”—asking for giving without cultivating the culture that sustains it. Craig explains how healthy church funding follows a natural rhythm similar to farming: prepare, plant, grow, harvest, and rest. When churches intentionally move through these seasons, generosity becomes discipleship rather than pressure. The conversation explores what each season looks like in practice, why pastors often skip key stages like preparing and resting, and how churches can align their ministry calendar with a healthier rhythm of generosity. Whether you're leading a church or shaping its financial strategy, this episode offers a practical framework for building a sustainable culture of generosity. Key TakeawayHealthy church generosity isn’t built through constant fundraising—it grows when churches intentionally walk through the five seasons of funding: prepare, plant, grow, harvest, and rest. Resources MentionedInjoy Stewardship2026 Stewardship Planning Resource from Injoy Stewardship

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Get your church MBA just 10 minutes at a time! On Distilled, we break down complex church financial topics into simple, actionable insights that you can use today in your church. Brought to you by Parable Bookkeeping and Accounting, we make managing church finances easier, one episode at a time.

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