Stewardship Books - Page 2

The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books)

Randy Alcorn

List Price: $9.99 By: Multnomah Books Amazon Marketplace: 307 new & used starting at $0.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Parenting & Families -> General
Subjects -> Parenting & Families -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Stewardship

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Poor Stewardship of Scripture 1 out of 5 stars.
18 of 27 people found this review helpful.

I'm not sure which is more distressing - the author's egregious misuse of Scripture or the plethora of glowing endorsements this book is receiving. Both are the result of not applying sound principles of biblical interpretation taught to beginning hermeneutics students.

Stewardship of wealth must begin with stewardship of the Scriptures. Alcorn's failure in the latter is why, in my considered view, he fails in the former. In fact, even if Alcorn is right (which I don't believe he is) that somehow there are degrees of reward in heaven and that you can accumulate things there on the basis of what you do here, no one should accept his view based on the reasons he offers. Alcorn's (and many other stewardship pundits') basic problem is plucking verses completely out of context and making them say what they do not. Even a cursory reading of chapter one reveals numerous examples of this. For example, Jesus' parables about the hidden treasure and pearl of great price are not about accumulation of some treasure in heaven, but rather entering the kingdom of God (i.e., obtaining eternal life). Also, Alcorn's use of Jesus' dialogue with the rich, young man (Matthew 19) misses the point. Again, this was not about accumulating treasures in heaven, but about gaining eternal life (i.e., entering the kingdom of God). Notice, in this dialogue Jesus uses "eternal life," "treasure in heaven," "enter the kingdom of heaven," and "enter the kingdom of God" interchangeably. One last example is Alcorn's use of Matthew 19:29. He fails to understand Jesus' claim about the 100 times return for those who sacrifice for Jesus' sake because he does not consider the parallel account in Mark's gospel (Mark 10:30) where Jesus specifically says this return will come "in this age" and the reward in the age to come will be eternal life. The examples of poor stewardship of Scripture could go on. The reader will have to play the part of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and examine carefully Alcorn's teaching to see if it really is what Scripture teaches.

Despite some helpful material (all our possessions are God's and we are just stewards, Christians need to be generous and sacrificial givers), this book is a dismal failure scripturally. Even though many have found this book to have changed their giving and stewardship for the better, the ends do not justify the means. It teaches a suspect theology of stewardship because it teaches poor handling of Scripture. And, proper stewardship of wealth begins with proper stewardship of Scripture. Unfortunately we get neither in this book.

Editorial Review:

In this first book in the new LifeChange series, bestselling author Randy Alcorn introduces readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity that will change lives around the world. Ninety-five percent of Christians have never come to terms with a biblical perspective on their material possessions, Alcorn writes. God has entrusted His wealth to us and called upon us to manage and invest His money. This is in everyone's best interests, including our own. When Jesus told His followers to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven," he intended that they discover an astounding secret: how joyful giving brings God maximum glory and his children maximum pleasure.

The New Master Your Money

Jeremy White, Ron Blue

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Moody Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $2.05

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Money & Values
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Clear, Helpful, Practical...a definite keeper! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ron Blue's book, Master Your Money was a life changing book for me while in graduate school. While working at my studies I needed a grounding in financial insights since we were struggling grad students but still had to make future plans for our family's finances.
Ron's book answered so many basics and I was so impressed with it that we asked him to write an essay for us at USChurch.Info - America's Church Address. It has proven to be one of our most popular essays we provide online to individuals and families wanting to successfully integrate into a new church.
In fact, we use his new edition as an incentive for Churches to update their Church data in our directory. It has proven very popular for Church libraries.

Editorial Review:

Finally...a financial planning book that presents concepts in an easy-to-understand format. Do you know if you have enough? Do you know how much is enough? If you can't answer these questions, The New Master Your Money is for you. Ron Blue extracts principles from God's Word and applies them to your financial portfolio. Ron's professional experience in financial planning will be an asset to you and to your family for generations to come. This new edition includes important updates and new content you won't want to miss.

Fasting for Financial Breakthrough

Elmer L. Towns

Amazon Price: $9.99 List Price: $9.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gospel Light Publications Amazon Marketplace: 25 new & used starting at $5.26

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Money & Values
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> General AAS
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General

Editorial Review:

While this book sheds a spiritual light on one of the biggest problems facing Christians today-our need to put the role of money in a proper perspective and how to solve our money problems-Elmer Towns states at the outset that this is not the primary purpose of fasting and prayer. Instead, it is all about knowing God. It is not about withdrawing prayer-on an "as needed" basis-from some spiritual ATM kiosk. It is about meditation, studying the scriptures and communion with God. When we fast and pray in faith, asking for God's help and provision, He will begin to teach us how to become good stewards of what He has provided. And He will ever, at times, meet out temporal needs in a miraculous way. Includes Chpaters Devoted to the Following Topics and Many More Chapter 3: Fasting to Learn Stewardship Chapter 4: Why We Have Money Problems Chapter 6: Faith Approach to Asking for Money

The Storehouse Principle: A Revolutionary God Idea for Creating Extraordinary Financial Stability

Al Jandl, Van Crouch

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 6 to 10 days By: Crossstaff Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 19 new & used starting at $5.45

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Money & Values
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Stewardship
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Good Basic Principles 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow...so simple!! I am only about halfway through this book and find the principles easy to apply to your life. The authors suggest making adjustments in dealing with your finances God's way and watching how God will bless with good stewardship. Excellent examples are given...I'm so impressed with this little book that I plan to give it to a number of my friends and family members for Christmas.

Storehouse Principle 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Simply put - If you want to revolutionize your finances, read and APPLY.
Be a doer not just a reader of this book! What great material! I wish I had known about it years ago! Get your children in on it as well! Share the book with everyone you know.

The Storehouse Principle 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a very good and informative must read. If you have or are currently struggling with finances. Read this book then apply "The Storehouse Principle". In 3 short weeks I can already see a difference in how I relate to and react to finances.

Want to live in financial 'overflow' ? Read this 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I brought this book on account of the great reviews, but deep down I was cynical that it would work..well - I'm a believer!. This book is very very easy to read, and the author testifies from being broke to coming into abundance. Yes I know you've heard that many times before, but this 'storehouse principal' works.

After reading this book I went and opened up a 'Storehouse' account. I even named it that (much to the amusement of the bank teller)and deposited $1.40 into it (to much greater amusment from the teller!!). In the FIRST MONTH I had $7500 come in from unexpected sources.

This is based on scriptual foundations. They are sooo simple and clear.

Buy this book!! Incidently I gave mine to a couple who were struggling with finance..now he's got work coming from everywhere and a big smile on his face.

Money Matters Workbook for Teens (ages 15-18)

Larry Burkett, Todd Temple

Amazon Price: $11.19 List Price: $13.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Moody Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $1.72

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Financial Planning Workbooks
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Money & Values
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Money Management for Young People

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

There are much better books out there 1 out of 5 stars.
16 of 27 people found this review helpful.

Hmmm....if you're a member of the conservative Christian right you might like this one. However, I highly recommend "Capitate Your Kids" for a great guide to teaching your teen to be financially frugal and smart.

Money Matters Gets a 5 Star Rating...... 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 13 people found this review helpful.

Good tool for teaching both Christian & Non Christian Teens about money. Easy to understand, includes examples and step by step instructions. We used this for a Money Matters Workshop and our teens thought it was great.

Well organized 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The book cover states the info in the book is for the 15-18 yr old bracket. However, I feel the content may be for the younger end of that bracket. My kids will use and enjoy the book, but I will supplement with other additional means of info.
As to the book itself, it is well laid out and has great pictures. It is sure to capture the interest of teens.

Editorial Review:

This book, a companion workbook to Money Matters for Teens by noted financial consultant Larry Burkett, can teach young people the secrets of how to manage their money wisely--how to earn it in the first place and how to put earnings to work, too.

Fields of Gold (Generous Giving)

Andy Stanley

List Price: $13.99 By: Tyndale House Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $0.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Money & Values
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Stewardship
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Best book on generous giving that I've ever read! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is a book that tackles the difficult topic of money and the church. Stanley does a great job of answering the "why"... rather than just the "what". It is one of the few books that approaches generous giving w/o being manipulative, using guilt, or trying to make you feel less spiritual because you struggle in this area.

Tackles an Issue that is often ignored 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't really like it, either. It doesn't really give any new information or revelation, though it does cover an area of giving that most books ignore: fear. Stanley gives fear as the prime reason that most people do not give.

Stanley gives great examples of fearless givers, telling their stories in detail. After reading about a few of them, you are almost tempted to sell everything you own and give to the poor. But other than that, this book is filled with the same old rhetoric that other books on tithing are thick with. I appreciate the fact, though, that Stanley seems unconcerned with personal acquirement of wealth to give. He is more concerned with giving from what you have. There are no radical challenges, such as giving away all your possessions, and no candy-coated claims of being blessed if you give more. In fact, the people he describes as givers usually have to settle for a lower quality of living(at least in a materialistic sense) because of their giving.

This book is a quick read. You could probably flip through it at the bookstore and get the gist of it. It's at least worth a glance.

Editorial Review:

Fields of Gold is a practical and inspirational book on the principle of sowing and reaping. If we sow fear, what will be our harvest? And conversely, if we sow faith, what will we grow? This book moves the reader beyond fear and guilt about money and into confidence, security, and excitement. Andy Stanley unpacks our irrational fears about money, helping us to discover that generous giving is actually an invitation for our heavenly Father to get involved in our finances and resupply us with enough seed to sow generously throughout our lifetime.

A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to Be Rich Toward God

Wesley K. Willmer

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Moody Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $7.15

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Stewardship
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Give over $100 today and get this personalized state-of-the-art fountain pen free! Become a gold sponsor and your name iwll be featured on our exclusive "wall of fame"! Send in your donation by December 31st and enjoy the benefits of giving on your next tax return! Who hasn't heard fundraising gimmicks like these? Or, who hasn't used these gimmicks on others? As Wes Willmer writes, "Generosity is the natural outcome of God's transforming work in individuals when they are conformed to the image of Christ." Fundraising and giving are not simply "drops in the bucket." Capital campaigns and raising funds go deeper than the money. They are spiritual activities in becoming more like Christ. A Revolution in Generosity is a work by some of the best shcolars and practitioners on the subject of funding Christian organizations. As Willmer writes, "The foundation for realizing a revolution in generosity is understanding the biblical view of possessions, generosity, and asking for resources." With over twenty expert contributors, this book is a must-read for organizations striving to rid themselves of secular asking practices and gain an eternal approach.  

Money Matters for Teens

Larry Burkett, Todd Temple

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Moody Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $2.55

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Issues -> Money

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Solid in the psychological issues surrounding money 4 out of 5 stars.
35 of 38 people found this review helpful.

We bought this book to help teach our 7 year old how to manage her money. Where the book met expectations were the areas of values and healthy ways to think of money : Money isn't ours. We're stewards of God's money and therefore, we should spend it wisely, etc.

Where it didn't meet expectations, is that it didn't really provide a sample plan for how to allocate resources. While certainly, the greatest issue in dealing with money is mental -- getting your head around the idea that you have to live within your means and that you don't have to have everything NOW or just because someone else has it -- there is also a need for concrete examples....Given the above problem, I would still recommend this book as something to work through with a child because those psychological issues about spending are significant enough that they can make the difference between a someday adult with healthy attitudes about money and someone who is in debt, unhappy yet still wanting MORE! In that respect, this book is aces.

Editorial Review:

Teens always want more money. However, often they do not know how to handle the money they do have. Larry Burkett knows parents need to educate teens on solid, biblical money management if they're to exercise these habits as adults. In Money Matters for Teens, Burkett address issues of specific concern for teens and teaches them the basics to help them prepare for financial independence.

The Mark of the Christian

Francis Schaeffer

List Price: $6.00 By: InterVarsity Press Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $0.18

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Authors, A-Z -> ( S ) -> Schaeffer, Francis
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Counseling
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Stewardship

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A down and dirty litmus test for Christians 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I first read this book as a young Christian and now am impressed with how many of the concepts I have adopted in my own creed. I detest pop Christian symbols and the urge to define a Christian by market forces. Schaeffer attempts to challenge the reader into not only glimpsing in the mirror, but to really make changes accordingly.

The Final "Apologetic"... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As with most of Francis Schaffer's books... though written in the 1970's it seems like it was written yesterday. A short but powerful book looking at John 13 & 17 and what he calls is the "Final Apologetic". He basically asks "How will they know we are Christians?" And expounds on that. A highly reflective book. A book we need today. A Must Read.

Excellent book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Schaeffer writes a book here that is challenging and very needed. He simply takes two statements of Jesus on how we should love one another and strive for peace and unity instead of discord and pride, and demonstrates the crucial need to follow these verses. A Christian is supposed to be a bearer of love and peace to every other human being (Christian or not; you can promote peace and show love without sacrificing truth). This book along with his "True Spirituality" are both on the top of my list of messages that have made the most impact on me. All of Schaeffer's work is good but this book is one of my favorites. I second the motion that this is a must read for any Christian.

Editorial Review:

In this brief challenge, late philosopher-theologican Frances A. Schaeffer encourages Christians to respond effecively and compassionately to a needy world.

Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works (The Classics of Western Spirituality)

Bernard of Clairvaux

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Paulist Press Amazon Marketplace: 28 new & used starting at $4.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> Saints
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Born in Fontaines-lès-Dijon in 1090, Bernard had become, by his twenty-fifth birthday, the abbot of a Cistercian monastery which he had founded in the valley of Clairvaux near Aube, France, some four years earlier. There in those isolated and rugged surroundings he became the spokesman for a revival of monastic life in an age when the radical spirit of religious life was endangered by a movement, best seen in the excesses of the monks of Cluny, that stressed the adaptation of the rule of St. Benedict to the exigencies-and taste for princely comforts-of the royal courts of twelfth-century France.

But Bernard's dedication to the strict observance of Benedict's rule was mingled not with the abrasive, shrill style of the prophet but with a sweetness and purity of vision that earned him the title Doctor mellifluous. For he possessed a sense of the love of God, the importance of humility, and the sheer beauty of holiness that has made his writings favorites of scholars and laymen alike throughout the ages. Here in a new translation by G.R. Evans are the writings that have had such a major role in shaping the Western monastic tradition and influencing the development of catholic mystical theology. Together with an introduction by the master of Bernard studies, Jean Leclercq, they comprise a volume that occupies a place of special importance in the chronicle of the history of the Western spiritual adventure.