Stewardship: For the Care of Souls (Lexham Ministry Guides)

by Nathan Meador; Heath R. Curtis

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2021

Stewardship for the care of souls

Stewardship isn’t just managing resources—it’s soul care.

Stewardship of time, talents, and treasure isn't just about sustaining the material of the church. It's about guiding those resources in service of the church's primary mission: proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. Stewarding the lambs of Christ that make up your congregation encompasses all aspects of their lives—material and spiritual.

Nathan Meador and Heath R. Curtis present a practical theology of stewardship focused on ministry in service of the gospel. Guiding pastors away from the pitfalls of idolatry around money, they instead call stewards to embrace their identity in Christ and encourage their congregations to do the same. This fresh approach to stewardship reorients both individuals and congregations toward their true purpose as stewards who have been baptized into Christ.

Stewardship will help pastors to teach and preach stewardship as a call to repentance and new life.

Praise for Stewardship: For the Care of Souls

Pastors Meador and Curtis have done a masterful job of exploring the what, the how, and the why of Christian stewardship. From the identity of the steward to the culture of the congregation, they provide a guidebook for pastors, congregational leaders, and members as they live out what it means to be a steward by God's design. I encourage pastors and leaders to read and study this important book together.

–Rev. Dr. Wayne J. Knolhoff, former Director of Stewardship for the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and former Director of the Center for Stewardship at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis

Stewardship: For the Care of Souls is a wonderful book that will help pastors, church leaders, and individuals think wisely and biblically, rather than merely pragmatically, about the importance of stewardship in all aspects of our life, including, but not limited to finances. Nathan Meador and Heath Curtis bring years of pastoral ministry experience to this project, weaving together theological commitments, biblical understanding, wisdom from their years of service, and insightful counsel for teaching and addressing these vitally important issues in the life of a congregation. This brief volume is another excellent contribution to the outstanding Lexham Ministry Series. Heartily recommended!

–David S. Dockery President, International Alliance for Christian Education and Distinguished Professor of Theology, Southwestern Seminary

Pastors Nathan Meador and Heath Curtis provide a Christ‐centered, pastoral guide to guiding souls from idolatry to joyful generosity. Through the school of hard knocks, faithfulness to Christ’s word, pastoral care, and careful analysis, they have gained a wealth of wisdom. I’ve seen these men in action, winsomely teaching pastors and lay leaders, giving candid, down‐to‐earth, and road‐tested insights into changing a congregation’s stewardship culture. The book’s conversational style and faithful teaching invites inexperienced and seasoned pastors and lay leaders to consider a plan that will strengthen and benefit the Lord’s church for decades to come. I’m so thankful this wisdom is in print.

–Rev. David C. Fleming, Executive Director for Spiritual Care, DOXOLOGY: the Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel

Top Highlights

“This is the why of stewardship. God has made us for this purpose!¹⁰ There was only one vocation in the garden: that of steward. Like a hammer was created to drive a nail, people were created by God to serve as stewards. The purpose of stewardship does not begin with us. It begins in the creative power of God.” (Pages 25–26)

“What you will get in this book is a fresh focus on stewardship, with the ultimate aim being the care of souls.” (Page 2)

“The stewards simply and boldly assert ownership over something that is not rightfully theirs. We have a word for this action: theft.” (Page 29)

“Stewards are to carry out the stewardship of subduing and having dominion as a reflection of the Creator” (Page 24)

“on individual stewards, their orientation toward God as stewards of creation made in the image of God” (Page 2)

Lexham Ministry Guides

The Lexham Ministry Guides, edited by Harold L. Senkbeil, offer practical, proven wisdom for the church. But wisdom takes time. The authors in this series developed their wisdom through years of ministry experience and conversations with colleagues. These books invite you to enter into these conversations to better serve the Savior’s sheep and lambs with confidence. You will find hands-on tools, lessons from years of ministry experience, and an array of resources to apply to your own ministry context.

Learn more about the other titles in this series.

Contents

• The Story of Stewardship
• The Pastoral Care of Stewardship
• The Teaching and Preaching of Stewardship
• The Culture of Stewardship
• The Good News of Stewardship

Product Details

• Title: Stewardship: For the Care of Souls
• Author: Heath R. Curtis & Nathan Meador
• Series: Lexham Ministry Guides
• Series Editor: Harold L. Senkbeil
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2021
• Pages: 144
• Format: Logos Digital, Hardcover
• Trim Size: 4.25x7
• ISBN: 9781683594956

About the Authors

Nathan Meador is senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and assistant coordinator for stewardship for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Heath R. Curtis is senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Worden, Illinois, and coordinator for stewardship for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

About Harold L. Senkbeil

Harold L. Senkbeil is executive director emeritus of DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care. His pastoral experience of nearly five decades includes parish ministry, the seminary classroom, and parachurch leadership. He is author of numerous books, including award-winning The Care of Souls, Christ and Calamity, and Dying to Live.