Reading List - Topic: Money/Finances

Additional Resources for the sermons on
"Money - Possessed Or Possessor?"
and "Money - Getting It Under Control"

Giving: Unlocking the Heart of Good Stewardship (Pursuing Spiritual Transformation),

Ortberg, Pederson, Poling; Willow Creek Community Church, 2000.
The questions at the end of each chapter of this study booklet make it good material for small group study and discussion.

Money, Possessions and Eternity,

Randy Alcorn; Tyndale House, 2003.
Excellent integration of biblical truths and practical ways to live them. Very challenging. Highly recommended reading for all people involved in the ministry.

The New Master Your Money: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining and Enjoying Financial Freedom,

Ron Blue; Thomas Nelson, 2004.
Nuts and bolts information and forms presented in a biblical context.

The Word on Finances: Topical Scriptures and Concordance,

Larry Burkett; Moody, 1994.
Larry has organized relevant scriptures into a reference guide with more than 70 topics included under eight major headings. Each topic is preceded by a brief commentary. A helpful reference for counselors.

Culture Shift: Communicating God's Truth to Our Changing World,

David Henderson; Baker Books, 1998.
In part 2 entitled, "Who We Are: Consumers," Henderson gives a well documented history and analysis of how our culture has "manufactured the consumer." Interesting (and sobering) reading.

Debt-Proof Your Kids : An Interesting Thing Happened on the Way to Getting a Financially Confident Life ... My Kids Got One Too,

Mary Hunt; Amereon Press, 1989.
An excellent, hard-hitting book with lots of "straight talk" and good ideas for "debt-proofing" kids. Mary also publishes the Cheapskate Monthly newsletter, which can be ordered by calling 800-550-3502.

Sound Mind Investing: A Step-By-Step Guide to Financial Stability & Growth,

Austin Pryor; Victor Books, 2001.
Pryor does an excellent job of presenting thoroughly researched material on a complex topic in laymen's terms' and does it all from an overtly Christian perspective. He also publishes a monthly newsletter and has a website at www.soundmindinvesting.com that's well worth checking into. See also the 2004 updated edition, The Sound Mind Investing Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Managing Your Money from a Biblical Perspective.

Financial Freedom: Seven Secrets to Reduce Financial Worry,

Ray Linder; Moody Publishers, 1999.
An excellent book, very well grounded in scripture. Linder defines financial freedom as an attitude, not an amount, and proceeds to make the case that true financial freedom comes only when we use our money to acquire freedom for others, instead of self.

The Overspent American,

Juliet B. Schor; Basic Books, 1998.
Schor is a senior lecturer at Harvard and Professor at Tilburg University who has analyzed the crisis of the American consumer in a culture where "spending has become the ultimate social act." Not written from a Christian perspective but full of thought provoking information.

The Millionaire Next Door,

Stanley and Danko; Longstreet Press, hardback 1996, paperback 1998, 1999.
This book reveals seven common denominators that show up again and again among those who have accumulated wealth. The common denominators, as well as the identity of the millionaires, may surprise you.

Resourcing Your Vision,

by Dick Edic
Dick has served with the Baptist General Conference for many years in a variety of stewardship capacities. The purpose of the book is be a training guide to those attempting to implement stewardship development processes within their church. It contains a wealth of resources and can be ordered by calling 800-825-0051 or via visionresourcing.com.

Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving,

Randy Alcorn. Generous Giving Special Edition. Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah Publishers, 2001. "The Treasure Principle," taught in the Bible but widely neglected today, is just this: When it comes to money, you can't take it with you-but you can send it on ahead. In this small, pocket-sized book, Alcorn urges Christians to store up treasures for themselves in their true home: heaven. The single greatest obstacle to generous giving, he argues, is the illusion that this world is really our home. We cling so tightly to our wealth on earth because we worry about building security here. But the Bible teaches that we do not finally belong here and that we do not own our earthly riches anyway. Rather, we are only pilgrims on the earth and managers of God's riches. Because of this truth, the author contends, we should actively handle money and possessions so as to invest in eternity. By giving rather than keeping money, we store up wealth in heaven. Thus, the generous giver, as he nears his death, is moving toward his treasures, rather than leaving them behind to become dust. See also the Treasure Principle Bible Study.

Fields of Gold: A Place beyond Your Deepest Fears, a Prize beyond Your Wildest Imagination,

Andy Stanley
(Generous Giving Series. Tyndale House Publishers, 2004; hardcover, 134 pp.) Perhaps you once dreamed of sowing fertile fields of generosity. But reality has taught you to be more cautious: "What if I give away too much? What if there's not enough left for me? What if ..." As Christians, we know that we should, give but sometimes it's so hard to take that step of faith and let go when it comes to our finances. Under the growing pressures to make ends meet each month, it's easy to become irrational in our thinking about God, His faithfulness, and our role as stewards of His resources. Pastor Andy Stanley reminds us that if we truly believe that God is who He says He is, we have no reason to fear. Doesn't it make sense to trust the God of the universe with our finances? Isn't it time to put aside the worry and start living in confidence? This book will change the way you think about money and giving. When we truly understand God's power and presence, we can't help but trust Him to meet our needs. And once we realize that it really is better to give than to receive, there's no limit to what God can do with our gifts. Stanley develops four p's that should guide giving: (1) Priority giving: giving to God first prevents good intentions from waning when finances run low at the end of the month. (2) Percentage giving: deciding on a specific amount maintains discipline in giving. (3) Progressive giving: gradually increasing the percentage given promotes growth in faith. (4) Prompted giving: being willing to meet spontaneous needs prevents the relational aspect of giving from growing routine. What we keep for ourselves fluctuates in value, but what we invest in God's kingdom yields returns that will not depreciate. The way to counter fear is not with courage but with joy. When giving becomes based on a personal relationship with God, giving becomes exciting rather than dreadful.

Stott on Stewardship: Ten Principles of Christian Giving,

John R. W. Stott. Chattanooga, Tenn.: Generous Giving, 2003.
Noted Anglican teacher John Stott expounds 2 Corinthians 8 & 9, highlighting 10 important principles of giving which provide helpful teaching on this crucial issue for the contemporary church: (1) Christian giving is an expression of the grace of God, (2) Christian giving can be a gift of the Spirit, (3) Christian giving is inspired by the cross of Christ, (4) Christian giving is proportionate giving, (5) Christian giving contributes to equality, (6) Christian giving must be carefully supervised, (7) Christian giving can be stimulated by a little friendly competition, (8) Christian giving resembles a harvest, (9) Christian giving has symbolic significance and (10) Christian giving promotes thanksgiving to God. Do you want your practice of giving to be challenged and shaped by sound biblical teaching? Understanding and applying these basic principles from Paul's writing can help to raise our giving to another level as it grounds us in a more thoughtful, more systematic and more sacrificial approach to generous giving.

Splitting Heirs: Giving Your Money and Things to Your Children Without Ruining Their Lives,

Ron Blue with Jeremy White. Chicago: Northfield Publishing, 2004.
You can't take it with you. But the wealth you leave behind could be the best thing that ever happened to your loved ones-or the worst. Will you leave behind a blessing or a curse? Christian financial advisor Ron Blue explains why it's so important to make these decisions now-instead of forcing your heirs to do it later. With practical tips, tools, charts, and worksheets, he will help you: (1) leave an inheritance that helps your heirs without spoiling them, (2) communicate your desires the right way, at the right time, (3) navigate the legal and tax issues surrounding your estate, (4) decide which charities or ministries to support-and how to tell if they will be worthy stewards of your hard-earned wealth. Even if your nest egg is small, it can have a huge impact on the next generation. All it takes is a little planning-and a real appreciation for the precious resources that God has entrusted to your care.

Secrets of the Generous Life: Reflections to Awaken the Spirit and Enrich the Soul,

Gordon MacDonald. Generous Soul Series. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2002.
Generosity isn't about money; it's an attitude of the heart. In his new book, MacDonald reflects on generosity as an oft-neglected spiritual discipline, and as a measure of the heart. Whether you're financially comfortable or have only modest means, the choices you make about what to do with the gifts God has given you-talent, energy, influence, time, resources-provide a remarkably accurate picture of the shape of your soul. Those who hoard their gifts, living with clenched fists, suffer the sadness of a pinched soul and a miserly existence, never experiencing the extravagant blessings that come to those who live with open hands and a giving heart. The six weeks of daily meditations in this book will feed your soul and inspire you to experience a joyful life of generosity. Jesus said, "Whatever measure you use in giving-large or small, it will be used to measure what is given back to you."

The Burkett and Blue Definitive Guide to Securing Wealth to Last: Money Essentials for the Second Half of Life,

Larry Burkett and Ron Blue with Jeremy White. Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2003.
Targeting the retired or nearly retired age bracket, teacher Larry Burkett and professional advisor Ron Blue have produced a book outlining biblical principles for financial planning. Each chapter contains several easy-to-follow points, ending with questions for practical application answered with illustrative examples from the authors' own lives. While the book focuses on wise money management in order to provide for oneself, one chapter, "A Legacy to Last: Or, He Who Dies with the Most Toys Is, Nonetheless, Still Dead," offers strong advice on how to give away the money thus saved. This chapter examines six decisions surrounding the creation of a will: (1) Transfer: who is the recipient of your money? (2) Treatment: how much do you give each heir? (3) Timing: when do you give the money? (4) Title: what are you giving? (5) Tools and techniques: how are you leaving the money? (6) Talk: how can you explain all the above decisions to your family? Also discussed are the benefits of not leaving everything to one's children but giving the bulk to charities instead; the choice to give unequally to one's children according to individual needs and abilities; the decision to give now rather than after death; and the practice of developing good stewardship habits in one's children.

The Eternity Portfolio: A Practical Guide to Investing Your Money for Ultimate Results,

Alan Gotthardt (Generous Giving Series. Tyndale House Publishers, 2003; paperback, 196 pp.)
What would happen if we saw giving as a way of investing? If we gave our giving "portfolio" the same attention we give our retirement portfolio? What would happen if we stopped asking, "How much do I have to give?" and started asking, "How can I invest in eternity by giving?" How would our lives change if we became aware of the rewards of faithfully investing our resources? Alan Gotthardt asks these questions, and his answer is The Eternity Portfolio: A Practical Guide to Investing Your Money for Ultimate Results. Gotthardt is president of Polstra & Dardaman, one of the leading strategic wealth management firms in the nation located in suburban Atlanta, Ga. He serves on the stewardship strategy team of his church and has led many small-group studies on biblical stewardship. There are many books on the market about principles of managing money and many books about why Christians should give. But Gotthardt's thought-provoking book is unique because it combines the two concepts and takes them to the next level by including the family and ministry in the plan. In an approach that's grounded in Scripture, Gotthardt leads you through the process of how to fund, design, implement and monitor your Eternity Portfolio. He takes his expertise as a financial planner and applies it to the idea of radical generosity. Gotthardt communicates a compelling vision for the kingdom of God as the ultimate long-term investment, and he gives a step-by-step plan for how you can have a part in this incredible opportunity. With charts, graphs, income-tax and estate-planning information, detailed case studies, and reflective questions, this book is extremely practical. It provides what you need to start maximizing your investment in the kingdom of God. The tools to succeed are in your hands.

The Genius of Generosity: Why God Prospers Generous People,

Chip Ingram. Atlanta: Walk Thru the Bible, 2002.
What's so genius about generosity? After all, our world celebrates people who have learned how to have it all ... not those who have learned to give it all away! But the Bible teaches that the wisest thing we can do with our resources is to learn to invest them in His kingdom, and that becoming a generous person is the smartest way to prepare for an eternal future. If you'd like to learn principles for wise giving and generous living, this 28-page booklet by the Living on the Edge radio broadcast founder will both challenge and encourage you. Don't be satisfied with earthly stock options and interest rates; learn the genius of generosity and expand your portfolio of eternal rewards!

The Law of Rewards: Giving What You Can't Keep to Gain What You Can't Lose,

Randy Alcorn. Generous Giving Series. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003.
Author and teacher Randy Alcorn makes a clear, compelling case for an underemphasized scriptural principle: that believers will receive differing rewards in heaven depending on their actions and choices here on earth. Taken mainly from excerpts of Money, Possessions, and Eternity, this book shows how our faith determines our eternal destination but our behavior determines our eternal rewards.

Some Online Resources:

• Crown Financial Ministries - "teaching people God's financial principles"
• Sound Mind Investing
• Walk Thru the Bible
• Willow Creek's "Good Sense Ministry"
• Saddleback Church has some useful tools for handling your finances in their Financial Skills and Tools section. In particular, see the "Personal Financial Profile" and the "Monthly Budget Ledger" under "Download Financial Tools."