Money Matters in Church: A Practical Guide for Leaders [Paperback]

Aubrey Malphurs (Author), Steve Stroope (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2007

Money Matters in Church is your one-stop source of information for managing finances and fundraising. It guides leaders of any size church or ministry to create a culture of giving that supports savvy, faithful, and legal financing. The authors take you into the heart of a biblical theology of stewardship, teaching you how to develop donors and maximize contributions. The book's practical step-by-step approach makes finance issues understandable for leaders without a business background.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Money Matters in Church is your one-stop source of information on creating a culture of giving that supports savvy, faithful, and legal financial practices. The authors take you into the heart of a biblical theology of stewardship, teaching you how to develop donors and maximize contributions. You'll discover systems, policies, and structures for
• developing a strategic budget
• enacting an effective audit process
• projecting income and expenses
• working with banks
• paying staff
• addressing debt

Malphurs and Stroope also detail the steps for preparing, implementing, and following through on a capital fundraising campaign. Response questions at the end of each chapter help you assimilate the material and serve as a powerful springboard for small group or staff discussions.

"Aubrey Malphurs and Steve Stroope have developed a 'how to' manual that not only gives the biblical support for teaching about money, but also reveals the step-by-step process of developing a community of givers and an attitude of gratitude in your church."--Ed Young, senior pastor, Fellowship Church; author, Outrageous, Contagious Joy

"In this excellent book by Aubrey Malphurs and Steve Stroope, you will be exposed to both the solid biblical principles and the sound financial practices necessary for effective growth in a church of any size."--Bob Buford, founder, Leadership Network; author, Halftime and Finishing Well

"This fine work will provide pastors with a critical tool for understanding and addressing the financial needs of their churches. It's a practical book that will fill a void that has existed for too long in the training of pastors for their fiscal management role in the church."--Tony Evans, senior pastor, Oakcliff Bible Fellowship

"Few seminaries teach it, and fewer pastors find financial expertise in their nature or skill set. But strong financial management couldn't be more important to the success and health of a church. Money Matters in Church fills a much-needed gap of understanding for pastors and lay leaders."--Ronald E. Keener, editor, Church Executive magazine

About the Author

Aubrey Malphurs is a professor of church ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary and a church consultant and trainer who has written numerous successful books. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Steve Stroope is senior pastor of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas. His congregation of 8,000 people is one of the 100 fastest growing churches in America. He lives in Rockwall, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801066271
• ISBN-13: 978-0801066276
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Aubrey Malphurs (Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) is professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary and president of The Malphurs Group. He engages in church consulting and training and is the author of numerous books, including Developing a Vision of Ministry in the Twenty-first Century.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! A must for the Pastor and Finance Committee, October 1, 2010

By 

Chris Jordan (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Money Matters in Church: A Practical Guide for Leaders (Paperback)

This book cuts to the chase! This will help you with the proper mindset for money in the church. Then help you prepare a simple budget. Most churches get too detailed on budgets that confused the congregation and really helps no one on the committee. Stay simple and clear. Also this book gives some great ideas on Capital Campaigns that are worth the price of the book. Get this book today... help you church be better financially tomorrow!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The One Book Every Pastor Needs to Read on Church Finances, October 1, 2009

By 

Joshua Reich - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Money Matters in Church: A Practical Guide for Leaders (Paperback)

Just finished Money Matters in Church by Aubrey Malphurs and Steve Stroope. I read it for two reasons, one, it was assigned in my lead pastor coaching network and, two, for help in an upcoming series at Revolution.

It is by far the most helpful and thorough book on the topic of money, stewardship and the church I have come across. Malphurs is a professor, so he brings with him a host of knowledge on the theological end of the spectrum when it comes to this topic and Stroope is a pastor of a growing church that is able to help apply the concepts in easy ways for pastors and leaders to use.

The book covers topics like what stewardship is, what the Bible has to say about money, how a church chooses a bank, good banking habits, creating a strategic budget, funding new facilities and ministries, paying staff members, how a church chooses what benefits to pay for, how to deal with debt and how to run a capital campaign from beginning to end.

Like I said, thorough.

They actually leave nothing out when it comes to this topic. What makes the book so helpful is that most pastors, unless they have a business background have very little clue on how to do this aspect of a church. Yet, it is incredibly important. Without money, a church will die very quickly. While most people don't want to hear that, it is reality and something that more leaders need to think about.

For me, as a lead pastor I have the tension that as the leader of Revolution (along with the staff and elders) I am responsible to God and will be held accountable for how money is used at Revolution. I am held responsible for how we use the resources that God entrusts to us. These resources are not only valuable because of where they come from but also for what they will be used for. They can't be wasted. Too much is at stake.

I think the parable is not only true for individuals but is also true for churches. God entrusts more to churches who can handle more. It is that simple. When it comes to people, resources, finances, if we will waste them, why would God give us more of them?

This book was a great reminder of some things, as well as something I got a ton out of. I highlighted so much as we are thinking through some of the policies they talked about in the book. Definitely worth picking up and passing off to your financial team (which I've done).
[...]

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Missing Book on Managing Money in Your Church, January 18, 2008

By 

Nelson Searcy "Pastor & www.ChurchLeaderInsig... (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Money Matters in Church: A Practical Guide for Leaders (Paperback)

This book fills a giant hole in church leadership books - how to handle money, increase giving and raise big dollars for big projects. Co-author Steve Stroope is my mentor and friend, but he and Aubrey Malphrs deliver the goods in this book. This book is the best book I've read on church stewardship since Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn.