Page 103 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

Study Section 13: Record Keeping and Accounting

13.1 Connect.

How can one achieve a goal if one does not set a goal for his life? Have you ever heard the
saying, “You can only hit at what you aim?” In other words, if you do not make a plan, you will
never achieve great things. One of the most important plans a church can make is a plan on
how they are going to spend the money God brings to the church. This plan is based on what
the church feels is important. It becomes a matter of priorities. The important thing to
remember is that God will hold us all accountable someday for how we spend HIS resources.
And the way we can track that responsibly is to create a budget or spending plan and attempt to keep it.
Let’s see how to do that….

13.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able explain how 100% of everything we have or receive is God’s. The
church is called to be faithful managers of God’s resources.

2. The student should be able describe how a budget is a way that the church can become
accountable to God for how it is managing God’s funds.

3. The student should be able to create a budget for their church.

13.3 Record Keeping & Accounting

The church is to be FAITHFUL managers of what He entrusts to her. And every bit of money He
gives the church is entrusted for careful care.

Matthew 25:14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and
entrusted his wealth to them.

Whose wealth is entrusted? God’s wealth! Who does he entrust? Us! It’s not our wealth, it is God’s
but he gives us the opportunity to manage it for Him. And it is God who gives us the ability to manage
and produce an increase.

Deuteronomy 8:18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce
wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

God expects us to be GREAT stewards of what He entrusts to us. And how we care for God’s money is a
reflection on our own Christian character.

Luke 16: 10-12 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is
dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in
handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy
with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

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