“Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship” is an exciting new release this month. The book, edited by Luther Seminary professor Adam Copeland, features writings about stewardship by ten different pastors, seminary professors and church leaders. In ten chapters these writers consider stewardship in light of topics like time, technology, the body, spiritual gifts and more.
Writing in the introduction, Copeland starts the book’s discussion by addressing the discomfort that we experience when talking about money. Copeland contrasts this difficulty with discussing money with the fact that, “Money is essential to our economic system. Jesus talked about it often. And yet, we don’t quite know what to do with it, how to approach it, or what to feel about it.” This book helps to fill in those blanks and to change the conversation. While “Beyond the Offering Plate” addresses money as part of stewardship, it also explores how to broaden the conversation on what stewardship is beyond money.
“Beyond the Offering Plate” is a rich resource for church leaders and congregations. It would make an ideal volume for a discussion group. Each chapter is capped off with questions for reflection and ways to apply the ideas. Copeland has also included a section at the end of the book that contains biblical references and themes for preaching.