Faith-Based Finance

2009 Adult Lenten Series—Pohick Episcopal Church

The Reverend Donald D. Binder, PhD

Description: The present economic crisis offers Christians an opportunity to re-examine their approach to dealing with personal finance. A core tenet of this class is that money matters are intensely spiritual in nature and should by no means be divorced from biblical insights. This class will therefore explore several key principles of Christian finance that are both scripturally sound and practically applicable to real-world situations. From this study, it is hoped that class members will be able to work constructively toward ordering their financial lives in accordance with a more biblical world-view, which experience suggests is ultimately more rewarding than the alternative promoted by the prevailing culture.

Class One—March 4: Overview Reflection Questions

• The Bible and Money
• Spiritual Principles of Finance
• Reordering our Home Economics

Class Two—March 11: Elements of a Financial Plan Reflection Questions

• Figuring Net Worth
  
• Setting Worthy Goals
  
• Getting from Here to There

Class Three—March 18: Being Good Stewards Reflection Questions

• A Question of Life Style
• Frugal, not Stingy
  
• Evaluating Wants versus Needs

Class Four—March 25: Dealing with Debt Reflection Questions

• Debtor Nation
• Good and Bad Uses of Debt
• Paying it Down

Class Five—April 1: Giving and Saving Reflection Questions

• Remembering Who Owns the Vineyard
  
• A Matter of Percentage
  
• How Big a Barn?

Resources:

Faith-Based Family Finances, by Ron Blue. Illinois: Tyndale House, 2008.

Written by Christian Financial Planner Ron Blue, best-selling author of seventeen books on money management from a Biblical perspective. Starting out as a successful CPA, he eventually left his firm to devote the bulk of his professional life to helping individuals, families and businesses take a more spiritual approach to ordering their finances. Most of the principles explored in this class are derived from this volume and its associated website: www.masteryourmoney.com.

All Classes will be held 7:10–7:50 pm in the Parish House Annex.