building a church budget wall

A Church Budget is one way A Church Budget is one way to see how God is still alive in to see how God is still alive in

a church!a church!

A Comprehensive Church A Comprehensive Church Budget ProcessBudget Process

• CHURCH VISION CHURCH VISION

• CHURCH COMMITMENTCHURCH COMMITMENT

• MINISTRY COSTMINISTRY COST

• MINISTRY FUNDINGMINISTRY FUNDING

• STEWARDSHIP EDUCATIONSTEWARDSHIP EDUCATION

CHURCH VISIONCHURCH VISIONQuestion 1: Who Are We?Question 1: Who Are We?

• There is no need to develop a budget There is no need to develop a budget until the church knows who they are.until the church knows who they are.

• Vision is more than seeing the Vision is more than seeing the invisible; it is being able to see the invisible; it is being able to see the possible.possible.

Nehemiah was a great Nehemiah was a great Old Testament Visionary!Old Testament Visionary!

• Nehemiah had a vision of what God Nehemiah had a vision of what God could do. (Nehemiah 2:1-5)could do. (Nehemiah 2:1-5)

• Nehemiah could see a thriving city Nehemiah could see a thriving city with walls in the future. (Nehemiah with walls in the future. (Nehemiah 2:12)2:12)

Differences between an idea and Differences between an idea and a vision.a vision.

• A VISION:A VISION:• Is given to usIs given to us• Is a passion that Is a passion that

grips an grips an individualindividual

• Comes from Comes from spending time spending time with Godwith God

• AN IDEA:AN IDEA:• Is developed by Is developed by

our imaginationour imagination• Does not cause a Does not cause a

sacrificial pricesacrificial price• Comes from the Comes from the

inspiration of inspiration of others.others.

Vision is seeing the church Vision is seeing the church and community through and community through

God’s eyes!God’s eyes!

See what God wants to do See what God wants to do through the church!through the church!

• How does God see the church?How does God see the church?• The Church is His people, uniquely gifted, and the The Church is His people, uniquely gifted, and the

instrument of evangelism and ministry.instrument of evangelism and ministry.

• The Church is His most potent force in the world The Church is His most potent force in the world to reach the world. (Romans 1:5-6)to reach the world. (Romans 1:5-6)

• How does God see the community?How does God see the community?• It is filled with people in need of a Savior. It is filled with people in need of a Savior.

(Matthew 9:36-38)(Matthew 9:36-38)

• It needs the church to be It needs the church to be motivated by sacrificial love.motivated by sacrificial love.

Capture a vision for the Capture a vision for the church.church.

• TASK:TASK: Develop a vision for your Develop a vision for your church.church.

• Follow the format suggested in the Follow the format suggested in the article, “How to Develop a Church article, “How to Develop a Church Vision Statement” found in the Vision Statement” found in the appendix.appendix.

CHURCH COMMITMENTCHURCH COMMITMENTQuestion #2: What are we Question #2: What are we

called to do?called to do?• What is our church called to do?What is our church called to do?

• What does God want us to do for this What does God want us to do for this budget year?budget year?

• The church must determine, The church must determine, “What do we need to “What do we need to do to make it happen?” do to make it happen?”

Plan for ActionPlan for Action

• TASK:TASK: make plans for the coming make plans for the coming year with specific actions year with specific actions

• EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: “reach the children in our “reach the children in our community,” then what actions will community,” then what actions will be taken to make this happen?be taken to make this happen?

MINISTRY COSTMINISTRY COSTQuestion #3: What will it cost?Question #3: What will it cost?• Determine the cost.Determine the cost.

• Nehemiah (2:7-8) provides an example: Nehemiah (2:7-8) provides an example: He calculated the cost and then asked He calculated the cost and then asked the king for a letter and timber. the king for a letter and timber.

The task of the church is The task of the church is not not complete once the plans are complete once the plans are

made.made.

• Determine the cost of each planned Determine the cost of each planned ministry.ministry.

• Calculate the total cost of ministries.Calculate the total cost of ministries.

MINISTRY FUNDINGMINISTRY FUNDINGQuestion 4: How will we pay Question 4: How will we pay

for these ministries? for these ministries?

• Develop a budget that focuses Develop a budget that focuses on ministries.on ministries.

3 Steps to develop a budget:3 Steps to develop a budget:

• #1: Develop a line item budget for fixed expenses #1: Develop a line item budget for fixed expenses like salaries/benefits, literature, utilities/building, like salaries/benefits, literature, utilities/building, etc. etc.

• #2: Divide all of the plans in three or four ministry #2: Divide all of the plans in three or four ministry categories that reflect the vision statement, (i.e., categories that reflect the vision statement, (i.e., Worship, Discipleship, and Outreach).Worship, Discipleship, and Outreach).

• #3: Determine what percentage of the fixed #3: Determine what percentage of the fixed expenses belongs to each of the expenses belongs to each of the categories listed in Step Two. categories listed in Step Two.

Sample Ministry BudgetSample Ministry Budget

• Strategy #1: WorshipStrategy #1: Worship

• Strategy #2: DiscipleshipStrategy #2: Discipleship

• Strategy #3: OutreachStrategy #3: Outreach

STEWARDSHIP EDUCATIONSTEWARDSHIP EDUCATIONQuestion 5: How is it possible?Question 5: How is it possible?• Focus the budget on ministries, not Focus the budget on ministries, not

“paying bills.”“paying bills.”

• Stewardship Education must address Stewardship Education must address three issues specifically:three issues specifically:• Lifestyle ChoicesLifestyle Choices• Financial DecisionsFinancial Decisions• Giving PracticesGiving Practices

Appendix: Appendix:

Helping a ChurchHelping a ChurchDevelop a Vision StatementDevelop a Vision Statement

Writing a Vision StatementWriting a Vision Statement • Explain Your Role as “Vision Caster”Explain Your Role as “Vision Caster”• Discuss “God’s Expectations for a Discuss “God’s Expectations for a

BelieverBeliever• Analyze ResponsesAnalyze Responses• Compose a Single Sentence Vision Compose a Single Sentence Vision

StatementStatement• Test the StatementTest the Statement• Adopt, Communicate, and Adopt, Communicate, and

Celebrate the Church’s Celebrate the Church’s Mission StatementMission Statement