Stewardship Blog

30Jul

3 Ways to Save Money on Health Expenses

Unplanned health expenses can wreak havoc on anyone’s budget. In fact, medical debt is one of the top reasons that individuals declare bankruptcy. Health expenses - particularly health insurance - can cause even the most meticulous budgeters to throw their hands up in frustration and confusion. As stewards of the Lord’s resources, it is our responsibility to be attentive to this portion of our finances. Here are three ways to take better control of your health expenses: 1. Understand the fundamental health insurance terms Those with employer-sponsored health insurance have a few options to pick from when open enrollment occurs or starting...

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28Apr

How Will You Steward Your Stimulus Check?

In an effort to mitigate the hardships many Americans are facing because of COVID-19, the federal government began issuing stimulus checks in mid-April to those who qualified. Some of us will now be able to pay our rent or mortgage, or provide food and other essential items for our families. Some of us will save those funds for future needs or emergencies. Some of us will splurge or treat ourselves with the unexpected income. Followers of Jesus all across America have an amazing opportunity in this season to leverage their stimulus checks to be conduits of blessing. While most of us want to...

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28Apr

Newlywed Couples’ Generosity Starts at “I Do”

Like many Christians, Mac and Chelsea have always struggled with money. They knew that it belonged to God but weren’t sure what that looked like in everyday life. It was a lesson they needed to learn from each other. “Before ‘First,’ I didn't really have a budget,” Chelsea said. “I knew I was making more money than I was spending, and I was tithing my 10 percent. That was about the extent of it.” For Chelsea, freedom came without structure. For Mac, it was found in control. “I used to be obsessed with money and thought that if I had enough of it,...

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28Apr

Adopting a New Mindset Toward Giving

When Travis and Eugenia began considering international adoption, they knew that one of the biggest obstacles would be the cost. Torn between their desire to adopt and faithfully give to God’s kingdom, they struggled with how their generosity would change if they made such a large financial commitment outside the church. Travis remembers a conversation he had with the Summit’s stewardship pastor, Blair Graham, and the impact it had on their decision. “Blair said, ‘I want to encourage you to give to God as you would if there were no adoption. In other words, continue to give generously and then see...

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11Feb

Trust, Faith and God’s Provision: TJ and Tori’s Story

TJ and Tori had a challenging first year of marriage, moving across the country just three days after their wedding and learning to merge their lives together. While juggling all the looming expenses and limited income that comes with being full-time college students, TJ and Tori committed to putting God first in every area of their lives, including their finances. Despite their lack of resources, they began tithing, giving ten percent of their income to the church each month. Dedicating the first of their earnings at the beginning of the month required trust and faith—trust in God's promise to provide all their...

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13Dec

You Can’t Out-Give God—He Wins Every Time

“You’re not going to win.” Summit member Eric knows that will be the outcome every time you try to out-give God. Eric and his wife Sherri, who attend Summit’s Alamance County campus, have experienced this firsthand. Their Summit journey in generosity began as members of another church participating in a study of Pastor J.D.’s book, Gospel. After learning that J.D. and Summit were local, they began attending the North Raleigh campus, joined the church and ended up moving to the Alamance campus after building a house in the area. Eric and Sherri have tithed throughout their marriage. They participated in Financial Peace University through...

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30Aug

A Newlywed Couple’s Journey to Financial Freedom

Beginning wise financial habits when you’re young helps set the stage for financial freedom. Blue Ridge campus couple Josh and Megan were aware of basic financial practices prior to participating in Financial Peace University (FPU), but taking the nine-week course at The Summit Church helped put them on the right financial path. “Megan’s father referred us to Dave Ramsey’s teaching,” Josh said. “When we found out FPU was coming to Brier Creek, we talked to him about it and decided to take the class.” Practically newlyweds, Josh and Megan have been married for three years. They participated in FPU during the...

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28Aug

From Debt to Content: Seeing God's Blessings While Giving Extravagantly

As a young teacher, Deborah got her first credit card and was amazed at how she could buy something and pay for it later. It was almost too good to be true. “One day while paying my bills, I looked at the statement and realized the amount of interest and the minimum monthly payment was the same,” Deborah remembers. “I realized I would never get it paid off if I only paid the minimum, so I decided that day to start working towards paying it off.” It was a simple lesson, but one she needed to learn. “Sometime after that, my car...

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26Aug

Sent: Putting God First in Every Area

Nate and Sarah* knew they needed to establish a strong foundation for their marriage from the very beginning, particularly with their plans for communication and organizing their finances. After getting married last August, they were gifted an enrollment in Financial Peace University (FPU), which they began immediately with the hope that the classes would give them the guidance they needed. “FPU helped us build that foundation together and allowed us to have a fresh start and the best start we needed heading into marriage,” Sarah said. Following one of the suggestions from their time in FPU, the two started having weekly meetings...

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13Dec

The Journey of Trusting the Lord: La'Treall's Story

For La’Treall, First isn’t just a season at The Summit Church: It’s a journey she’s been on her entire life. After living in the Raleigh area off-and-on for 27 years, she began to realize that, while her life was full, she still struggled with giving. “In the Book of Malachi, where the Lord challenges his believers to test him and prove whether or not he’s faithful, he’s not just saying he’s faithful,” she said, “he’s asking you to try him out and see, see if he’s faithful.” La’Treall wondered if she was truly doing this. “While early on, I had intellectual assent...

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