Editor’s note: Monthly articles from LCMS Stewardship Ministry are hosted here on The Lutheran Witness site. Visit the “Ministry Features” page each month for additional stewardship content.
A visit to the coast of a large body of water, such as the ocean or one of the Great Lakes, can teach an invaluable lesson in stewardship. This lesson is not about water quality or the state of the fishing; rather, it is taught right at the shoreline. It is an easily overlooked lesson, but no steward leader should miss it.
The lesson of stewardship is illustrated by what one commentator called “compound pounding.”
When ocean waves crash against rocks at the shore or on a breakwater, there is often a spectacular splash and spray. However, as swiftly as the wave hits, it becomes part of history. An individual wave may create a striking visual and soak a bystander, but does it leave any lasting effect? Generally, the answer is no.
Nevertheless, when wave after wave strikes the same rock, there is indeed an impact over time. The rock becomes scarred, then smoothed and eventually eroded. While a single wave might have little lasting effect, the repeated pounding of waves gradually shapes the shoreline into a new formation.
This process is never instant; it takes extended periods of time and constant pounding to produce almost artistic results.
The creative power of compound pounding
Steward leaders Synodwide, whether in congregations or districts or other entities, can learn a great deal from this phenomenon.
Too often, particularly at the congregational level, stewardship is treated like an individual wave. Once a year, congregation leaders initiate the fall stewardship program to raise enough funds for the upcoming budget.
This annual wave hits the hearts of the congregation, making a splash as commitments are made and budgets are balanced. Then, too often, the stewardship wave is quickly relegated to history, not to be revisited until the next year.
What is lost in this approach is the creative power of compound pounding.
I am not advocating for weekly financial requests, which would overburden the congregation. Instead, I support the idea of creating a culture where stewardship is seen not just as meeting financial needs, but as making ongoing, collective efforts in stewarding the Gospel.
Cultivating stewardship through pulpit, font and altar
This compound pounding should start in the pulpit. Preachers need not run to 2 Corinthians 8–9 for stewardship texts. While these are applicable to financial stewardship, opportunities to introduce whole-life stewardship of the Gospel exist every week in the lectionary. Any pastor capable of delivering a biblically and confessionally sound sermon can touch on stewardship every week.
Compound pounding can also manifest in the context of the Divine Service. As the offering is gathered, the pastor can make a direct connection between the congregation’s financial stewardship and its impact on Gospel outreach in the community.
This connection between giving and the result of Gospel ministry is powerful. Though it does not need to be done every week, it should be highlighted at regular intervals, such as monthly or quarterly.
During the offering, the pastor could tell stories of what the congregation’s faithful stewardship has enabled the Lord to do. Even congregations that do not pass a collection plate could consider presenting the offering during the service to make this connection.
The idea of compound pounding also extends to the congregation’s communications.
Stewardship stories should be told regularly through both print and electronic platforms, especially when they clearly connect to Gospel stewardship. Newsletters and social media video reels can share stories of faithful stewardship with the congregation and the community, often inspiring others to embrace and expand their own stewardship efforts.
Teaching and preaching Gospel stewardship, year after year
This compound pounding helps create a culture shaped by and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It connects stewardship to the core of the Gospel, occurring at the font, the altar, and in the pulpit.
Continually teaching and preaching about Gospel stewardship year after year creates the desired cultural transformation. This new culture, sculpted by the Holy Spirit working through the Word, reveals the true identity of stewards.
No single, silver-bullet effort can achieve this transformation. It is the result of years of compound pounding through preaching, teaching, sharing and shaping by faithful steward leaders in a congregation, district and throughout Synod. With commitment to this approach, great results can be achieved.
LCMS Stewardship ministry features may be reprinted with acknowledgment given to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
