Personal Finance Curricula for Congregational Studies

Transcription

1 Personal Finance Curricula for Congregational Studies Title: Family Financial Workbook Author: Larry Burkett founder of Christian Financial Concepts, which later merged to become Crown Financial Ministries. Publisher: Moody Publishers Year of Publication: 2000 Cost (on Amazon.com): $10.87 (list price $15.99) Product Description (from amazon.com) Finances are the leading cause of marital breakdown and strife. Countless families give the false impression of being wealthy while drowning in a sea of debt. Family Financial Workbook is the best tool a family can have to manage their finances with God's direction. With a comprehensive collection of easy-to-follow worksheets, practicality is key feature of this great resource. Table of Contents 1. If You Read Nothing Else...Read This! 2. Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail 3. Everybody Needs a Budget! 4. Where Are You Now? 5. Setting Your Budget 6. Making Your Budget Work 7. Budget Challenges 8. Resource Section: Money-Saving Tips 9. Financial Resources and Tools 10. Forms Form 1 - Monthly Income and Expenses Form 2 - Variable Expense Planning Form 3 - Budget Percentage Guidelines Form 4 - Budget Analysis Form 5 - Income Allocation Form 6 - Savings Account Allocations Form 7 - Individual Account Page Form 7a - Checkbook Ledger Form 8 - List of Debts Form 9 - Impulse List My observations: Extremely practical. Focused on developing and using a budget. Would be particularly useful for people who have never undertaken this task, or are new to practical, individual financial management. This is not laid out like a Sunday School or adult curriculum, but could be used a part of a self-developed study. Requires a strong leader. Note: Rev. Bill Reisenweaver is trained and experienced with this resource

2 Title: Financial Peace University Author: Dave Ramsey Publisher: daveramsey.com Year of Publication: 2008 Cost Each family unit enrolling in FPU agrees to purchase one membership kit (for $93.00 plus 7% shipping and handling). The Leadership materials cost $299 Product Description (from Financial Peace University is a tool that supports churches by equipping them with a biblically-based accountability class that will train their congregation and community to manage their resources. The class is taught via DVD by Dave Ramsey, followed by a volunteer-led small group discussion. The small group discussion is where genuine behavior change takes place. The group members encourage one another to apply the principles they are learning. Together, the group works through the seven Baby Steps need to walk in financial peace. The objective of the small group is not to pry into everyone s business; it is simply to walk together as each family learns and applies the principles. The suggestion is that there be 13-2 hour sessions (one hour for the video lesson and one hour for the small group discussion. Members later have access to on-line support tools at no additional cost. Lesson Content 1. Super Saving In this lesson, Dave explains the Seven Baby Steps that will guide you throughout FPU. You will also learn the three key reasons why you should save money and why you must start now 2. Relating With Money This lesson will teach spouses how to communicate and work together toward success. Also, singles will learn the importance of teamwork and parents will find out how to teach their kids about money. 3. Cash Flow Planning Unlock the secret of developing a monthly spending plan that really works. 4. Dumping Debt It s time to debunk the myths that most people believe about debt! In this lesson, Dave Ramsey reveals the truth about the credit lies and gives you a plan for walking out of debt with confidence. 5. Credit Sharks in Suits What is a credit score, anyway? Join Dave as he unpacks your credit rating and shows you how to handle collectors when they call 6. Buyer Beware Dave Ramsey draws on decades of experience to reveal the power and influence that marketing has on your everyday buying decisions. Let the buyer beware! 7. Clause and Effect In this lesson, Dave walks you through the world of insurance, carefully explaining what you need and what you need to avoid. 8. That's Not Good Enough! Discover the seldom-used secrets of buying only big, big bargains every time! Before you know it, you ll be saying That s not good enough! 9. Of Mice and Mutual Funds Dave breaks through the jargon surrounding long-term investing and empowers you to make your own decisions about your investments! 10. From Fruition to Tuition Dave walks you through the maze of retirement options and helps you figure out the right path for you. You will also learn how to plan for college so your kids can graduate debt free!

3 11. Working in Your Strengths This lesson will show you how to avoid dead-end or mind-numbing jobs and provide tips for job hunting, writing a résumé, and acing an interview. Plus, you ll learn tips for finding extra jobs if you need cash to attack your debt snowball. 12. Real Estate and Mortgages Dave draws on over 20 years of real estate experience to teach you how to win when buying or selling your home. Plus, he ll dissect all of the common mortgage options available today, showing you what to choose and what to avoid. 13. The Great Misunderstanding Warning! This lesson will challenge the way you think about money. Dave will show you how generous giving can completely revolutionize your attitude and improve your finances, business and relationships. The program claims: Over 650,000 families have completed FPU with amazing success. On average, they pay off $5,300 in debt and save $2,700 in just 13 weeks. That's an $8,000 change in position in just 91 days! My observations: Fairly expensive program. Very comprehensive coverage of most elements of finance that an individual or family might encounter. Not all topics might be applicable to each participant. Would lend itself to a small-group study in a congregation (recommended group size is 8-12). Dave Ramsey s style is high energy I would recommend viewing one of the preview videos just to get a feel for his style. The curriculum will not require a content-expert leader; Dave Ramsey provides the leadership and content. Note: Rev. Bill Reisenweaver has experience with this curriculum.

4 Title: Money, Purpose, Joy The Proven Path to Uncommon Financial Success Author: Matt Bell Publisher: Navpress; Willow Creek Resources Year of Publication: 2008 Cost (on Amazon.com): $10.19 (list price $14.99) Product Description (from amazon.com) Discover the connection between money and what really matters in life. Using a prodigal son approach, financial expert Matt Bell helps readers understand how we've traveled far from the financial home God prepared for us. Matt helps readers redirect spending to meet their deepest longings for relationships and joy. From the Inside Flap Money and things--the more we have, the more we want. Of course, we all know that "More" is a game that can't be won. No matter how much we get, it's never enough. But deep down inside, part of us clings to the hope that the next time will be different--with a little bit more we'll be happier. So we keep up the pursuit. Fortunately, there's a better way to manage our money and our lives: Turn toward home. Just as the prodigal son wandered from home and squandered his inheritance, so have many of us wandered from the financial home God prepared for us. In this inspiring and instructive book, financial writer and speaker Matt Bell helps you redirect your use of money to meet your deepest longings--to turn toward the life God intends for you. Table of Contents My observations: Money, Purpose, Joy is a readable book that could be used in a Sunday School setting or in a small group study format. Each chapter ends with discussion questions to prompt thinking about the role of money, culture, consumerism play in our lives as Christians. The first two sections are designed to get the reader thinking about money and things; the last two sections are more practical with tools for planning and changing. To simplify using this book as a curriculum, and for more practical tools, there are two complementary resources from the same publisher and author. They are:

5 Discussion guide for Money Purpose Joy. 96 pages. $8.99. The author recommends that every member of a study group have both the book and the discussion guide. Personal Workbook to Accompany Money Purpose Joy $ Follows the book chapter by chapter. Includes forms to help participants more fully complete the What to Do parts of the book, directions, suggestions to help the participant go deeper into examining their personal situation and developing their own personal finance plan. There is no accompanying DVD for the curriculum, so leadership will need to be identified for a study group.

6 Title: Money Matters Financial Freedom for all God s Children (Participant Guide) and Money Matters Financial Freedom for all God s Churches (Leader s Guide with DVD) Author: Michael Slaughter with Kim Miller Publisher: Abingdon Press Ginghamsburg Resources Year of Publication: 2006 Cost: $13.00 for participant guide; $31.50 for leader s guide) Product Description (from abingdonpress.com) Contents: Freedom for Christians Imagine feeling free from financial worry, free from debt, and free from the never-ending pressures of juggling all those financial demands. Imagine feeling in control of your finances. Money Matters: Financial Freedom for all God s Children shows you how to do God's math, which is based on spiritual principles found in Scripture. God's math results in:. Debt-Free Living. Focus & Planning. A Disciplined Lifestyle. Easy Simplicity. Surrender & Trust. Creating versus Consuming. Stewardship Versus Ownership. Generosity The Focus of Heart DEVOTION Chapter 1 A Faith-filled Focus Chapter 2 Devoted to Our Rightful Owner Chapter 3 Surrender, Trust, and Freedom The Commitment to DEBT-FREE Living Chapter 4 Stewardship 101 Chapter 5 Steps to Debt-free Living The Practice of a DISCIPLINED Lifestyle Chapter 6 Creators vs. Consumers Chapter 7 Lifestyles of the Disciplined and Generous The Power of Ultimate Sacrifice a call to action My observations: The authors are pastor and creative director at Ginghamsburg Methodist Church. The study leads beyond personal finance from an individual Christian perspective to a more encompassing look at stewardship as the focus of the Christian life. It does include strategies for personal financial health as a part of our call to stewardship, but is not a step-by-step guide to developing an individual financial plan. It looks very usable for an adult Sunday School class, or for a small group study. The leadership guide includes tools for developing a year-round stewardship program in the congregation

7 modeled on that used at Ginghamsburg and might be very interesting reading for a stewardship committee. Their model demands a high level of stewardship maturity on the part of church leaders. It also includes a study guide to be used with the participant book. The accompanying DVD includes stories and vignettes to help illustrate the points of the curriculum, but does not take the place of a leader.

8 Title: Freed-Up financial Living Author: Dick Towner and John Tofilon. Publisher: NavPress Willow Creek Resources Year of Publication: 2008 Cost: Participant s Workbook - $17.99 ($12.23 on Amazon) Six Session DVD - $29.99 Product Description (from Navpress) Leadership DVD - Description: This brand-new resource features the teaching of seasoned financial ministry leaders, Dick Towner, John Tofilon, and Shannon Plate on high-quality DVD. The inclusive sixsession curriculum outlines biblical essentials on earning, giving, saving, spending, and reducing debt, while providing practical tips to help participants achieve their own financial, personal, and spiritual goals--whether you're working with small groups, individuals, or in larger group settings. With updated participant materials, dramas, and teaching, Freed-Up Financial Living combines encouraging, grace-filled delivery with the right balance of biblical principles and practical application that will revitalize your approach to stewardship. Inject new life into your entire church ministry as you provide a tested platform from which people's finances can be radically transformed. Geared for small group settings, the material easily adapts to seminars or individual use. Individual Participant's Guides can be reordered as needed to introduce solid, biblical stewardship principles to a brand-new audience. Participant s Guide Description: The inclusive six-session curriculum outlines biblical essentials on earning, giving, saving, spending, and reducing debt, while providing practical tips to help participants achieve their own financial, personal, and spiritual goals--whether you're working with small groups, individuals, or in larger group settings. With updated participant materials, dramas, and teaching, Freed-Up Financial Living combines encouraging, grace-filled delivery with the right balance of biblical principles and practical application that will revitalize your approach to stewardship. Inject new life into your entire church ministry as you provide a tested platform from which people's finances can be radically transformed. Geared for small group settings, the material easily adapts to seminars or individual use. Individual Participant's Guides can be reordered as needed to introduce solid, biblical stewardship principles to a brand-new audience. Table of Contents (Session Titles): 1. Two Masters, One Servant 2. Earning and Giving 3. Giving and Saving 4. Debt 5. Spending 6. Adjusting the Spending Plan and Committment

9 My observations: This study really requires very little local leadership the discussants on the DVD are the leaders. They tell you when to stop the DVD, do an activity in the workbook, discuss a concept, etc. The speakers presentation styles are fairly low-key and casual, and you don t feel exhausted after listening to them for an hour. There is a strong blend between faith development, understanding the connection between our relationship to money and our relationship to God, and very practical ways to build a personal, biblically-based spending plan. There is prework involved before beginning the course the most time-consuming activity is identifying in detail what you spend one average each month.