Articles on Finance
Offerings. Tithes. Stewardship. Generosity. Giving. Sacrifice. Finance. There are many words that we use to describe the money that is received by the church for ministry use. There are also many facets to the Finance Department as they aid ministries by organizing the necessary funds.
A Believer’s Journey of Financial Sanctification
Every follower of Jesus has a before. The time when they do not know the Lord. Then, there is a moment when a person crosses from death into life, from self-rule into surrender. We [...]
When Growth Outruns Resources
Why This Webinar? Why Now? For the first time in four decades, church attendance is rising. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research’s 2025 study of 7,453 congregations found that median in-person attendance climbed to [...]
Negotiating Church Contracts Is a Stewardship Issue
Church leaders are often careful with large expenses like building projects, staffing plans, and major ministry initiatives. Many churches quietly lose money in smaller monthly contracts that renew year after year. Copier leases, online [...]
Helping Families Get Their Affairs in Order
Have you ever walked alongside a family in your church after the loss of a loved one—only to discover there was no plan in place? The result is often costly probate, family tension, and [...]
Stewardship & Strategy: Financial Leadership for Church Leaders
Your church’s finances are more than spreadsheets; they’re a reflection of stewardship, vision, and trust. Gain practical insight into key financial matters executive pastors should be monitoring, including succession planning, fundraising, budgeting, fraud prevention, [...]
Church Donors Get a New Federal Tax Break in 2026
On the federal Form 1040, Americans generally have two choices when filing taxes: take the standard deduction or itemize deductions. Many American tax filers do not itemize and, therefore, did not receive a tax [...]
Hiring an Auditor for Your Church
Last year, I was on a call with a church leader who told me, confidently, We get an audit every year. As we talked, I asked a practical question: Do you have a plan [...]
What Churches Need to Know About the New Tax Bill
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law in July 2025 introduces several important changes that affect churches and other tax-exempt entities. Some provisions are already in effect, while others are on [...]
Your Church Giving in 2026
What Executive Pastors Need to See Coming and How to Prepare Now Most Executive Pastors are coming out of a demanding season. Christmas is behind you, but the pressure hasn’t eased. Budgets are tight, [...]
Should Your Church Change Its Fiscal Year-End?
If your church uses a calendar year-end of December 31 as its fiscal year-end, you may want to consider whether you would benefit from changing it. We continue to see more churches moving away from [...]
Money and Ministry: 7 Costly Financial Mistakes to Avoid, Part 2
This is part 2 of our webinar with Ken Tan. Churches face a multitude of changes today. And the rate and extent of change are greater than ever, which means church leaders need to [...]
Legacy of Generosity: Building a Ministry that Outlasts You
Every church will one day face the transition of a founding or lead pastor—it’s inevitable. The question is: will your church be financially ready to thrive through that change? Join us for an insightful [...]
Money and Ministry: 7 Costly Financial Mistakes to Avoid
Churches face a multitude of changes today. And the rate and extent of change are greater than ever, which means church leaders need to identify trends sooner and respond faster. Join us as we [...]
Finance 101 in Brief: A Quick Dive into Key Topics
Join Fletch and Mike Lee as they break down the key essentials every XP needs to know about internal financial reporting, managing financial health, debt considerations, and data security practices. [...]
Developing a Healthy Stewardship Ministry in the Local Church
There is an enormous transfer of wealth coming in the near future. It totals in the neighborhood of $68 trillion! It is important for your church to have a stewardship and generosity [...]
Church Giving 2025
Church leaders need to know generosity trends in 2025. That's the starting point for this discussion. Then it will get really up-close and personal as Brad talks about how to inform, inspire, [...]
How to Restructure Budgets and Free Up Resources for Debt Payoff
Are you ready to take control of your ministry's finances and accelerate debt payoff? Join us for a practical and engaging webinar designed for Executive Pastors and ministry leaders. Discover proven debt [...]
Federal Judge Rolls Back the DOL Minimum Salary Level
XPastor brings a special, late in the season, webinar on a very hot topic! On November 15, 2024 a Texas federal judge rolled back the Department of Labor’s salary threshold for managers [...]
3 Ways to Budget in an Uncertain Environment
It’s time to prepare your 2025 budget. Unlike most years, we’re in a unique phase in the economic cycle. Interest rates are beginning to fall, financial markets have been volatile, and it’s a presidential [...]
Alternative Investments—Accounting, Auditing, and Tax Considerations
Are alternative investments right for your church? More and more churches are investing in alternative investments. These alternatives are often structured as limited partnerships or limited liability companies and are often treated [...]
IRS Issues Employee Retention Credit Disallowance Letters and Releases More Warning Signs
The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a fully refundable payroll tax credit designed to assist employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It can provide a significant refund for eligible employers. In September 2023, the IRS [...]
Internal Controls: Practical Steps for Churches to Implement
Effective internal controls are vital to helping your church safeguard your resources, ensure financial integrity, and foster trust. We’ll share the latest research on how organizations are affected by fraud and discuss [...]
Keeping Your Expansion Project on the Rails
Many factors are coming together to present challenges to current construction projects. During our time together, we will be discussing the most common derailers such as: ill-timed capital campaigns, lack of financial [...]
Artificial Intelligence Brings Legal Liability
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a helpful tool for churches. Many are using AI to ethically research sermon ideas. Others use it to redact a 45 minute message into a 1,000 word article for [...]