Book Review Stewardship Committee - Wisconsin Conference UMC Making Disciples - Making Stewards

Right on the Money
By Brian K. Bauknight

Reviewed by Roger T. Becker

Right on the Money is a collection of sermons that I found very helpful in addressing the often avoided subject of the stewardship of our financial resources. The sermons address a wide variety of situations and are grouped into four categories: Basic Christian Formation, Toward Tithing, Capital Campaigns, and Words of Encouragement.

Brian K. Bauknight has subtitled this collection of stewardship sermons, Messages for Spiritual Growth through Giving, and the subtitle is not misleading. Throughout the book, giving is understood and proclaimed as an act of Christian discipleship. While these sermons were originally preached during regular or special finance campaigns, they are truly stewardship sermons and the emphasis is on discipleship. This is refreshing and many pastors will find in these sermons a good theological basis for developing their own stewardship sermons.

Readers are also likely to find themselves challenged to grow spiritually through giving, if not by the theology, then by the example of a generous giver. Brian Bauknight does not shy away from using an occasional personal illustration or making his own personal witness about giving. He does this in a way that is not offensive to the hearer and his examples might serve as a pattern for other preachers to share how they have grown spiritually through giving.

Finally, every preacher will find some good illustrations to use in their own sermons, but if you read it just for this purpose, you will miss its true value.

Right on the Money is available through Discipleship Resources and they have done us a fine service by publishing this book.

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