Chances are, most churchgoers don't know how their pastors struggle before stepping behind the pulpit and talking to them about controversial issues.

Perhaps the toughest issue pastors have to tackle is church giving. How, exactly, do you handle such a volatile subject?

The answer to that question will be addressed in Exponential 04: Unleashing Generosity in Your Church, a conference scheduled Tuesday, September 21 at North Point Community Church in Atlanta (Alpharetta).

Speakers at the event will include North Point pastor Andy Stanley, along with:

• Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest California;
• Johnny Hunt, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia; and
• Randy Pope, Perimeter Church, Duluth, Georgia.
  

What these men bring to the conference is a wealth of information on the subject of teaching about money.

That teaching is an important part of the activities at North Point, where Andy Stanley has seen generosity unleashed.

“As people understand the vision of our church, people give,” he says. “We see brand new believers, people who have been previously unchurched, out-give some of our seasoned believers. If people understand the vision, and as they experience the life change that is supposed to happen within a local church, it releases them in every level of life, including their finances.”

Some church members may want to give, but they can't seem to overcome fears about turning loose of the money in their wallets. After all, what if something unexpected, like a job loss, happens?

Stanley notes that the “What if?” question plagues many believers. But behind their fear, he says, is the presupposition that, by not giving generously and by robbing God, they're going to position themselves financially so they can be ready for any challenge.

“I think we have to hammer away at two things: (1) everything belongs to God, and (2) God is in control,” he says. “If everything belongs to God and God is in control, then what do I have to fear?

“In fact, I should fear not being a generous giver, because generosity is an invitation for God to be involved in my personal finances. And I've never met anybody who said, ‘Dear Heavenly Father, I don't really want You involved in my finances.' Everybody wants God to bless them or to be involved financially, and the only way to invite God in, as the Scripture teaches, is to give.”

Rick Warren notes that God uses money to test believers' spiritual maturity. Why? Because believers, like everyone else, spend most of their lives making, spending, saving, investing, and giving money, as well as thinking and worrying about it.

“We were created for a reason, for a task to do,” Warren says. “And one day you'll stand before God, and you will explain to Him what you did with what you were given. Use your time, use your money, use your life on things that really matter, that only believers can do.

“Only believers are going to fund evangelism, only believers are going to fund discipleship, only believers are going to fund getting people into the kingdom, building them up to maturity, helping them find their ministry, helping them discover their life mission, and go out into eternity.”

Exponential 04 will propose a new paradigm for generosity and financial faithfulness in the church. The pastor will embrace the role as leader and teacher within the church in the area of finances.

And, giving will be handled as an opportunity rather than an obligation for God's children—grace versus law.

Implementing this paradigm will involve teaching. Pastors will learn to preach on giving and financial faithfulness in a way that meets people where they are and motivates them to follow God's truth.

In the area of equipping, the conference will address the best practices and tools to disciple church members and help them get their finances in order.

Also, Exponential 04 will address celebration. Ideas and best practices for celebrating victories in giving and financial discipleship will be discussed.

The conference will be beneficial not only to senior pastors but to church administrators, stewardship pastors, and leaders of financial ministries.

Visit the <a href="conference'>http://www.crown.org/conferences/exponential04/default.asp">conference section</a> of the Crown Web site for information about conference costs, times, and registration.