Our mission is to engage the whole person, with the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ anywhere, anytime, with anybody. The “whole Gospel of Jesus Christ” includes mankind’s original calling to the work of stewardship and especially our response to God to develop a lifestyle of generosity. Good stewardship is not necessary for salvation, but it is an essential part of sanctification.

What We Believe About Stewardship

Statement #1: God owns it. We manage it.


Scripture: Psalm 24:1, Genesis 2:15

God is the creator and owner of all things. He graciously allows us to steward what already belongs to him. Stewardship – the management of an asset for another – was man’s original work in the Garden of Eden and predates the fall. We were stewards before we were sinners.

Statement #2: God is a giver. We should be givers, too.


Scripture: John 3:16, 1 Timothy 6:18

The essence of God is generosity. God gives us all things, including the life of his son on the cross. When we give, we become more like God.

Statement #3: Giving changes us.


Scripture: Acts 20:35b, Matthew 6:21

Our hearts follow our money. Giving to God directs our attention to Him and breaks our focus on earthly things. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Statement #4: Giving changes the world.


Scripture: 3 John 8, Matthew 6:33, II Corinthians 9:12

Giving advances the Great Commission and the Kingdom of God. When we give to God through our local church, the church is able to further its mission of reaching the lost.

Statement #5: God deserves our FIRST and BEST.


Scripture: Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:10

All throughout scripture, God’s people are taught to give a tenth of their income – their first and best – to God. When we make giving our first financial priority, we put God first.

Stewardship Definitions

Stewardship is the managing of all resources God has entrusted to us, including time, talent, and treasure. All of us are stewards. Stewardship is a responsibility.

Generosity is a willingness to share with others that involves personal sacrifice. Generosity is an attitude.

Giving is the act of releasing something of value in one’s possession. Giving is an action.

Tithing is giving 10% of one’s gross income to the church.

Offering is any giving over and above the tithe.

Theological Statements

Southern Baptist Convention Definition of Stewardship


We agree with the Stewardship statement in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which states: God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.

Scripture: Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

The Biblical Definition of Tithing


The preponderance of Scripture, and especially the Old Testament, establishes tithing as normative for followers of God. At Brentwood Baptist, we teach tithing as a standard to which Christians should aspire and offering as an additional expression of generosity.

Tithing inclines our hearts to God (Matthew 6:21), guards our hearts against greed (which is idolatry, Colossians 3:5), and funds the advancement of Christian workers and the Kingdom of God (II Corinthians 9:12). God promises to bless those who tithe (Malachi 3:10).