Start Here
This Field Guide is your grab-and-go manual for starting and sustaining a Financial Wisdom Ministry (FWM) in your local church. It walks through the journey in a suggested chronological order, but no two churches are alike — treat the path as a starting point and customize it to your size, season, and culture.
What “plug-and-play” means here
Each stage below gives you a goal, who’s involved, step-by-step actions, decisions to make, and the assets you’ll need — each asset links to a fillable template in the Appendix.
The one non-negotiable
For this to work, it has to be relational. Resources alone don’t transform a congregation — a few committed people prioritizing the initiative do. Lead with care, follow up on the small things, and keep relationships central at every step.
The Three Pillars
RBI supports your ministry on three pillars — all three are needed for it to stand:
- Pillar 1 — The Pastor. We support you as a spiritual leader. We provide tools, partner connections (Faith Driven Entrepreneurs, the National Christian Foundation, Kingdom Advisors), an optional personal financial planner, and connection to other implementing churches.
- Pillar 2 — Ministry Leaders. Biblical financial wisdom applies across every age and stage. We help your leaders bring biblical financial wisdom into the key life moments people experience — marriage prep, career changes, college, grief, and more.
- Pillar 3 — The People in the Pews. We grow disciples by providing content and curriculum that can be applied across every age and stage — devotionals, small-group studies, sermon series, and books.
Prerequisites Checklist
Confirm these before you begin:
- The Lead Pastor is on board and has begun (or is willing to begin) his/her own financial wisdom journey.
- You have reviewed the Roadmap so you understand the path, as well as the Source Book so you know what content and curriculum is available — along with partners who might offer something of value to you or your church.
- You understand the free self-implementation path (this guide) and what the paid/supported version adds, in case you want more help later.
- You have identified, or know how to find, a Christian financial professional who can serve the local church as a point person and resource. (RBI may be able to connect you to an RBI Ambassador.)
Establish the Foundation
Step 1 — Identify your core team
Look for these roles (one person may wear more than one hat; some roles may have more than one person):
- A financial professional in your congregation who might see this as a ministry calling. This person needs to be someone who is known and respected within your church and has been selected by a member of your church leadership team. If they’re not already an RBI Ambassador, consider connecting them to RBI’s network of Christian financial professionals serving churches.
- A staff point person to run the ministry day to day. RBI’s recommendation: choose someone who leads discipleship rather than operations — the message starts with the heart, so nesting FWM inside discipleship keeps it aligned.
- A prayer team leader or member willing to pray specifically for this ministry.
Step 2 — Cast the vision
- Schedule a one-on-one (or small group) meeting with each potential team member.
- Cast the vision: this is an ongoing discipleship process where we learn to apply biblical financial wisdom — not a one-time campaign. Share the “God owns it all / contentment” framing.
- Be honest about the time commitment you’re asking of each person. Know your ask before you walk in.
Step 3 — Plan your rhythm and build a calendar
- Review the available resources together (Source Book + Roadmap).
- Decide how often you’ll meet and who owns what.
- Build a calendar that sequences the stages and maintains momentum across the year (or season).
Step 4 — Close the loop with leadership
- Communicate the team’s plan back to the Lead Pastor and Prayer Lead if they weren’t in the meetings.
- Make sure everyone knows the next milestone and their role in it.
All-Church Launch
The core message to communicate
All biblical financial wisdom starts with a heart posture. This is for everyone — every age, every stage, every income.
Choose your launch vehicle
Option One — The “Master Your Money” 4-Week Sermon Series. A churchwide sermon arc to launch the ministry from the pulpit. Content is accessible in your Source Book.
Option Two — The All-Church 4 H’s Small-Group Journey. A shorter, congregation-wide journey: a month-long, all-church small-group experience built around the 4 H’s — Heart, Health, Habits, Hope. This is a ready, recommended option; the curriculum is accessible through your Source Book.
Launch support assets
Whatever you choose, prepare a simple launch kit: pulpit announcement, bulletin/insert copy, social media posts, a website blurb, and a kickoff email to the congregation. Ready-to-use copy for all of these is in the Appendix below — adjust the bracketed details and send.
Don’t skip: set up story capture now
Decide before launch how you’ll capture and share stories of transformation. Stories are your single best momentum tool. Pick two or three methods and make them routine:
- Ask publicly. Post on Facebook/Instagram: “We want to hear from you — how is God working in your life as you go through this Financial Wisdom journey?” Invite comments or direct messages.
- Build it into the last session. Reserve time in the final small-group meeting for people to write down and share a story of how God moved in and through the group.
- Send three questions by email. Email participants a few simple prompts you can shape into a story (ready-to-send copy is in Asset E1).
- Make sharing easy. Offer a short online form (or a printed card with a QR code) with a couple of prompts and a permission-to-share checkbox.
- Capture it live. Record a 60–90 second video testimony after a workshop or final session.
Self-Selected Deep Dive
Kick off your Fall, Spring, or Summer small groups with Financial Wisdom curriculum matched to a specific age, stage, or need. All content is accessible in the Source Book.
| Study | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| God Owns It All | 6 weeks | Foundational — biblical principles leading to contentment, confidence, and communication. |
| Financial Hope | 8 weeks | The four essential money conversations: Heart, Health, Habits, Hope. |
| Master Your Money | 14 weeks | Applying biblical wisdom to finances — budgeting, goals, tax planning, and more. |
| Splitting Heirs | 9 weeks | Transferring wealth and wisdom to the next generation (legacy). |
| God’s Money Playbook | 4 weeks | Teens — managing money God’s way. |
Integration
The exercise
Map the ministries your church provides — internally and externally. Then ask: what would it look like to integrate biblical financial wisdom into each one? Examples:
- Student ministry: offer God’s Money Playbook to middle/high schoolers.
- Care ministry: equip Care Ministers to walk with a grieving family member facing financial decisions.
- Marriage ministry: give Marriage Mentors tools for the “money conversation.”
- Key life moments: a graduating senior, a career change, a new baby, retirement.
Choose how you’ll equip leaders
Option One — Weekend Workshop. A two-hour block on a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. Have your Ambassador (or a qualified staff/congregation member) facilitate a session on core principles and their application across ministries. Leave at least 30 minutes for Q&A.
Option Two — Lunch & Learns. If leaders have daytime availability, host a recurring lunch-and-learn with the same content. Leave at least 30 minutes for Q&A.
Option Three — God Owns It All Through Your Lens. Ask each ministry leader to read (or reread) God Owns It All through the lens of their specific ministry, identifying where the principles connect to the issues their people face. Connect them to a resource or Ambassador for specific questions.
From Momentum to Sustainability
The shift
As the emphasis continues, a group of growing practitioners will emerge — people experiencing real gains as they take ownership of their giving, living, spending, owing, and growing. This group is uniquely equipped to help the next round of people.
Steps
- Identify those experiencing success and/or spiritual growth through FWM.
- Invite them to help others experience the same freedom and contentment.
- Train them to lead the next small group or to become financial health coaches — learning to “flip the script” from applying these principles personally to helping others apply them.
- Schedule a training class twice a year, ideally as small groups wrap up.
Don’t skip: document growth stories
Ask for and document stories of growth in this class — they’re gold when it’s time to promote the next round of courses, series, or workshops.
Feed the Funnel
Why workshops
Not everyone commits to a full study. Periodic workshops create easy on-ramps, fuel momentum, and address specific needs.
How to run them
- Offer a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon session.
- Customize topics to your congregation’s needs. Common options: Suddenly Single; Creating Your First Budget; Legacy / Future Planning; Women and Money; Teaching Children About Money.
- Build content from the resources in your Source Book.
- If you have an Ambassador or other Christian Financial Professional, ask whether they’ll lead the workshop or advise on content.
Keeping It Relational
These aren’t a stage — they’re the posture that makes every stage work:
- Show up. Be present at events. Follow up on the small things.
- Capture and communicate stories constantly (see Asset E1).
- Use the Assessment (pre and post) to measure not just finances but stress, conflict, fear of the future, joy in giving, and trust in God — outputs and outcomes.
- Care for your Ambassador. Keep them connected to other Ambassadors and to RBI. Celebrate them.
- Connect to partners in the Christian financial wisdom space when specific needs arise.
Quick Reference
| Stage | Goal | Key Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Started — Establish the Foundation | Build team, cast vision, set rhythm | A1–A4 |
| Going Public — All-Church Launch | Set churchwide tone | B1, B3, E1 |
| Going Deeper — Deep Dive | Move people into study | B2, B3, E1 |
| Integrating It In — Integration | Integrate into existing ministries | C1, C2 |
| Raising Leaders — Sustainability | Train practitioners / coaches | D1, E1 |
| Staying Open — Feed the Funnel | Ongoing on-ramps | F1 |
| Throughout | Stay relational | E1 (stories), Assessment |
Appendix
Assets for each stage. Items marked Ready to use contain copy you can customize right here — click any text to type in your own details, then use the “Print / Save as PDF” button on that asset to print it or save a filled-in PDF. Items marked In development are being built next.
A — Getting Started: Foundation
A one-pager you can hand each team member. Adjust the roles and time estimates to fit your church.
Open the roles one-pager
| Role | Purpose | Key responsibilities | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Pastor (Champion) | Provide visible spiritual covering and authority. | Cast vision from the front; bless the plan; model his/her own financial-wisdom journey. | Low — key moments |
| Staff Point Person | Run the ministry day to day. | Coordinate the team and calendar; own communication; keep momentum; ideally leads discipleship. | 2–4 hrs/week |
| Financial Professional / Ambassador | Provide subject-matter expertise. | Teach/advise on content; lead or coach workshops; connect to partners and RBI resources. | 2–5 hrs/month |
| Prayer Lead | Cover the ministry in prayer. | Recruit a prayer team; pray specifically for leaders, groups, and stories of change. | 1–2 hrs/month |
One person may wear more than one hat, and some roles may have more than one person. Add a “coordinates with” line per role as your team takes shape.
A talking track for your one-on-one (or small-group) recruitment conversations. Know your specific ask before you walk in.
Open the conversation guide
1. Open with the why
2. Start with the heart
3. Make the specific ask
4. Be honest about time
5. Gauge interest & next step
Ask: What’s your initial reaction? · Where do you sense God might use you here? · What questions or hesitations do you have? Close by agreeing a next step and a date to follow up.
A planning grid to sequence the year. Replace the example rows with your own dates and owners.
Open the planning grid
| Stage | Activity | Owner | Date(s) | Assets | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting Started | Recruit core team; set rhythm; build calendar | [name] | [month] | A1–A4 | — |
| Going Public | All-church launch (sermon series or 4 H’s journey) | [name] | [dates] | B1, E1 | — |
| Going Deeper | Self-selected small groups | [name] | [dates] | B2, B3 | — |
| Integrating It In | Equip ministry leaders (workshop / lunch & learn) | [name] | [dates] | C1, C2 | — |
| Raising Leaders | Train coaches (twice a year) | [name] | [dates] | D1 | — |
| Staying Open | Workshops on a steady cadence | [name] | [dates] | F1 | — |
Meeting rhythm: decide how often the core team meets (e.g., monthly) and who owns each line above.
A short summary to send the Lead Pastor and Prayer Lead after your planning meeting.
Open the update template
What we decided: [launch vehicle, studies, and the season we’re targeting]
The team: [names and roles]
Calendar at a glance: [key dates for launch, groups, workshops]
Asks of you: [e.g., a launch Sunday from the pulpit; prayer-team support; a budget line]
Next milestone: [what happens next and by when]
B — Going Public & Going Deeper: Launch & Small Groups
Ready-to-use copy for your all-church launch, across every channel. Replace the [bracketed] details with your specifics and go.
Pulpit — vision-casting announcements
Option A — the all-church 4 H’s emphasis
Here’s why this matters. Money touches almost every part of our lives — our marriages, our stress, our families, our future, and our walk with God. And God’s Word speaks to all of it. This isn’t a budgeting seminar, and it isn’t a fundraising campaign. It’s discipleship.
It starts with the Heart — because God owns it all, and we are His stewards. It moves to our Health and our Habits with money. And it leads to Hope — the deep contentment found in God, not in things. This is for every one of us — every age, every stage, every income. I’m asking you to take the whole journey, bring your family, and invite a friend. It begins [date]. Let’s grow together.
Option B — the “God Owns It All” sermon series
That one truth changes everything. It changes how we earn, how we spend, how we save, and how we give. And it leads somewhere wonderful: real contentment — the kind that doesn’t depend on having more, because our security is in God Himself.
This series is for everyone. You don’t need a financial background; you just need an open heart. Whether money is a source of stress or a source of joy for you right now, there’s a next step here. Join us each week, and consider going deeper in a small group. It starts [date]. Let’s discover together what it means to live like God owns it all.
Print — bulletin & newsletter
Bulletin announcement 1 (≤50 words)
Bulletin announcement 2 (≤50 words)
Newsletter announcement 1 (≈100 words)
Newsletter announcement 2 (≈100 words)
Email — congregation kickoff
Dear [Church family],
Money touches almost every part of our lives — our marriages, our stress levels, our families, our future, and our walk with God. And God’s Word has a great deal to say about it. That’s why we’re beginning a Financial Wisdom Ministry here at [Church].
This is not a fundraising push or a one-time class. It’s an ongoing discipleship journey built on two truths: God owns it all and calls us to be faithful stewards, and lasting contentment is found in Him. Wherever you are — getting out of debt, learning to budget, planning a legacy, or raising money-wise kids — there is a next step here for you.
We begin [date] with [sermon series / all-church journey]. Here’s how to take part: [sign-up link / next step].
Come expectant. I can’t wait to take this journey with you.
[Pastor name]
Facebook posts
Teasers — “something’s coming”
All-church 4 H’s journey
Small groups by age & stage
Instagram posts
Teasers — “something’s coming”
All-church 4 H’s journey
Small groups by age & stage
Website blurb
Everything to stand up a round of small groups, plus ready-to-use recruitment and signup copy.
Open the checklist
- Choose the study and length from the Source Book (match to age/stage — see the B3 invitation flyer).
- Recruit and confirm group leaders/hosts; set dates, times, and locations (in person and online).
- Order materials with lead time (note quantity discounts in the Source Book).
- Open participant signups: [link / connect card / table].
- Brief leaders on the “relational, not a campaign” posture and the two anchor truths.
- Set the story-capture plan for the final session (see Asset E1).
- Plan a next-step on-ramp for when groups end (next study, workshop, or coaching).
Leader recruitment ask
Participant signup blurb
- One-page, brand-aligned handout comparing four studies by age and stage (God Owns It All, Master Your Money, Splitting Heirs, Never Enough?)
- Designed to invite people from the all-church journey into a targeted small group
- Fillable PDF — each church types its own registration link and leader email, then saves; editable HTML source included
C — Integrating It In: Integration
Map your existing ministries, then ask of each: what would it look like to integrate biblical financial wisdom in? Example rows below — add your own.
Open the worksheet
| Ministry | People served | Key money moments | Relevant FWM resource | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student ministry | Middle/high schoolers | First job, first budget, college decisions | God’s Money Playbook | [name] |
| Care ministry | Grieving, hurting | Loss of a spouse; sudden financial decisions | Care Minister coaching; Ambassador referral | [name] |
| Marriage ministry | Engaged & married couples | Merging finances; the “money conversation” | Master Your Money; marriage-mentor tools | [name] |
| Seniors / Legacy | Retirees, grandparents | Estate planning; wealth & wisdom transfer | Splitting Heirs; NCF; Kingdom Advisors | [name] |
| [your ministry] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
A facilitator outline for equipping ministry leaders. Sized for ~2 hours with at least 30 minutes of Q&A.
Open the facilitator outline
Goal & audience
Goal: give your ministry leaders a shared understanding of biblical financial-wisdom principles and a concrete idea of how to apply them in their area. Audience: staff and volunteer ministry leaders.
Agenda (~2 hours)
Welcome & prayer (10) · The two anchor truths — God owns it all; contentment in Him (20) · “Wisdom for the process, principles for the decision” — how Scripture speaks to money (20) · The ministry-mapping exercise, done together (Asset C1) (30) · Application by ministry — small-group discussion (20) · Q&A — at least 30 minutes · Next steps & close (10).
Core principles to cover
Stewardship over ownership · contentment vs. comparison · the difference between outputs (debt, giving) and outcomes (contentment, trust, healthier relationships, increased giving to Kingdom causes) · money touches every age, stage, and key life moment.
Application-by-ministry prompts
Where do the people you serve face money decisions? · What’s one key moment where financial wisdom would help them most? · What resource or next step could you offer there? · Who could you connect them to (Ambassador, partner)?
Facilitator notes & resources
Have your Ambassador or a qualified leader facilitate. Bring the C1 worksheet for each person. Point leaders to the Source Book for resources and to the Resources & Links section for partners.
D — Raising Leaders: Sustainability
- Objective: equip people to help others apply the principles
- “Flip the script” framing; session modules / agenda
- Coach expectations & boundaries; invitation copy; story prompt
E — Stories (Used Throughout)
Ready-to-use ways to gather stories of transformation, plus the prompts and permission language. Replace [bracketed] details with your specifics.
Ways to capture stories
Social post (Facebook / Instagram)
Build it into the last small-group session
Three-question story email
Hi [Name],
As you’ve gone through [study / journey], we’d love to hear your story — it may be exactly what someone else needs to hear. Would you reply with a few sentences on these three questions?
1. Where were you with money or stress before you started?
2. What shifted — in your habits, your heart, or your relationships — along the way?
3. What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about joining?
No need to polish it — just share honestly, and let us know if we may share your story with the church. Thank you!
[Name / ministry]
Other easy on-ramps
A short online form (or printed card with a QR code) with the three questions above and a permission checkbox · a 60–90 second video testimony recorded after a workshop or final session · a “share your story” spot in the bulletin or at events.
Story-capture form & release
What to collect
- Name & contact (optional); age/stage context (optional)
- The before — the struggle, stress, conflict, or fear
- What they engaged in — study, workshop, group, or coaching
- The after — outputs: reduced debt, increased giving
- The after — outcomes: contentment, peace, healthier relationships, deeper trust in God, increased giving to Kingdom causes
Permission & release line
Signature: ______________________ Date: __________
Sharing process
Name an owner for story-gathering, set a simple cadence (e.g., one story shared per month), and route stories to the right channels — pulpit, social, newsletter, and to promote the next round of studies and workshops.
F — Staying Open: Workshops
Five ready-to-run workshop outlines plus a planning checklist and reusable promo copy. Each outline is sized for a ~90-minute session with at least 15 minutes of Q&A. Replace [bracketed] details with your specifics.
Open the five workshop outlines
1 · Suddenly Single
Goal: Help a newly widowed or divorced person make wise, unrushed financial decisions and find security in God. Best for: recently single adults (your care ministry can refer).
Agenda: Welcome & prayer (10) · “God owns it all” in seasons of loss (15) · Decisions that can wait vs. those that can’t (20) · Building a simple budget for one (20) · Where to find trusted help — Ambassador, advisor, partners (10) · Q&A (15).
Key points: avoid major, irreversible decisions for roughly a year; assemble a trusted team; secure cash flow first; guard against pressure from others. Resources: God Owns It All; an RBI Ambassador / Christian financial professional; partner referrals (Kingdom Advisors, NCF).
2 · Creating Your First Budget
Goal: Equip people to build a working spending plan grounded in biblical financial wisdom. Best for: young adults, newly married, anyone who’s never budgeted (or whose budget never sticks).
Agenda: Welcome & prayer (10) · Why a budget is a discipleship tool (15) · The uses of money — give, live, owe, owe taxes, grow (20) · Build-your-plan worksheet (25) · Tools & apps (10) · Q&A (10).
Key points: give first; live on margin; start an emergency fund; have a debt-payoff plan. Resources: Master Your Money; Free to Follow.
3 · Legacy & Future Planning
Goal: Help families transfer both wealth and wisdom to the next generation. Best for: parents, grandparents, and those near or in retirement.
Agenda: Welcome & prayer (10) · What a legacy really is — more than money (15) · Transferring wisdom before wealth (20) · Wills, beneficiaries & the essential documents (20) · A generosity & giving strategy (15) · Q&A (10).
Key points: don’t leave heirs unprepared; communicate your values; involve an estate attorney and a Christian financial professional. Resources: Splitting Heirs; National Christian Foundation; Kingdom Advisors.
4 · Women & Money
Goal: Equip women to steward with confidence in any season. Best for: women of all ages and stages.
Agenda: Welcome & prayer (10) · Contentment over comparison (15) · Confidence and competence with money (20) · Practical: budgeting, saving, protecting yourself (20) · Community & ongoing support (10) · Q&A (15).
Key points: financial literacy is part of faithful stewardship; special care for widows and single moms; don’t outsource your understanding. Resources: God Owns It All; Financial Hope; an RBI Ambassador.
5 · Teaching Children About Money
Goal: Equip parents to raise money-wise, generous children. Best for: parents and grandparents of kids and teens.
Agenda: Welcome & prayer (10) · Start with the heart — “God owns it all,” for kids (15) · Age-by-age: give / save / spend (20) · Allowance, work, and teaching generosity (20) · Teens: God’s Money Playbook & first accounts (10) · Q&A (15).
Key points: model it first; use give/save/spend habits early; coach teens through first jobs; guard against entitlement. Resources: God’s Money Playbook; Simplifying the Money Conversation; the family money-conversation resources in your Source Book.
Open the planning checklist & promo template
Workshop planning checklist
- Choose the topic and the specific need it meets.
- Set date/time (Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon), location, and childcare.
- Confirm the facilitator (Ambassador / Christian financial professional) and content source (Source Book).
- Open registration: [link / sign-up flow].
- Promote starting ~3 weeks out: announcement, bulletin, email, social, website.
- Prepare handouts and any worksheets.
- At the end: capture stories and offer a clear next-step on-ramp (small group, coaching, next workshop).
Reusable promo line
Resources & Links
The companion FWM tools that pair with this guide — open each in a new tab.
Every Ron Blue Institute study, resource, and partner — with descriptions, pricing, and order links. This is where “see the Source Book” points.
Open the Source Book →The big-picture journey — a flexible, non-linear path showing how the stages fit together and where your church can begin.
Open the Roadmap →The optional pre/post tool that measures growth — not just finances, but contentment, trust, anxiety, and conflict. Outputs and outcomes.
Open the Assessment →Trusted organizations in the biblical financial-wisdom ecosystem — NCF, Kingdom Advisors, Faith Driven, and more — to connect with as needs arise.
Meet the Partners →