Get your church MBA just 10 minutes at a time! On Distilled, we break down complex church financial topics into simple, actionable insights that you can use today in your church. Brought to you by Parable Bookkeeping and Accounting, we make managing church finances easier, one episode at a time.
Ep. 41: The Financial Control Your Church is Missing
Summary
Your church may have good people, solid intentions, and trusted leaders, but that doesn’t always mean your financial systems are as protected as you think.
In this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Dan and Kira talk with Nathan Davis from Capin Crouse about the financial controls churches often overlook.
They unpack why healthy oversight requires more than trust, how separating financial responsibilities can reduce risk, and why an extra layer of review can help protect both your people and the dollars entrusted to your church.
The goal isn’t to create suspicion. It’s to build a financial process where no one person carries too much control, important steps are reviewed, and church leaders can have greater confidence that everything is being handled the way it should be.
One Key Takeaway
Trust is important, but healthy financial systems still need verification.
Take a look at your current process and ask: Is there anywhere one person can initiate, approve, record, or reconcile financial activity without someone else reviewing it?
Resources Mentioned
Capin Crouse (https://www.criadv.com/about-capincrouse/) resources, articles, and webinars for churches and nonprofits
Capin Crouse podcast episode (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4JE4qGOxcOsuBY18f4w6Zs?si=8Xttj7mLTh26EW634LwwdQ&nd=1&dlsi=8984b63648b14173) on church audits, referenced in the show notes
Nathan Davis’ contact information: nbdavis@capincrouse.com (mailto:nbdavis@capincrouse.com)
1 Sept 2026
Ep.40: Stop Fundraising. Start Discipling.
Summary
What if generosity isn’t really a money issue at all?
In this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Dan, Kira, and Leo Sabo continue their conversation about financial discipleship and why churches should stop treating generosity primarily as fundraising.
Leo challenges pastors to see stewardship as part of spiritual formation. When people understand that everything they have belongs to God, giving becomes less about the church asking for something and more about participating in what God is doing.
The goal isn’t simply to get people to give more. It’s to help them trust Jesus more, grow as stewards, and experience the joy of generosity in every area of life.
One Key Takeaway
Generosity isn’t primarily about fundraising. It’s about forming disciples.
Instead of asking, “How do we get people to give?” churches can begin with a better question: How are we helping people follow Jesus with their finances?
Resources Mentioned
Christian Stewardship Network (ChristianStewardshipNetwork.com) – Resources, membership, and connections for church leaders building a culture of biblical stewardship and financial discipleship
Biblical passages referenced throughout the conversation, including Matthew 6 and Romans 12
18 Aug 2026
Ep. 39: Your Church Doesn’t Need Another Giving Push
Summary
Many churches treat money problems as financial problems—but Leo Sabo, President and CEO of Christian Stewardship Network, argues they’re often spiritual problems first.
In part one of this conversation, Leo joins Dan and Kira to unpack the difference between financial education and financial discipleship. Teaching people how to budget, save, get out of debt, and invest is valuable, but those skills alone don’t necessarily form someone into a more faithful follower of Jesus. Financial discipleship goes deeper by addressing trust, ownership, surrender, and the heart behind financial decisions.
Leo also explores the danger of an unhealthy “poverty mindset,” where Christians may believe that giving more automatically makes them more spiritual or more pleasing to God. Instead, healthy stewardship begins with recognizing that God is the owner and we are the stewards—then learning to manage what He has entrusted to us with wisdom, faith, and obedience.
Key Takeaway
Financial education changes behavior. Financial discipleship aims for transformation.
Churches shouldn’t stop teaching practical money skills, but those lessons need to be rooted in biblical stewardship. The goal isn’t simply to help people become financially healthy—it’s to help them grow in trust, surrender, and faithful stewardship as followers of Jesus.
Resources Mentioned
Christian Stewardship Network (https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/) — An organization led by Leo Sabo that helps pastors and church leaders cultivate cultures of biblical stewardship and generosity.
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