Maximize: How To Develop Extravagant Givers In Your Church

by Nelson Searcy

Widely-respected authority on church leadership shows how being a healthy giver is essential to following Jesus and gives pastors a step-by-step guide for turning first-time givers into extravagant stewards.

Genres: Church, Leadership, Nonfiction, Christianity, Religion, Reference, Money

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[John Ready Reader One · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the most practical books about fostering giving and electronic giving on the market. Searcy does a great job including the Spiritual aspects of giving without "over-spiritualizing" the process. If giving is a spiritual endeavor, then the church should be looking for ways to make giving easier and more effective just like it does for other spiritual activities. He is spot on for ministries moving to collection tools like scheduled giving (EFT, ACH) or accepting card donations. This is a great tool for all ministries.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

No doubt Searcy has tweaked his practices since this book was published in 2010. In the newer edition, Nelson has likely updated some of the specifics in the light of newer/digital tools. Regardless, the systems/principles Nelson offers and the clarity/confidence with which he writes are solid. [Still] very relevant material.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great practical read on generosity in the local church. A lot more nuts and bolts that I expected, but also the reason behind the book is laid out in the first chapter. Stewardship is part of discipleship, and oftentimes the church sees it as a separate topic.

[Betsy Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have rated it higher if I didn’t feel like he was trying to sell me on his other books at every turn. Good practical ideas, but dated. Wondering if he has changed with the online giving and other methods of giving.

[Tung · Rating 2 out of 5]

Searcy is one of the best-known pastors in America, having planted two of the fastest-growing churches in the country, and having been featured in magazines like Time and Rolling Stone. He’s the author of several books, and runs a pastor-training organization. What many pastors love about Searcy’s training program and books are the specific, practical suggestions and guidance he provides. In Maximize, Searcy discusses financial stewardship, and how churches can ensure that they are maximizing congregational giving, and maximizing their usage of that giving. Searcy frames the book from the perspective of discipleship – that is financial stewardship is a spiritual discipline in the same way prayer and Bible-reading is, hence churches should care about improving individuals’ financial stewardship. For example, one recommendation he makes is for churches to communicate exhaustively to people who give to the church, especially to first-time givers because it increases odds they give again. The book is very readable, and the strategies Searcy recommends are indeed practical and useful for churches. My one criticism of the book, though, is that while he frames the book from the perspective of discipleship, the strategies come off as too business-oriented and make the church sound like it is more interested in maximizing its income than it is improving the spiritual maturity of its congregation. The church can learn from the business world, but it does not belong in the business world, and sometimes the line was blurred in this book. Recommended for pastors only.

[Melissa Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical suggestions and strategies about how to increase giving in churches. I especially like the idea of the giving continuum. I have also long thought that one of the reasons that more people,don't give in their churches is because they're not educated, and he drills this home in the book. He also gives loads of examples and samples. This is probably one of the best books I have read as far as the author providing examples and samples of the material he uses. It was great. The book is intended for pastors, but I think the leaders of the treasury / stewardship departments in a church would benefit greatly from reading it as well. Lay people can also benefit from it, though they probably might not be so interested in the strategies for increasing church growth

[Ryan Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty decent. It had a lot of in-depth ideas for increasing stewardship within your church. I thought some of the ideas were great, and others I might do without. Overall though it's a very well thought out book and system. Searcy also presents a very strong theology of stewardship and rationale for teaching your community biblical stewardship.

[H.b. Charles]

Typical Searcy, in a good sense. There is not much theology of stewardship here. But it is filled with helpful, practical stewardship ideas. I fully agree with his major assertion that stewardship is discipleship. Therefore, as Christian leaders, we have a responsibility to teach and encourage our people to honor the Lord with their possessions.

[Justin Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://justinfarley.blogspot.com/2012...

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Some good ideas, but mostly not the theology I embrace.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some great ideas about implementing good stewardship in churches. Some things are too radical for us but we are asking God for wisdom what to put in practice when.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome resources to help churches rethink giving, along with wonderful, well thought out resources

[G.P. Hintz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Specific and practical. A book that is well worth your time if you are in any church leadership position.

[William Chamberlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for church leaders. I would also recommend it for people struggleing with the tension between faith and money

[René · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot. This book takes you through the 5 types of givers in the church and gives church leaders a plan to gain more extravagant givers.