For more than 20 years, every January John Maxwell would teach a stewardship series in his church.  Here are some reasons to consider preaching or teaching a similar emphasis come 2007.

1) People are open to "new starts" early in the year.

Wise pastors and church leaders know that their members like to think new thoughts and start fresh habits early in the year. If you offer sound Biblical generosity teaching in January, you will reach the greatest potential to see positive changes in people's lives and giving patterns. 

2) After the holidays, people are keenly aware of the emptiness of materialism.

Many families will have just spent hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars on Christmas gifts. After the excitement of those new toys and purchases wears off within days or weeks, people are hungry for teaching on things in life that have lasting value. 

Remember: the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.  I heard about a man recently who bought a $250,000 car because he thought it would make him happy! His wife said that within a month or two, he realized that "things" couldn't do that. 

Materialism can never satisfy, only Christ and living one's life according to His plans will truly satisfy. That includes being taught to give generously.   

3) People need user-friendly spiritual guidance and resources to help them in the New Year.

I recently released a Bible-based devotional booklet called, "A 40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life." Churches around the nation are starting to use it.

This devotional takes people through 40 days of Bible readings with 400 verses on finances and generosity. Weekly small group questions and projects allow churches to use the booklet in Sunday school and small groups. 

Churches of all sizes around the country are ordering copies for every household in their church. Following a 7-step action plan, which includes preaching just one generosity sermon, churches have been experiencing 10% to 50% increases in their giving. 

Within the first few months, churches ordered more than 27,000 copies. Some denominations are ordering copies for every pastor and church in their denomination.  A free downloadable preview version and two free e-books on a "Pastor and Leader's Guides to Increasing Church Giving" can be ordered on-line.

Note: The second best time of the year to use this booklet is during Lent (Feb. 21 to Apr. 7.) Many churches like to distribute devotional readings and/or prayer guides to the congregation during this time of year. This booklet makes an ideal personal or family devotional during this period of reflection.

4) People have a tendency to want to pull back on giving early in the year.

As the "sticker shock" of Christmas credit card bills and winter utility bills roll in, human nature causes people to want to pull back on their giving in order to help pay the bills. Biblical teaching about generosity and God's faithfulness to provide will strengthen people's faith and help them hold on to God's promises. 

5) People need encouragement to start out the year right. 

People need to be taught to give "what's right, not what's left." If you help encourage people to be faithful with giving in January, it will strengthen donations throughout the year.

Likewise, if giving starts out slow, your church's committees and ministries will struggle financially for the rest of the year.  I tell pastors in my Leadership Seminars on Church Giving: "No church has a money problem, only a faithfulness problem."

Churches need to actively have a plan to encourage faithful giving to the Lord's work. The best time to start is when the year is still new.

Brian Kluth is a senior pastor and the founder of www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org. He sends a FREE monthly generosity newsletter to 13,000 pastors and church leaders from more than 50 denominations. He is the author of a "40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life" and many other materials for churches and ministries to advance biblical generosity. Copyright, www.kluth.org.