Does Your Church Spend Money Wisely?

NOTE: I wrote a similar post on Monday for general leadership, but this topic is too important to not reorient it for ministry and church leaders like you. 

Every church has a budget (I think!)—but not every church knows how to allocate resources wisely.

How do you decide where to invest and where to cut back? How do you ensure that every dollar advances the mission instead of just maintaining the status quo?

These are critical questions. Every dollar your church spends was given to you by a person who would like the resource maximized. Budget and expense management isn’t just a financial issue—it’s a stewardship issue.

If you ask different ministry leaders, their departments will always seem the most important to them. But if you only fund what gets the loudest support, you risk spreading resources too thin or missing greater opportunities to make disciples and expand kingdom impact.

The Problem: Not Every Dollar Carries the Same Ministry Value

Imagine your church has $5,000 to spend. You could use it to:

1️⃣ Upgrade outdated technology in the worship center.
2️⃣ Invest in some digital channels to improve your discipleship pathway.
3️⃣ Increase a specific ministry budget.

Every option may seem necessary. But before you decide, ask:

• Which one moves our mission forward more effectively?
• Which one produces long-term spiritual growth, not just short-term engagement?
• Which one multiplies impact instead of just maintaining what we already have?

Many churches default to the what-we’ve-always-done expenses. That doesn’t mean it’s the best choice.

Not all spending is equal.

5 Keys to Kingdom-Based Spending

Instead of justifying expenses based on last year’s budget, wise churches evaluate every dollar through a mission-focused lens.

1. Opportunity Cost: What Else Could This Money Do?

A dollar spent in one ministry is a dollar that can’t be used elsewhere.

👉 Key question: If we spend this money here, what are we saying NO to?

🔹 Example: A church spends $4,000 annually on a legacy ministry. The program is fine, but it’s not mission-critical today. That $4,000 could be invested in more impactful opportunities.

2. Investment vs. Expense: What Does This Generate?

Some expenses grow the church’s reach and effectiveness. Others just keep the lights on.

👉 Key question: Does this investment multiply discipleship, engagement, or community impact?

High-value investments:
✔️ Volunteer training that equips people for ministry.
✔️ Outreach initiatives that engage new people.
✔️ Small group resources that deepen spiritual growth.

Low-impact expenses:
❌ Routine spending that goes unquestioned.
❌ Outdated programs that no longer produce fruit.
❌ Expenses that exist simply because “we’ve always done it this way.”

🔹 Example: A church considers upgrading its children’s ministry space. The renovation costs $25,000 but could significantly increase family engagement. That’s a good investment.

3. The Multiplication Factor: Will This Scale?

Instead of asking, “Can we afford this?” church leaders should ask:

👉 Key question: Will this investment lead to lasting impact, or just maintain the status quo?

🔹 Example: A church can spend $3000 in two ways:
1️⃣ Hosting a one-time event that draws a crowd but doesn’t connect people to the church.
2️⃣ Developing a follow-up strategy that turns first-time guests into engaged members.

Which one creates sustained momentum?

4. Zero-Based Budgeting: If We Started Over, Would We Spend This?

Most church budgets are copy-paste versions of last year’s numbers.

👉 Key question: If we were starting from scratch today, would we still choose to spend money on this?

🔹 Example: A church hires contract labor instead of relying on volunteers. Contractors are easier—but more expensive. Should the church continue contracting these positions or engage more volunteers?

🔹 Practical shift: Before approving any budget item, ask:
✔️ Would we fund this if we weren’t already doing it?
✔️ Is this generating measurable spiritual impact?

5. Value Thinking: Is This Expense Worth The Cost?

Churches sometimes spend money simply because it’s available—not because it’s the best use of funds.

👉 Key question: How much value is this expense providing?

🔹 Example: Should we spend $1,000 on new hospitality team t-shirts?

If it’s a first-time purchase, it might be worth the cost. But if we bought new shirts six months ago, is it still necessary?

This forces churches to make intentional choices instead of defaulting to old habits.

How to Build a Budget That Advances the Mission

Most churches don’t need bigger budgets—they need mission-driven spending.

Here’s how to start:

✅ Apply kingdom-based budgeting to every expense.
✅ Ask what else this money could do before spending.
✅ Focus on multiplying impact, not just maintaining operations.

Final Thought: Stewardship Is About Maximizing Kingdom Impact, Not Just Cutting Costs

Faithful financial stewardship isn’t about cutting costs—it’s about spending wisely.

The next time your church approves an expense, ask:

👉 Is this the best way to use God’s resources?

Because financial health isn’t about how much your church has—it’s about how well you use it to make disciples.

Call to Action:

🔹 Want help creating a mission-driven church budget? Let’s talk.
🔹 I’m hosting a LIVE CONVERSATION to help you increase giving and engage first-time givers: How To Engage Non-Givers And Significantly Grow Your Budget, THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025,
at 3:00 PM EST

Quotes for Inspiration:

💬 “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21
💬 “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” – John Maxwell

Resources for Further Learning:

✔️ Church Accelerator Resources – Tools for improving church leadership, finances, and strategy.
✔️ Financial Stewardship for Churches – Best practices for budgeting with kingdom impact.

One More Thing…

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Leading WITH You,
Dr. Gavin Adams