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A survey of scriptural teaching about money and wealth

THE FORMAL COURSE - biblical financial principles with life applications

The Formal Course is a comprehensive study of Scripture regarding its teaching about money and wealth. It is for the serious student and is designed to be presented in a classroom setting. The goal of the course is to provide the student with a Bibllcal life-framework for making godly financial decisions. The complete 17-module curriculum can be taught in 27-30 hours and may be suitable as the basis for a Bible college or seminary course.
KEY FEATURES OF THE FORMAL 30-HOUR COURSE:
  • BROAD, IN-DEPTH BIBLE-BASED STUDY
  • LIFE-STYLE APPLICATION ORIENTED
  • SCRIPTURALLY BASED CONTENT
  • INDUCTIVE STUDY TO GAIN PERSPECTIVE
  • PRESENTATION ORGANIZED INTO 17 MODULES
  • DESIGNED IN MICROSOFT POWER POINT FORMAT
  • AVAILABLE AS DOWNLOADABLE PDF FILES
  • SLIDE ANNOTATIONS INCLUDE INSTRUCTOR NOTES
  • FILES ARE PRESENTATION-READY
  • EDITABLE VERSIONS AVAILABLE
Sample slide from Principle #7: Care for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, and the needy.

suitable for teaching in a variety of venues

The Formal Course is intended to be presented over a one-week time span of 5-1/2 hour to 6-hour classroom days for a total of 27-30 hours. By spreading the course over a week's time span, the author feels that the student is presented with the best opportunity to develop a working knowledge of scriptural financial principles. However, it should be acknowledge that, as with any classroom instruction, real learning comes by applying its teaching to one's daily life on an ongoing basis. If a full week isn't practical or possible, and depending upon the instructor's goals for the class, abbreviated versions of the formal class may be structured. This could be accomplished, for example, by eliminating the inductive study and the final examination. With these reductions in content, the introduction and two cores of the formal course (the 10 Biblical Financial Principles and the 4 Life Applications), may be presented over a period of approximately 17 hours. That time frame can be further shortened by removing some or all of the teaching enhancements of quizzes, class discussions, and essays. Here are four possible venues for these shortened versions:
1-week intensive course
The Formal Course is intended to be presented over a one-week time span of 5-1/2 hour to 6-hour classroom days, totalling 27-30 hours of classroom instruction including a 2-hour final exam. It is the author's opinion that this highly interactive delivery method provides the best opportunity for the student to develop a working knowledge of scriptural financial principles.
13-week college/adult SS class
By removing the teaching enhancements of quizzes, class discussions, and essays, the 15 core modules may be presented as a weekly 1-hour college/adult SS class over a period of 13 weeks. These modules consist of the following: the Introduction, enabling the student to think through his knowledge and goals; the 10 Basic Principles; and the 4 Life Applications. An additional week would be helpful for review and feedback.
4-day conference or retreat
The content for this variation would be essentially the same as the 13-week college/adult SS class described above over a 14 hour total classroom time. The idea of a getaway for a long weekend allows greater focus and interaction. This leisurely schedule leaves time for recreation and may enhance the learning experience by providing time for individual/couple reflections, informal conversations, and small group discussions. Here is a sample schedule: Thursday evening (2 hours); Friday and Saturday (5 hours each); Sunday (2 hours).
Quarter or semester class
The Formal Course is intended to be presented over a one-week time span of 5-1/2 hour to 6-hour classroom days. This delivery method offers the best opportunity for the student to have a working knowledge of scriptural financial principles.

the formal course - typical presentation chronology

The following scenario assumes a time-frame of 28 hours for the course. This is near the midway point between the recommended budget of 27-30 hours of class-room instruction with an accompanying student syllabus. The full course is divided into 6 segments. This complete course has been taught many times since 2007 at the Trinity College and Seminary in Sielmat, Manipur, India. SEGMENT I - INTRODUCTION - 2 hours. The formal course begins with an introduction to the subject. Students are given time to write down their perceived self knowledge in a number of financial categories, providing a baseline to compare their end-of-course progress. The develop their goals for the course, form discussion and study teams, and elect class officers (including an exercise coach!) for short physical activity to break up the lectures.
SEGMENT II - INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY - 5 hours. After the introduction, the students participate in an inductive Bible study of some 40 selected Scripture passages. It's purpose is to provide the student time for independent thought and to develop perspective. To make the study manageable, the class is divided into teams so that each team studies approximately 10 passages. Following their in-class study time, each team captain presents his team's findings to the rest of the class. The time frame for this personal or small team study is approximately 5 hours.
SEGMENT III - 10 BIBLICAL FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES - 15 hours. These 10 core modules take up roughly half of the class schedule. They core modules may be presented in about 13 hours. Interspersed throughout the modules are in-class assignments, including pop quizzes, essays, and group discussions. Module 4 includes an instructive real-to-life object lesson; during module 8, a class project is proposed. SEGMENT IV - 4 LIFE APPLICATIONS - 3 hours. Following the core modules are four modules with practical, biblically-based financial applications for the family, business, the church, and society. SEGMENT V - REVIEW AND FINAL EXAMINATION - 3 hours. The review material and two-hour final examination are not included on this website. SEGMENT VI - CLASS RECOGNITION CEREMONY (OPTIONAL). The class instructor is encouraged to celebrate the completion of this demanding but potentially life-altering course. For example, you could recognize individual achievements, hear student testimonials, announce team winners, give a status report on the class project results, and make other acknowledgements.

TEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES ABOUT MONEY AND WEALTH

Formal course contents - downloadable pdf files

Click on presentation modules or instructor/student notes to download them to your computer.
I. Course introduction
  • Course overview
  • Underlying message of this course
  • Presuppositions
  • Cultural issues
  • Sources and acknowledgements
  • Schedule for the week
  • Class values
  • Class administration
  • Course grading
  • Awards and prizes
  • Special class project
  • Personal information
II. inductive study
CLASSROOM STUDY: Part A. INDUCTIVE STUDY: Brief tutorial on the inductive study method.Tutorial - the inductive method Student outline - Inductive method
STUDENT WORKSHEETS:Inductive study worksheet team A Inductive study worksheet team B Inductive study worksheet team C Inductive study worksheet team D
Part B. SURVEY: Using a team approach, this is a student-led study of 40 selected texts on Biblical teaching about money and wealth, using the inductive method. Survey - inductive studyStudent outline - Inductive study
iii. the ten principles
PRINCIPLE 1. God owns everything and we are His stewards (with narrative)Student outline - Principle 1
PRINCIPLE 2. Worship and trust God rather than money (with narrative) Student outline - Principle 2
PRINCIPLE 3. Beware of the love of money (with narrative)Student outline - Principle 3
PRINCIPLE 4. God cares how we manage our money (with narrative) Student outline - Principle 4
PRINCIPLE 5. Honor God by faithfully giving of our income (with narrative) Student outline - Principle 5
PRINCIPLE 6. Develop a lifestyle which creates margin and save (with narrative) Student outline - Principle 6
PRINCIPLE 7. Cultivate a generous heart and live sacrificially (with narrative) Student outline - Principle 7
PRINCIPLE 8. Care for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, and the needy (with narrative) Student outline - Principle 8
PRINCIPLE 9. Use wealth to glorify God and build treasure in heaven (with narrative)Student outline - Principle 9
PRINCIPLE 10. Pursue the true riches rather than material wealth (with narrative)Student outline - Principle 10
Instructor notes - composite of modules 1 - 10
IV. life-application MODULES
V. REVIEW AND FINAL EXAM
VI. AWARD CEREMONY
It is left up to the instructor to 1) create a review highlighting his/her primary teaching objectives, and 2) administer a final exam depending on the objectives of the course and the requirements of the host institution.
You are encouraged to celebrate your class's completion of this demanding course.

SUGGESTED PLANNING TIMES FOR THE VARIOUS COURSE SEgmentS

Class time Extra time Weekdays (5-1/2 hrs/day)Section I. Introduction and class administration 2 hrs Mon 9:30 am - 11:30 amSection 2. Independent study and inductive Bible survey 5 hrs Mon 12:30 pm - Tue 11:00 am Section 3. 10 Biblical principles about money and wealth 15 hrs Tue 11:00 am - Thr 4:00 pmSection IV. Additional modules 11-14 3 hrs Fri 9:00 am - 12:00 noonSection V. Review and final exam 3 hrs Fri 1:00 pm - 4:00 pmSection VI. Award ceremony 1 hr Fri eve or Sat amClass project following the formal course variable 1 - 2 months --------------Total course time 28 hrs Notes: 1) A daily schedule of 6 hrs/day would allow greater class discussion and more in-class quizes and assignments. 2) Sample schedule assumes a 5-1/2 hour class day from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm with 1 hour for lunch. 3) Friday in this sample schedule is lengthened to a 6-hour day. 4) If there is a brief amount of time between the final exam and the award ceremony, help with grading the exam may be needed. (The author is grateful for the help provided by seminary faculty and assistants using a grading key provided to them). The instructor should have his spreadsheet primed to enter exam results and calculate final class standings to determine award distribution.
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Providing a framework for making biblically-informed decisions about money and wealth.

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