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Preaching Generosity
Preach generosity rooted in the character of God, not the pressures of the budget.
About this Course
This course introduces a theological vision of generosity grounded in God’s own character and action. Learners will uncover the tools needed to proclaim biblically grounded, formational sermons on generosity throughout the year, inviting congregations into participation in God’s life rather than institutional obligation.
What You’ll Be Able to Do:
Many preachers dread the moment they have to talk about money—worried that sermons on giving will come across as transactional, manipulative, or tied only to the church’s bottom line.
Preaching Generosity invites pastors and preachers to start somewhere different: the generosity of God.
Across seven modules, instructors Grace Duddy Pomroy and Adam P. White—along with several guest voices—explore what it looks like to root sermons on giving in Scripture, spiritual practice, and honest self-reflection. Learners will consider how generosity forms disciples, how to preach faithfully even during a stewardship campaign or a season of financial need, and how to invite people of all ages into a shared life of trust and participation—rather than obligation.
Modules
What Do We Mean By “Preaching Generosity”?
In this module, you will:
- Distinguish between narrow, church-centered understandings of generosity and a broader theological vision rooted in the generosity of God.
- Articulate a theology of generosity as a spiritual practice by explaining how giving forms disciples and how this practice participates in the generosity of God.
- Analyze and evaluate prevailing approaches to stewardship and generosity in congregational preaching by identifying their theological assumptions and distinguishing between transactional and formational frameworks.
Biblical Generosity
In this module, you will:
- Identify and describe key themes of generosity across the biblical witness, including the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus, and the writings of Paul.
- Explain how generosity in Scripture is grounded in God’s own character and action.
- Connect biblical teachings on generosity to a formational (not merely transactional) vision of preaching and discipleship.
Generosity As Discipleship and Spiritual Practice
In this module, you will:
- Explain how practices of giving lead to spiritual transformation, not merely financial action.
- Describe generosity as a spiritual practice that forms disciples over time, shaping trust, identity, and participation in God’s life
- Reflect on your own relationship to money, generosity, and trust as integral to your preaching.
Preaching Generosity When the Church Is Asking for Money
In this module, you will:
- Distinguish between faithful invitation and subtle (or overt) forms of manipulation in preaching about money.
- Integrate practices of generosity as spiritual formation into stewardship seasons, campaigns, and moments of financial urgency.
- Proclaim generosity in ways that remain grounded in God’s action and invitation, even in moments of institutional need or financial pressure.
Preaching Generosity With Children and Youth
In this module, you will:
- Describe how children learn and embody practices of generosity within Christian community.
- Recognize what children reveal about trust, receiving, and participation in God’s generosity.
- Identify ways preaching can invite all ages into shared practices of generosity.
Preaching Generosity All Year Round
In this module, you will:
- Identify opportunities within the Revised Common Lectionary to preach generosity throughout the year.
- Develop a sustainable approach to preaching generosity as part of ongoing discipleship and formation.
- Integrate themes of generosity into regular preaching in ways that are theologically grounded and not tied only to financial appeals.
But What Will They Hear?
In this module, you will:
- Describe how preaching—rooted in God’s action, shaped by Scripture, and embodied with authenticity—shifts how sermons on generosity are heard.
- Reflect on how your own posture, trust, and theological clarity shape the reception of their preaching.
- Anticipate how your hearer's past experiences might impact their ability to receive this message.
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- Modules:
7 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Megan Torgerson
Megan Torgerson has been ordained in the ELCA since 2008 and currently serves as Lead Pastor at Easter Lutheran Church, a large congregation in the Twin Cities suburb of Eagan, MN. She has also served at congregations in West St. Paul, MN and Las Vegas, NV.
She earned her Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN where she received the John Milton Prize in Old Testament. She also received the Graduate Preaching Fellowship which afforded her the opportunity to study and serve in Rome and London for a year.
As a writer and theologian, she has contributed to projects like “Crazy Talk”, the Spark Bible, and “Sundays and Seasons: Preaching”. Her articles have appeared in publications including Cafe, Young Clergy Women International, and Church Anew. She is passionate about Old Testament theology, love as a central tenant of Christianity, and acting out of God’s abundance to all.
She is well-known as a former Miss Minnesota, having competed at Miss America in 2003. She is also a Minnesota State Fair super fan, with appearances in the St Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Public Radio, and KARE 11 television. While perhaps less glamorous, her most treasured work comes as a beleaguered and bemused soccer and dance mom to her two daughters and loving wife of over 20 years to her very patient husband.
Adam P. White
Rev. Adam P. White, D.Min., is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Waconia, Minnesota. Previous roles include being the campus pastor for the Lutheran Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the associate pastor of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska.
White has also taught as a visiting professor at Luther Seminary and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Nebraska. His book, Telling the Truth: An Ethical Exploration of Verification and Falsification in Pulpit Storytelling was published by Lambert Academic Publishing in 2011.
White serves on the board of trustees for Augsburg Fortress. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Seminary in 2011 focusing on biblical preaching.
Grace Duddy Pomroy
Grace Duddy Pomroy is the Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program at Luther Seminary. She’s a lay, millennial stewardship leader, speaker, and financial educator based in Allyn, WA. She is the co-author of the stewardship book, Embracing Stewardship: How to Put Stewardship at the Heart of Your Congregation’s Life, as well as author of the free 2013 ELCA stewardship resource, “Stewards of God’s Love.” Her latest book, Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry, was released in September 2024.
Grace is also a consultant with Relèven, a charitable organization that lovingly preserves, restores, and repurposes under-utilized churches into community hubs and affordable housing. She graduated from Luther Seminary in 2012 with a Master of Arts degree in Congregational Mission and Leadership.
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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
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