At Ease

At Ease:

Discussing Money and Values in Small Groups

(Alban Institute, 1998)

Well known for their innovative writings on churches and money, the Ronsvalles of empty tomb, inc. team up with U. Milo Kaufmann to present their newest work in this field: a method for making people comfortable about the difficult issues of linking money and values. The method is based on congregational small-group discussions that create support and trust to help individuals identify their fears and worries, as well as their attitudes on stewardship and support of the church. A series of questions leads participants by steps to new and increasingly probing conversations about these issues.

Table of Contents:

Part 1. Outline for Adventure

  • You are Invited!
  • Spritual Dynamics
  • The Purpose of Small Groups
  • How to Use This Book

Part 2. Topics for Consideration

  • Level 1 Overview-How Are We Supposed to Think about Money?
  • Level 2 Overview-Practical Issues of Stewardship and Budgeting
  • Level 3 Overview-Exploring Discipleship

Part 3. An Overview of Small Groups

  • A Very Brief History of Small Groups
  • How to Run an Effective Small Group Discussion
  • A Step-by-Step Guide for Organizing a Small Group to Use This Book

This book may be ordered from the publisher Alban Institute, or an internet book service provider such as amazon.com

The Poor Have Faces

The Poor Have Faces

Loving Your Neighbor in the 21st Century

(Baker Book House, 1992)

Building upon their church giving research, the Ronsvalles reflect on the potential of the church to impact global and domestic needs. Sharing experiences from their local ministry outreach and global interactions, they suggest that although people truly want to help their neighbors, people often feel overwhelmed by the world’s extensive problems. In response, this book realistically looks at the church in America’s unique resources, challenges Christians to adopt a personal, biblical view of stewardship, and lays out a viable plan of action to significantly reduce desperate world and domestic conditions and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Table of Contents:

  • Preface, p.9
  • Introduction, p.11
  • Bread from Jesus: Learning Firsthad about World Needs, p.17
  • Abounding Grace: Exploring Mission Resources, p.35
  • The Vision Unfolds: Developing a Global Strategy, p.55
  • China, Hello! Experiencing the Yoking Map, p.91
  • Crosstown Bridges: Addressing Local Needs, p.119
  • The Sky’s the Limit! Outlining a Plan of Action, p.137
  • The Yoking Map, p.147

This book can be ordered through an internet book service provider such as amazon.com or a search service such as Fetchbook or BooksPrice.com.