Ep. 32: Choosing a Church, Giving Cheerfully, and Financial Transparency

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about choosing a church, financial transparency, tithing, debt, and what it means to give cheerfully as followers of Jesus.The conversation begins after Kenny and Shannon decide to hit record on a real conversation they were already having about church, stewardship, and the tension many Christians feel when trying to find a church community they can trust.Kenny shares about visiting church again after a busy season and wrestling with some of the financial messaging he heard during the service.That leads into a bigger conversation about how churches talk about giving, how churches handle debt, and why financial transparency matters when people are being asked to tithe, give, or support the mission.Shannon shares his own journey with tithing, debt, giving from the heart, and learning to trust God with money even when finances are tight.Together, they talk about the importance of churches not only teaching about generosity, but also teaching about debt, stewardship, wisdom, and financial responsibility.Questions like:How do you choose a church?Should church finances be more transparent?How does church debt affect the way giving messages are received?Can you give cheerfully if you do not trust how the money is being stewarded?What does the Bible say about giving with the right heart?Should churches talk about debt as much as they talk about tithing?How do we give with faith without giving just to get something back?And more...We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians working through faith, stewardship, trust, and what it means to support a church community with wisdom and discernment.This episode is a reminder that giving is not just about money.It is about heart posture.It is about stewardship.It is about trust.And it is about asking God for wisdom as we build our lives, our families, our churches, and our communities on solid ground.Scriptures Referenced:2 Kings 13:14-19Proverbs 22:7Deuteronomy 28:12-132 Corinthians 9:6-7John 10:10Matthew 8:5-13John 6:1-14Luke 12:13-21Mark 12:41-44Proverbs 22:7As Mentioned in the Episode...We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunityTHEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe