CT Daily Briefing – 11-20-2024

November 19, 2024
CT Daily Briefing

This edition is sponsored by The Pour Over


Today’s Briefing

For the past two years, giving to evangelical churches has not kept up with inflation.

The Dietrich Bonhoeffer in this new biopic seems similar to Eric Metaxas.

A new book examines the quiet faith of Laura Ingalls Wilder

How gloating and meltdowns over the election can betray where our security lies.

Behind the Story

From editorial director of news Kate Shellnutt: Is it better to start strong or to end strong?

Churches typically operate on a fiscal year that aligns with the calendar year. Because so much giving happens during the holidays, that leaves them to wait until the final months, weeks, and even days for major donations to come. 

Big gifts from bonuses, stocks, or year-end profit-sharing can make a big difference in budgets. And for church finance teams trying to anticipate what level of giving they’ll end up with—it overlays even more anticipation over the Advent waiting period.

CPA Steve Chaney, who I spoke with for this week’s story on church giving, works exclusively with churches. He told me he’s been recommending that his clients adjust their fiscal year, moving it to October through September, so they have the momentum of beginning with holiday giving.

That way, he said, churches know what they have from the start, similar to Dave Ramsey’s envelope method, “rather than going through the year saying, ‘We’re praying to the Lord that we’re going to catch up.’”


Paid Content

Looking for news coverage that informs without inducing anxiety?

The Pour Over delivers carefully curated summaries of significant events, paired with gentle spiritual reminders. Their politically neutral approach helps Christians stay knowledgeable about current events while maintaining focus on eternal truths.


In Other News


Today in Christian History

November 20, 1541: In Switzerland, French reformer John Calvin, 32, established a theocratic government at Geneva, thereby creating a home base for emergent Protestantism throughout Europe (see issue 12: John Calvin).


in case you missed it

Within evangelical circles, we are currently enjoying what might be called a “retrieval revival.” Many believers are working to retrieve parts of our Christian heritage for the sake of enjoying…

About a decade ago, a friend of mine mentioned a series of videos about the Bible he’d discovered online. It was by an obscure Canadian academic whom neither of us knew. My…

Several Christian anti-trafficking organizations are publicly opposing President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for US attorney general, former Republican representative Matt Gaetz of Florida. Gaetz resigned his congressional seat last week after…

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” This pithy saying, attributed to the famed British writer C. S. Lewis, has widely circulated the internet…


in the magazine

As this issue hits your mailboxes after the US election and as you prepare for the holidays, it can be easy to feel lost in darkness. In this issue, you’ll read of the piercing light of Christ that illuminates the darkness of drug addiction at home and abroad, as Angela Fulton in Vietnam and Maria Baer in Portland report about Christian rehab centers. Also, Carrie McKean explores the complicated path of estrangement and Brad East explains the doctrine of providence. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt shows us how art surprises, delights, and retools our imagination for the Incarnation, while Jeremy Treat reminds us of an ancient African bishop’s teachings about Immanuel. Finally, may you be surprised by the nearness of the “Winter Child,” whom poet Malcolm Guite guides us enticingly toward. Happy Advent and Merry Christmas.

CT Daily Briefing

Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily.

Delivered free via email to subscribers weekly. Sign up for this newsletter.

You are currently subscribed as no email found. Sign up to more newsletters like this. Manage your email preferences  or unsubscribe.

Christianity Today is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
“Christianity Today” and “CT” are the registered trademarks of Christianity Today International.

Copyright ©2024 Christianity Today, PO Box 788, Wheaton, IL 60187-0788 
All rights reserved.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube