Nashville—LifeWay Christian Resources and the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention are hoping that a New Testament might help families reduce their debts. If that happens, churches will benefit.

The Executive Committee worked with LifeWay’s Holman Bible Outreach International to develop a New Testament that includes 30 daily devotions written by Crown Financial Ministries to be used by churches with the “It’s a New Day” curriculum series.

The “New Day” course includes a 10-week Bible study that leads individuals through the biblical principles of money management. Churches that implement a four-week emphasis on financial freedom also may use sermons provided on a DVD that teach foundational principles for handling money God’s way.

“We are a debt-driven culture. We define ourselves by the stuff we have,” said Ashley Clayton, associate vice president for stewardship with the Executive Committee. “People in the pews are just as much in debt as people outside of the church. Even pastors and church leaders are not immune.

“We believe Southern Baptists want to give,” Clayton added, “but they just can’t. Our goal is to bring liberty and freedom to believers. We may never know what an impact we can have on the Kingdom if believers are free to give. When individuals begin exercising good financial discipline personally, it will carry over to good financial discipline in the church.”

While financial freedom is a personal issue, Clayton said he believes progress can be made when a church addresses stewardship corporately.

HBOI Executive Director Phill Burgess insisted that the New Day New Testaments can encourage community for those learning about biblical principles of money management.

“With the entire congregation going through the series together, a sense of ‘oneness’ within the church can be created, like we are ‘all in this together,’” he said. “Using the New Day New Testaments during the series is like a tender walk through God’s Word that can lead an entire congregation into a life-changing commitment that will bring peace in their lives.”

In support of the “It’s a New Day” initiative, LifeWay Christian Stores is offering envelopes available through its envelope service, according to coordinator Ben Stroup. With so many struggling financially outside of the church, Stroup said he believes the New Day program also can work as an outreach.