Leo Sabo, President of the Christian Stewardship Network, on Shepherding a Congregation in Generosity

The Finish Line Podcast
Episode 78

Listen on SpotifyApple PodcastsStitcherPandora, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Listen to the Show

What We’ll Cover

Leo Sabo is President of the Christian Stewardship Network (CSN), which provides training and resources for pastors seeking to disciple their congregations in the area of wise stewardship. Leo shares his remarkable story, from growing up in Romania to a successful ministry as a stewardship pastor at a large church, to taking over as President of CSN. 

Leo struggled with finances early in his career, but hit a major turning point as God began to reorient his perspective. His personal experience led him to his future role in ministry, helping others reshape their relationship with finances and encouraging stepping into joy-filled generosity.

Leo is passionate about encouraging discussion of finances within the church. He addresses the hesitation pastors and other church leaders often feel in breaching the subject and offers wisdom and advice for those seeking to do so wisely. 

Major Topics Include:

  • The mission of the Christian Stewardship Network (CSN) to equip church leaders for stewardship teaching.
  • The need for senior leaders to prioritize teaching stewardship principles in their congregations.
  • The challenges of incorporating stewardship teaching into church culture.
  • Differentiating between obedience and heart-driven generosity.
  • Trusting God’s provision through financial offerings.
  • Aligning financial principles with biblical truths for heart change.

Quotes to Remember

  • “God, whatever you want to do, that’s what I want to do.”
  • “I quickly realized that it was not a money issue. It was a heart issue, a spiritual issue.”
  • “Generosity is a byproduct of being a good steward. If you’re managing God’s resources, then you’re going to do it his way.”
  • “You’re teaching people how to align their faith with their finances. And that’s a difficult thing.”

Links from the Show

Bible References from the Show

Romans 1:16 | Unashamed of the Gospel

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Matthew 6:21 | Where Your Treasure Is, Your Heart Is

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Recent Podcasts

Recent Posts

Practical Strategies for Living on a Budget

Living on a Fixed Income For anyone living on a budget of any kind, there are a number of situations that are guaranteed come up. Whether you have a detailed system to handle them, or you go with the flow, you have likely encountered several of them.  While many...

Setting Up an Account Structure

Once your income has surpassed your finish line, it’s helpful to implement a structure to help know what money is to be used for your operational costs and what is to be invested in the things God places on your heart. While there are multiple ways to keep track of...

Addressing Debt

For some people who set out to define "enough" and set a limit for their spending, there is one looming barrier to getting started. Debt. Over 80% of Americans have some form of debt (including mortgages). For those with personal (non-mortgage) debt, the average owed...

The Race for a Finish Line

Hi, my name is Kealan. My brother, Cody, and I founded the Finish Line Pledge together and cohost the Finish Line Podcast. My story starts when I was a senior in college. I was a part of a campus ministry at the time and knew several people going into formal mission...

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage?

Earlier, we tackled the question of addressing debt with a financial finish line. The main concept involves committing to a finish line up front and using everything over that percentile to rapidly pay down debt. Once the debt is paid, you can easily transition to...

Get Involved

Learn More

Join Us!

See Other Episodes