Ministry, Stewardship, and Sustainability
Wrestling with paid content in an age of Gospel accessibility
The notification popped up during my evening prayer time: "Enable paid subscriptions and grow your audience 3x faster!" Substack's algorithm had been watching my metrics, noting the engagement on posts about biblical frameworks and digital discipleship. According to their data, I was ready to monetize.
But staring at that notification, I felt a deeper spiritual tension rising. When Jesus said *freely you have received, freely give,*¹ what exactly did He mean for those of us creating biblical content in digital spaces? How do we balance ministry sustainability with Gospel accessibility?
If you've felt this tension between calling and practical sustainability, you're wrestling with something ancient. Maybe you're a pastor wondering about charging for Bible studies. Perhaps you're questioning whether supporting Christian content creators compromises Gospel principles. Or you're simply hungry for deep biblical teaching while recognizing that quality work requires time and resources.
This isn't just about platform strategy. It's about stewarding biblical truth responsibly in ways that serve the global body of Christ.
The Tension I'm Actually Facing
Gospel Accessibility vs. Ministry Sustainability
On one hand, the Gospel demands openness. Jesus said freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8)¹. When God gives us insights into His Word, when Scripture illuminates contemporary challenges through frameworks like WISE, CONNECT, and REFUGE, these aren't commodities to be sold. They're treasures to be shared.
The accessibility of biblical truth matters deeply for the global Church. Some of you are seminarians scraping together tuition. Others are missionaries supported by $50/month. Many are simply hungry for serious biblical content in a space flooded with shallow spiritual platitudes.
On the other hand, biblical stewardship requires sustainability. Paul accepted support from the Philippians while refusing it from the Corinthians². Not because he was inconsistent, but because he understood that different contexts require different approaches to ministry funding. Even Jesus and the disciples had supporters who provided for their needs (Luke 8:3)³.
If this work genuinely serves the Church, then developing sustainable support systems isn't worldly compromise. It's responsible stewardship that enables deeper service.
"And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again." (Philippians 4:15-16)⁴
What I'm Actually Considering
The Real Options on the Table
I'm not talking about putting basic biblical content behind paywalls. The core teaching, the frameworks, the deep biblical exposition would all remain freely accessible.
But I'm genuinely wrestling with some specific possibilities. Things like subscriber-only discussions where we could process biblical applications together in deeper community. The comment sections are wonderful, but imagine having space for extended conversations about how these frameworks actually work in your daily decisions, your family situations, your ministry contexts.
I'm also considering paid community features for those who want enhanced engagement and can afford to support the work. Not because their spiritual formation matters more, but because their support could enable more consistent, in-depth content for everyone. Maybe occasional premium content like extended biblical frameworks or comprehensive series, while always maintaining the weekly free posts you've come to expect.
Then there are practical elements like early access to content for supporters before public release, or direct interaction opportunities through subscriber chats where you could ask questions about applying biblical principles to specific situations you're facing.
The goal wouldn't be creating spiritual "haves" and "have-nots." Rather, it would enable those who can support the work to do so while ensuring no one's spiritual formation suffers due to financial constraints.
Why This Matters Beyond Platform Strategy
Biblical Stewardship in Digital Spaces
Maybe this isn't really about paid content at all. Maybe it's about this fundamental question: How do we build sustainable Christian intellectual communities that serve both the well-resourced and the financially constrained without compromising biblical truth accessibility?
Paul's tent-making. The Levitical support system. Jesus' network of supporters. Early church community sharing. Scripture gives us multiple models for ministry sustainability, but applying them to digital ministry requires wisdom and community discernment.
I don't want to create barriers to biblical truth. But I also recognize that sustainable ministry enables more consistent, deeper service to the body of Christ.
Questions Worth Wrestling With:
Where should we draw lines between "always free" biblical content and supporter-level community features?
How do biblical principles of ministry support apply when "church" happens partly through digital platforms like Substack?
Would tiered access feel like spiritual gatekeeping, or like responsible stewardship that enables deeper ministry?
I need your wisdom on this tension. Drop your honest thoughts in the comments. Challenge my assumptions. Share your own wrestling. Help me think through this biblically rather than just strategically. Your input will genuinely shape how this community develops, because this isn't my platform alone - it's a space where we're all seeking to understand Scripture more deeply and apply it more faithfully.
References
¹ Matthew 10:8 (ESV) - YouVersion
² Philippians 4:15-16 (ESV) - Blue Letter Bible
³ Luke 8:3 (ESV) - Bible.com
⁴ Philippians 4:15-16 (ESV) - BibleGateway
The Lord is good to us, and I certainly feel the roller coaster aspect you mentioned. I am grateful that you gave had those few to support you and that you ha e out so much of yourself into the mission given to you.
The part about hustle hits, as well as constantly saying yes to the spirit. I pray for your continued success and for the moment you feel freed. I truly appreciate your input brother.
Yet another great read, and so relevant in these times! I completely agree with keeping biblical truths freely accessible to all. At the same time, I appreciate the way platforms like this one allow for optional support. It’s a gift when fellow believers choose to support one another, and it makes sense that deeper, more personal reflections or community-based elements might be reserved for those who are a bit more ‘invested’ not just financially, but relationally and spiritually, too.”