Giving financially to Kingdom work is a profound and deeply personal process for each person in your church.
From every leader, it requires artful and prayerful leadership to inspire a congregation to give consistently and generously out of a love for God.
Candidly, I’ve hesitated to write a post like this because I don’t like the potential risk of “trivializing” giving by making a simple list.
Personal stewardship, especially in the financial realm, is a deeply spiritual issue.
Keep in mind that many in your congregation are in debt, some struggle with spending, and others have anxiety about how to make ends meet in this climate of inflation. Even the expense of basics like groceries can be overwhelming.
Further, pastors and church leaders carry stress about church finances like the weekly pressure of making budget.
No matter how you slice it, money is a sensitive subject. So, I hope this “simple” list is helpful, encouraging, easily accessible, and therefore worth the risk.
1) Never make money about expenses, make it about vision.
People can smell desperation in a leader.
When you allow your financial pressures to leak into your teaching and general announcements from the platform, you receive less in offerings, not more.
Vision is what moves people to contribute financially, trust is what allows it to actually be given.
People work hard for their income and want to know it’s going to a Kingdom purpose greater than they can produce on their own.
2) Practice generosity personally and share your story as God prompts.
Your level of personal generosity is inherently connected to your leadership.
It’s good for people you serve to occasionally hear a story that reveals your heart about giving. Not specific numbers, but your passion, obedience and commitment.
In essence you are modeling the way and encouraging others by your story.
Generosity isn’t only about financial giving, it’s also about a generous heart with your time, kindness, encouragement, ideas and use of spiritual gifts.
If we are honest, generosity is a reflection of who we are. It’s not a guilt-driven score card, but as leaders we do set the pace.
When giving to others is as natural as breathing, that finds its way into the DNA of your leadership, and people respond accordingly. You behave differently, and the congregation responds in kind.
3) Offer an online giving option that is supported by consistent technology.
Online giving has caught tremendous traction in the local church. The pandemic four years ago elevated it from an option to a necessity and it remains the leading option for giving. I highly recommend you set up online giving if you haven’t already.
Online giving aligns with the normal practices and patterns of your people for much of their personal finances.
In short, it’s easier than remembering to write a check and carry it to church.
Receiving a physical offering is still important because it’s a reminder of an offering’s (bringing to God) place in worship. And, of course, there are those who are unable to embrace online giving.
4) Teach a series on generosity each year.
If you talk about money too much, your congregation will become anesthetized to what you are saying. In general, people know they are “supposed to give,” especially if they see the offering being received.
The leadership principle is to help people mature spiritually from “supposed to give,” to understanding the biblical standard, and finally to a love of personal Kingdom-oriented generosity.
Merely asking the congregation to give the same way over and over again doesn’t encourage or inspire anyone. Keep your offering moment creative, different, authentic, full of heart and spirit, and well planned and prayed for.
For deeper impact, prepare and present, for example, an annual 4-week series on biblical stewardship, or generosity, including tithing, the impact is significant.
Above all, never pressure anyone to give financially. Encourage your congregation to follow God’s plan and trust His promises.
5) Demonstrate wise stewardship on a consistent basis.
Giving starts with a vision but continues through good stewardship.
Nothing increases financial trust faster than when the leadership consistently demonstrates wise money management.
If you are not great at the financial part of leadership, get some help from a few sharp business leaders in your church.
Giving starts with vision but continues through good stewardship.Click & Tweet!
6) Teach tithing primarily for the spiritual growth of the people, more than the strength of the church as an organization.
As mentioned, it’s a good practice to include tithing within your annual stewardship series, but it deserves special note on its own.
Generosity is not about money as much as it is about trust. It’s a heart issue more than a wallet issue.
It’s essential to trust that God will provide for our personal needs, and that spiritual maturity includes gratitude along with obedience to God prompts.
The result of giving is life changing for each individual and surpasses the significance of the church “making the budget.” I’m not downplaying or dismissing the church’s pressures and need for financial resources, the point is to make the focus more personal than organizational.
Generosity is not about money as much as it is about trust.Click & Tweet!
7) Don’t hesitate to be bold about tithing with leaders.
Tithing is part of a believer’s spiritual journey.
It’s good to be clear and direct, but also be very encouraging with the general congregation when it comes to your teaching on tithing. But when it comes to teaching leaders to tithe, it’s good to be bold.
If a leader is representing the church, carrying spiritual responsibility and commensurate spiritual authority, it needs to be backed by spiritual obedience – including tithing.
Again, never communicate guilt, but remember the idea of generosity started with God.
8) Communicate current, relevant and diverse stories of life change.
Few things are more inspiring than stories of life change.
When your congregation consistently hears these stories from the stage, whether by video or you tell them in person, they are reminded of the vision to reach people and what God wants to do through your church.
Make baptisms part of your worship experience; they are some of the best stories ever told!
9) Offer personal financial training that meets day-to-day practical needs.
When we challenge people to give without equipping them to give, we create an element of spiritual dissonance.
Without knowledge of basic budgeting, debt reduction, and personal savings, etc., it’s challenging to embrace consistent giving, let alone tithing.
Offer top-notch financial training through small groups and seminars at your church. Financial freedom is a powerful tool to help your people grow in their faith, wisdom and generosity.
