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.
