8. Model Generosity
Even when financial records are confidential, people somehow discern a pastor’s level of giving. One man told me when his pastor talked about giving, the money counters smirked in disbelief because they knew what he gave. Others noticed and soon got the picture.
9. Be Positive
We follow our prayer emphasis and home visitation with four weeks of positive biblical teaching on stewardship. Only one sermon focuses primarily on financial giving. I don’t promise financial wealth or immediate rewards from giving. I say God usually rewards our giving with better things than money—like love, joy, peace, good friends, and families.
10. Spell Out Sacrifice
Instead of calling our stewardship emphasis “faith promise giving” as I used to do, I now refer to it as “faith sacrifice investment.” Faith communicates that all giving requires us to give up something now based on our faith in God’s love and our future reward from him. I use sacrifice instead of promise because God desires loving sacrifice more than verbal promises.
In addition, the only way most people will be able to fulfill their giving promises is by sacrificing a current expense. When people fail to fulfill the faith promise they made to God, it is usually because they tried to increase their giving without having increased income.
