A pastor might say to me, “I preach a stewardship sermon regularly, and we pass the offering plate every Sunday…but nothing seems to change. The money problems never go away. When the economy tanked, it just got worse.”
Over the years, I have seen some of the best – and worst – practices when it comes to encouraging Christian stewardship. I refer to the best as the Five Disciplines of a Generous Church.
Encourage Giving
The most familiar of the five disciplines is to encourage giving – it’s a no-brainer. The churches I talk to usually have this one covered. While pastors don’t necessarily relish the idea of a stewardship sermon, they, nonetheless, try to deliver on this expectation. Unfortunately, sermons are not especially effective if they are not delivered in conjunction with other disciplines that influence the church culture.
Empower Leadership
Abe Lincoln once said, “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my ax.” Church leaders must be prepared to lead in stewardship. We are called to be shepherds of God’s flock…not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV)
In his book, The Chief Steward, Richard Borg admirably confronts church leaders who neglect their stewardship responsibilities. With experience as a senior pastor, church planter, capital campaign consultant, and leader in the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, Borg insists that pastors are in the most influential position to disciple their flock in Christian stewardship.
Expand Worship
The church is instructed to gather together with a broad understanding of worship, which includes singing, praying, teaching, participating in communion, and giving. In 1 Corinthians, Paul tells the Macedonians that just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (1 Cor. 8:7)
In his book Speaking About Money, Mark Vincent describes the person who encounters the saving power of Christ is motivated by a response deeper than obligatory tithing, goodwill toward others, or seeking more of God’s blessings. Stewardship through worship is no longer something you do; it is something you become.
Experience Generosity
We reference giving and being generous synonymously as if the two go hand in hand. Being generous describes the way in which we give – it reflects the heart and attitude behind why the gift was given. We can certainly also give grudgingly or with regret – these two giving experiences are very different.
In order to give generously, we must first receive generously. This begins with the understanding that we are the benefactors of the most generous gift of all: eternal life through the Jesus Christ. I encourage congregations to seek out opportunities to help one another and to share one another’s burdens. I also encourage them to give time and money to direct-service organizations in the community or directly to families and individuals in need.
Ensure Integrity
Church leaders rarely see how their behavior affects the confidence of their congregations. Annual stewardship campaigns are often driven by subtle fear and anxiety over the church’s budget. Many pastors are guilty of unnecessarily apologizing from the pulpit as if the message was wrong or sinful.
Recently, a newspaper headline read, “Pastor Allegedly Steals $50,000 from Non-Profit.” Another read, “Preacher Faces Federal Charges.” This is not the first time people have encountered these headlines, which leaves them hesitant to trust the church. In order to remedy this, the church must earn the trust of its congregation. Policies and procedures must be in place to ensure the integrity of those who handle money and other church assets.
I like what Dr. Steve McSwain, author of The Giving Myths, says…The Macedonians had every reason to quarantine the meager resources they did have. Instead, however – and this is what shocked Saint Paul – their generosity was outlandish. Just as in Macedonia, this kind of outlandish generosity exists today. It isn’t because of sermons on tithing or the pulpit scolding of those who do not give. If your interest is in growing a spiritually healthy church, motivation for giving must come from somewhere other than guilt for not giving or shame for giving too little.
