The bringing of tithes and offerings each week is an incredibly important time for churches. It has massive implications for the church from a ministry level (being able to pay the bills, doing ministry in the community, providing a safe place for children to learn about Jesus, etc.), but also is a reflection of the hearts of the congregation. Therefore, this moment each Sunday is one of the most critical times during the service.
Unfortunately, this time is often surrounded by timidity and confusion for many ministry leaders. The good news is we’re here to help you approach it in a healthy and effective way.
Here are some tips to keep in mind to effectively communicate to your congregation during your offering talk:
Recognize the Importance of this Time:
When someone makes a decision to give money to your church, they are making a profoundly spiritual decision. Ultimately, the Church is in the business of seeing God’s Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven. That is exactly what happens when someone gives financially to your church. People give tithes and offerings when they see who the Lord is, and surrender to His will for their life. True generosity is joyful surrender in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Recognize the weight of what this moment could mean for every person in your congregation.
Create a Moment:
In light of the importance of this time, what would be an appropriate way to engage people? John Maxwell said, “Our level of preparation shows our level of expectation.” Does your preparation show you’re expecting God to set people free in their personal finances each week? While it can look different on a week-to-week basis, don’t forget to emphasize this section of the service as an invitation to worship. Here are a few good ideas to implement:
- Use Scripture to illuminate who God is and what He says about resources, surrender, tithing and offerings.
- Tell stories about why giving is important and the difference it makes.
- Provide a time for prayerful and silent reflection on how good The Lord has been to each person.
John Maxwell said, “Our level of preparation shows our level of expectation.”
Switch it Up:
The reality is, a lot of seasoned church-goers know what is going to take place during this time because they have seen it so much. Take a different approach from what you normally do. You don’t always have to read the same passage or reiterate the same core value of your church that is tied to generosity. Remember, generosity is a spiritual decision, so make this a time where people can hear from God and do what He says.
Get Creative:
You don’t have to have someone stand up during the service each week and speak on this from stage. While this standard method is very helpful, there are so many other ways to connect with your congregation on giving. Utilize pre-service sliders, social media, and the church website to encourage and educate people on giving.
Recognize the Different Levels of Givers:
In your congregation, not everyone is in the same financial situation. You don’t want to disenfranchise people by only speaking to a certain level of giver. For example, there may be new Christians in the congregation who don’t tithe. Don’t communicate in a way that ostracizes them for not giving 10%. Help them along in their personal journey of generosity by helping them take the next step. Others may need to be encouraged to live more generously and give offerings above the tithe. In these cases, it’s important to communicate your heart clearly, and not sound pushy, or make it a spiritual imperative to give more. Remember, as you help your people see more of who Jesus is, He will encourage them to obey the next steps He’s calling them to take.
Don’t Let It Be the Only Time You Speak About Money:
If the only time your congregation hears you speak about money is during a weekly offering talk, they will begin to think you really are just after their money! Instead, incorporate biblical teaching on finances and stewardship into the church calendar. Preach on it from the stage, provide free financial coaching for your people, launch a small group study to help them understand how to steward the resources God has given them according to His Word and will, or create a daily devotional. These are all great ways to disciple people on a deeper level, naturally leading to more generous people.
The weekly bringing of tithes and offerings is an important time, because it is incredibly spiritual. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Don’t overlook your offering talk, but rather, recognize how important it is, and prepare for it every single week. After all, our level of PREPARATION reveals our level of EXPECTATION. So, how high are our expectations for our churches when it comes to giving?
We don’t want your church to just go through the motions in this area. We want your church to excel in this area because the implications are massive. In fact, to help you capitalize on the full potential of your weekly offering talk, we want to give you 4, done-for-you, GIVING SCRIPTS for FREE. You can download them here. So take advantage of this resource and use them to help you raise your level of expectation when it comes to giving!
Don’t miss them!
