How to Talk About Giving at Your Church

Money, wealth, generosity, giving, the tithe…they can all be challenging topics to tackle in church. 

But they shouldn’t be. Jesus spoke of money in 11 of his 40 parables and the Old Testament outlined firm principles on giving (see Leviticus 27:30). 

Still, the subject makes many people squirm in their seats. For some, money is a taboo topic with family and friends. Many of your church members are struggling with debt (64 million Americans are carrying credit card debt). Others may feel that “money” is a dirty word in church, separating the secular and the sacred with no Biblical basis. 

The truth is, money is about more than social constructs, or debt, or even religion. Money is a matter of the heart. 

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

(Matthew 6:21 NLT)

Talking about giving, money, and the tithe is not only Biblical; it’s important for the financial health and the heart condition of your congregation. 

Here are 3 ways to start talking about money at your church.
 

3 Ideas for Teaching on Money in Church

The tithe and offering message is a great place to start, but there are also so many more ways to teach on finances in your church. 

Here are 3 ideas to get you started on the topic of giving. 

1. Do a sermon series on finances. 

Create a whole sermon series on money. Your church family will appreciate it more than you know. Many of them are struggling with debt, budgeting, savings, anxiety about retirement, and inflation. Equipping them with practical and Biblical principles for financial stewardship will bless them beyond measure.

Here are a few specific ideas for giving-centered sermon series:

• Giving when it’s hard. Jesus doesn’t just call us to give out of abundance; He calls us to give when it’s difficult (see the story of the widow’s mite in Mark 12). Talk about why it’s always more blessed to give than to receive. 
• Financial stewardship. Many of your church members don’t know how to steward their finances well. Give them practical tools for financial stewardship, and address heart issues that may be at the root of overspending. 
• God’s wealth vs. the world’s wealth. Talk about the topic of wealth from a Biblical perspective, and from a worldly perspective. Where are there differences, and where is there overlap?

Finally, be strategic about when you decide to do a sermon series on giving. 

September can be a great time to speak on the topic, as many people are settling back into a routine after the summer and gearing up for the holiday season. January can also be strategic, as it’s considered a financially stressful month after overspending during the holidays. 

Most importantly, keep your audience in mind. Consider the fact that some of your church members may be living at poverty level, while others may be very affluent. Tailor your talk to your audience–even if the Biblical principles remain the same for everyone.

2. Host a financial stewardship workshop or class. 

People come to church hoping to improve their marriage, their parenting skills, and their ability to deal with stress. Why shouldn’t they come to church to learn about how to manage their money?

Consider offering a workshop, class, or even online course on financial stewardship at your church. You offer resources specifically designed to help get people out of debt, or you may offer a more general course on budgeting and financial planning. 

Dave Ramsey offers many popular Biblical-based courses on money, but there are also a range of other Christian teachers who address topics like budgeting, paying off debt, buying a home, and more. Think about what would be most helpful for your congregants and consider hosting one of these popular resources at your church. 

3. Publish video content on generosity. 

If you’d like to teach on generosity–but you’ve already got a sermon series lined up–consider creating a video series on the topics of money and giving. You can publish the series on your social media channels, website resources page, YouTube channel, or even livestream it during a specific time during the week. 

A video series can also be helpful because it’s easy to share, re-watch, or even attach captions to. If you’re looking to offer a more practical resource that’s more appropriate for a resource page than a weekend service, filmed content may be a good option. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when creating video:

• Consider sound quality and lighting. You can use an iPhone to film your video content, but make sure that you’re in a quiet space with film-friendly lighting. 

• Keep it short. Keep your video content short, sweet, and to the point. Making a few clear points can help your watchers track with you and take notes. 
• Ask someone to edit your video. Ask a talented church volunteer, intern, or staff member to edit your video and add captions and a few graphics. It’s not difficult or expensive to create quality videos these days. 

Don’t be afraid to get creative in your videos. You can always edit out content that you don’t like. Unlike a sermon series, you can review and refine your message before showing it to the world!

Financial Health & Your Church

You’ve addressed the financial health of your church community….but what about your church?

Do you offer online giving?

Do you know who is giving regularly?

Do you have detailed insight into the generosity of your church family?

Breeze ChMS can help you improve your overall financial health by allowing you to track giving, generate reports on financial insights, offer online and text giving, and send out giving reports.

To learn more about using Breeze to help you increase giving at your church, click here.