Offering plate 2When it comes to improving your offerings, please stop apologizing for changing the world.  I visited a church yesterday and as the staff member was setting up the offering he said, “If you are a guest today you can just push that offering basket aside as you don’t have to give.  The offering is for our members not you.”  I call this approach apologizing for the offering.

Here is what I would like to ask that staff member and his pastor.  Is the offering worship or not?  I know they would say it is worship.  My reply then would be why don’t you at the beginning get up and tell every guest that what they are about to experience in the next hour they don’t have to participate in for in fact worship is for the members.  So, guests, please don’t feel like you have to sing.  Don”t feel like you have to listen to the sermon.  In fact don’t feel like you have to do anything but catch up on your sleep.

I know what you are thinking.  No church would do that.  Exactly!  Why?  Because people can figure that out for themselves.  That is my point when it comes to the offering.  Guests will quickly see your members pushing the offering basket aside and figure out that giving is optional.  Your guests are not stupid so stop treating them like they are.

If the offering is worship why don’t we make it worshipful AND invite everyone to participate?  If I asked that same staff member if he believed the passages that teach that God blesses us when we give he would say Amen!  Then why not invite guests to experience that blessing?  Why do we encourage them NOT to do what God clearly commands us TO do?

I know the thinking.  We assume that people are turned off by churches asking for money.  If people are turned off by organizations asking for money why is the Red Cross still in business?  Well that is different.  Is it?  How is it different?  Think about it.  The Red Cross has a mission and they invite people to give money and blood to support their work.  They never apologize.  The simply make the case for what they do and what they need to do what they do.  They then invite those who see that need to help them.

The difference between the Red Cross and the Church is they are doing temporal work and we are changing the world for eternity!  So here is a thought, make the case for what you as a church are doing in a compelling way and even your guests will want to give.  It isn’t that the Church talks about money that drives some away it is how we talk about it.  Talk about life change and ask people to support that work and people will give.  Even your guests!

Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach

Every week I write an offering talk for churches to use.  You can try it for 14 days for only $1.  Go here, https://thestewardshipcoach.org/2015/06/15/giving-365-introductory-special-14-days-for-1-00/