worship_usherThe most boring part of most churches services are the offering.  Little to no planning goes into this event.  Could it be that this lack of attention is one reason why giving to the Church is on a continual decline?

There are many reasons for the decline and there is proof that poor offering set up is to blame but I find it interesting that in churches where the offering is set up well their giving does better than other churches. So, let’s talk about how to take up an offering.  Here are a few do’s and don’ts for you to follow.

1.  Pass the plate!  The Contemporary Church Movement got it wrong that people would not come to churches that passed an offering plate.  Mega church North Point Community passes offering buckets every week and we run now over 20K in attendance.  Rick Warren’s church every week passes an offering.  When you hide the offering basket you are only losing thousands of dollars for your church.  Not passing an offering plate does not make you more seeker friendly.  It simply makes you a poorer church.  17% less.  That is the amount a church that does not pass the plate as opposed to the same size church that does pass the plate according to a new study.  So pass the plate!

2.  Never apologize!  “As our ushers come forward, if you are a guest, please don’t feel like you have to give.”  That is what is typically said in most churches today.  Why don’t we just announce at the start of our services, “Today we are going to worship but if you are a guest please don’t feel like you have to worship.”  You might think that is silly.  Worship is the whole point of church.  So why would we tell people NOT to worship.  EXACTLY!

Giving is a part of worship so, why is it we think we have to tell guests that they don’t have to give?  Do we think they are stupid?  Do we think they cannot figure out for themselves that they don’t have to give?  By apologizing you are setting a poor example of the offering.  You are missing a teaching moment and quite frankly you are missing out on dollars.

3.  Make the offering meaningful and worshipful!  Why should people give?  If you link how the offering supports life changing missions and ministry even your guests will give to that!  By setting up the offering and explaining the benefits of giving and how gifts to your church make a difference people will willingly give to support your cause.  The problem with most churches is that when they ask they do so in a way that turns people off.

4.  Give the offering some thought!  My contention is that most pastors never think about planning out the offering time.  I never did.  We thus lose a great teachable moment.  Then we wonder why the offerings decline.  You spend hours preparing for your sermon and the flow of the worship service why not spend a bit of time planning for the offering.  Setting up the offering could go a long way in seeing giving increase.

I write weekly offering talks through a program called Giving365.  Every week I send members an offering talk.  You can try my plan for 14 days for only $1!  Go to, $1 Trail

I also have a free white paper on how to take up the offering as well as sample offering talks.  The paper is called, “Elevator Pitch Your Offerings.”  You can download your free copy here, https://thestewardshipcoach.org/store/

Taking up the offering is not difficult.  It does require some thought and commitment.  Why not put some effort into the offering this week and see what might result.  You might just make budget this week!

Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach