Rethinking the Offering
In recent months, I’ve become aware of a trend that has arisen since I left the role of senior pastor. That is a downplaying of the Sunday morning offering. It’s quite widespread and, frankly, it troubles me.
From the very beginning of my walk of faith, I felt strongly convicted that giving was a key part of discipleship. This was evidenced personally in that at the outset of our marriage and ever since, Gwen and I were faithful to tithe to our local church.
I took the words of Malachi seriously. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it (Malachi 3:10).
Years later, when I began planning Sunday services, that conviction spilled over into the weekly gathering. In reading Scripture verses such as “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts” (Psalm 96:8), or “On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week and use it for this offering” (I Corinthians 16:2), I felt the need to normalize the fact that giving an offering was a regular part of public worship.
I wasn’t the only pastor who felt this way. Sunday offerings were normative. So, what has happened in recent years?
What Happened to the Offering?
For one thing, with the rise and promotion of the convenience of on-line giving, the need to make room for an offering in the service seemed to be outdated and superfluous. And, after all, those minutes could be used elsewhere (such as increasing the length of the sermon!)
Secondly, when COVID hit and churches had to shut down their in-person gatherings, all they were left with was either on-line giving or mail-in giving. And when gatherings were resumed the “passing of the plate” was deemed too unsanitary. Thus, “giving boxes” began to appear at the back of the room.
Finally, in an attempt to be more visitor friendly, the conclusion was that any mention of giving would put undue pressure on those who were checking the church out. Better not to turn people off.
The combination of all these factors has resulted in any mention of an offering during the worship service to be (1) non-existent, (2) briefly noted in the bulletin, or (3) quickly added to the regular list of church options as verbalized in the announcements.
I may be old-fashioned, and I'm not against online giving, but I would suggest a rethinking of the offering. As I see it, faithful stewardship is still a key part of discipleship, and I think the offering is one of the most important elements of our Sunday worship.
Resurrect the Offering
So how might this be resurrected? I’ve come up with some ideas of my own and also came upon a few suggestions that were offered by a pastor named Thomas Costello. Consider these.
1. Commit to its importance.
Any pastor or church who bucks the trend of downplaying the Sunday offering is going to be criticized. There will be accusations such as “People will think all we care about is money” or “There is no longer any need to waste time with this.” These negative vibes can only be handled if there is deep conviction maintained, and a biblical and practical argument offered.
As evidenced by Scripture (both OT and NT), it has been normative for God’s people to give as a key element of their worship.
Prioritizing the opportunity for giving as part of worship allows you to underscore that it’s a key part of discipleship.
Practically speaking, it allows for a “first step” for individuals to give. That is to say, they may well put their money in an offering bag before they set up an online account.
It’s important for the pastor to be fully committed to this in the same way he is committed to other elements of the Sunday gathering.
2. Make space for it.
Plan for this element carefully. Rather than simply jumping into the time of offering and asking for people to give, thoughtfully come up with a segue to allow for some focus. This time should remind folks why it is so important that we give.
There are multiple ways this can be done. The most common is to use Scripture. Perhaps something like, “This week in my Bible reading, I came across this great reminder…” Or “The psalmist had some important things to say to God’s people regarding their giving…”
Another way is to use a story. Consider sharing either a personal story of how you were tempted to bypass the need to give or of how you were convicted of the need to give.
There’s also great power in testimony – where someone else’s story is shared. “I was talking to a woman named Mary this week and she told me how God came through for her…” Or “I heard from a guy named Steve who told me that for the first time he decided to step out in faith and give…”
It doesn’t really matter how you create a moment but that you create a moment. So, give some real thought to this key element in the service and make sure the person who is given this responsibility can do a good job.
3. Connect the dots.
This is when you couple the Scripture you read or the story you told to the lives of your listeners. In either case, share how this word has encouraged or convicted you and how it might apply to them.
Encourage people to take that next step. Don’t just leave them with a biblical truth or the testimony of another. Help them to make it personal by challenging them to move into regular giving.
4. Clarify the process.
Don’t assume that people will know what next steps to take. Newcomers need to be informed and regular attenders need to be reminded of the various giving options that are available. Using a series of slides can be helpful here.
If you’re going to pass the plate, let them know that that is for their convenience in the present moment. (Remember, there are many individuals who will, in fact, give when the plate is passed, people who are open to participate and might not give otherwise.)
If you have online options, explain those and how to use them.
If you have a box at the exits, show where those are.
4. Close with thanks.
It’s important to let people know that as a church committed to extending God’s Kingdom, we’re dependent upon and so grateful for their financial support. So simply offer a word of thanks for their partnership.
Another way that this could be done is to periodically use the line, “Because you gave, we were able to do this…” Or “Because you were faithful, we were able to have this kind of impact in our city…” And then explain what happened (Again, pictures can be a powerful help here.)
Everyone loves to make a difference. When you can tie people’s giving to real world results and thank them for their participation in that, it can have a huge impact. In addition, they are more likely to continue to give.
If you are a pastor or church leader, I would encourage you to rethink the offering in your Sunday services. In my opinion, failure to do so is a real lost opportunity to not only meet the financial needs of the church but to increase the level of discipleship in the church.
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