Proven stewardship practices used by other churches to encourage people in joyful and generous giving. It has helped increase giving 10-25% and in some cases even more.
1 - PERSONAL TESTIMONIES
Before the offering is collected, have an individual or a couple give a personal testimony about how the Lord has taught them to give 10% or more to the Lord's work at their first and highest financial priority. Have them also briefly explain how they've felt about this decision and how the Lord has blessed them for their obedience. Some churches with video equipment have done these as taped interviews and then played them during the service.
2 - TEACH CHRISTIANS HOW TO MANAGE THEIR FINANCES
Use the Crown Financial Ministries (www.crown.org) financial Bible study or view Larry Burkett video tapes in Sunday School class.
3 - ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP SERIES
Pastor John Maxwell has taught thousands of pastors Biblical stewardship principles at Pastors' conferences he puts on. He says teaching an annual 4-message stewardship series is the single most important thing he does every year to help people grow in their spiritual and financial life. He has done this every year for 20 years. Only one of the four messages he gives specifically deals with giving money. Over the years, some of the month-long themes included: "God's Challenge, Our Choice," "Taking the Stew Out of Stewardship," "The ABC's of Stewardship," and "It's a Matter of Trust." Be sure to try and use real-life illustrations in your sermons. Tell people how the Lord has creatively provided for you and/or others you know who faithfully honored the Lord in their giving. When you teach from the head it goes to the head, but when you teach from a life it goes to a life. Note: We have several of these sets in the District Resource Center available for loan.
4 - DESIGNATED GIVING
Allow people to give designated "over-and-above-regular-gifts" to a building project, mission's offering or annual faith promise, renovations, or special needs. These seldom affect regular giving.
5 - MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Have your church's leadership approve a money back guarantee for first-time tithers. Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego where John Maxwell is the Pastor does this every single year. Following the month-long stewardship preaching series, they ask regular givers to turn in a card saying they will tithe the next year. They ask non-tithers and new people to sign a card saying they will begin to tithe. The church offers a full money back guarantee to anyone who tithes for 90 days and then regrets this decision.
6 - ALL-CHURCH TITHING SUNDAY
Challenge everyone in advance to bring a full 10% of their income as an offering to church on a designated Sunday. A second option is to have people write on a card (without indicating their name) how much their tithe "would be" if they gave 10% of their annual household income to the church. Tally this information and report the totals back to the congregation. People will be amazed to discover that if they faithfully gave 10% of their income to the Lord's work in their local church, that they could expand the church budget 2-4x's for missions, staff, regular operations, and building/renovation projects.
7 - PRE-OFFERING VERSE AND COMMENTS BY A CHURCH LEADER
I attended one church where a church leader or lay person would read an appropriate Scripture verse on finances, stewardship, or giving before the offering, make a few personal comments about why it was meaningful to him, and then pray for the morning offering. Give leaders a copy of the stewardship handout on "100 Scripture Verses and Ideas" and try this in your own church.
8 - EFFECTIVE USE OF YOUR CHURCH'S DONOR RECORDS
Put Biblical reasons "why to give" to the Lord on the bottom or back of your donor records. Send out donor record reports to your congregation in the fall with a simplified financial report. Encourage them in the value and importance of their giving.
9 - OUTSIDE STEWARDSHIP SPEAKER
Bring in an experienced stewardship speaker to speak on to your congregation. An outside speaker can clearly teach God's word on Christian giving without fear or timidity.
10 - START A CHRISTIAN FINANCIAL COUNSELING MINISTRY
Have a lay person in your church begin a Christian financial counseling* ministry to help families in trouble. As families begin to get their finances in order, they'll begin to faithfully give to the Lord's work.
From Christian Stewardship Association (www.stewardship.org).