Top ten reasons why people become generous stewards
Pastor Mervin Thompson
1. The senior pastor is giving effective leadership, both to the ministry and mission of the congregation. Weak leadership and weak relationships make for weak stewardship.
2. People give to vision, not to budgets. The more compelling the vision and more exciting the missional objectives, the more people are motivated to give.
3. Transformation leads to stewardship. Tithing very rarely comes from the head, it comes from the heart. The most effective stewards have had an experience with Jesus, continue to have such an experience and want others to have one also.
4. Confidence and even pride in one's congregation. If people sense the congregation is on the right track (if it is Spirit-filled, dynamic and challenging), people will give. If they believe the best years are behind it—that the congregation is just hanging on and going through the motions—giving dries up.
5. Inspirational worship attracts people to attend, which increases stewardship. What is it that motivates people to come to worship? Are they looking forward to the music? Is there a sermon series that people don't want to miss? Is the preacher scratching where they are itching? Do people just hate to miss because they might not hear something profound and life-changing?
6. There is an absence of conflict in the church. Nothing dampens enthusiasm like chronic anxiety or ongoing conflict. Those who claim that conflict is healthy for a church—a growing time—have not been leading a congregation lately. Incessant conflict disempowers, reduces confidence, destroys community and dries up giving.
7. A blend of the great commission and the great commandment is necessary for sacrificial giving. Reaching the world for Jesus Christ and responding to the desperate needs of the world are part and parcel of the gospel. A congregation which is just great commission and ignores the poor is not going to generate much giving after a time. A congregation which is just great commandment and ignores those who are unchurched or dechurched will become a social club.
8. The vision of the congregation is consistently and effectively communicated. Rick Warren talks about the Nehemiah vision—that which is communicated every 26 days—or at least once a month. Bill Hybels talks about how vision leaks. Thus one of the major roles of the pastor and staff is to over-communicate, to always be interpreting the vision and mission in word and deed.
9. The congregation needs to be focused on team ministry, the priesthood of all believers. The role of laity is not just to support the professionals and pay their dues, but to be involved in ministry. Everyone is a minister. The more the pastor(s) and leaders incarnate this biblical idea, the more people see the congregation as belonging to them, the ministry is theirs. Too often the people sense the only reason they are asked to give is to pay salaries for staff members.
10. The congregation needs to build strategic partnerships so it is seen as a part of a larger mission. It needs to partner with "centers of health and strength." Partnering with Tanzania, Lutheran World Relief, World Vision, Jamaica Project, Feed our Starving Children, etc. gives people motivation beyond the walls of the congregation. These partnerships need to be very carefully considered, articulated and monitored to see that funds are going where they can be best used.
Pastor Mervin Thompson
1. The senior pastor is giving effective leadership, both to the ministry and mission of the congregation. Weak leadership and weak relationships make for weak stewardship.
2. People give to vision, not to budgets. The more compelling the vision and more exciting the missional objectives, the more people are motivated to give.
3. Transformation leads to stewardship. Tithing very rarely comes from the head, it comes from the heart. The most effective stewards have had an experience with Jesus, continue to have such an experience and want others to have one also.
4. Confidence and even pride in one's congregation. If people sense the congregation is on the right track (if it is Spirit-filled, dynamic and challenging), people will give. If they believe the best years are behind it—that the congregation is just hanging on and going through the motions—giving dries up.
5. Inspirational worship attracts people to attend, which increases stewardship. What is it that motivates people to come to worship? Are they looking forward to the music? Is there a sermon series that people don't want to miss? Is the preacher scratching where they are itching? Do people just hate to miss because they might not hear something profound and life-changing?
6. There is an absence of conflict in the church. Nothing dampens enthusiasm like chronic anxiety or ongoing conflict. Those who claim that conflict is healthy for a church—a growing time—have not been leading a congregation lately. Incessant conflict disempowers, reduces confidence, destroys community and dries up giving.
7. A blend of the great commission and the great commandment is necessary for sacrificial giving. Reaching the world for Jesus Christ and responding to the desperate needs of the world are part and parcel of the gospel. A congregation which is just great commission and ignores the poor is not going to generate much giving after a time. A congregation which is just great commandment and ignores those who are unchurched or dechurched will become a social club.
8. The vision of the congregation is consistently and effectively communicated. Rick Warren talks about the Nehemiah vision—that which is communicated every 26 days—or at least once a month. Bill Hybels talks about how vision leaks. Thus one of the major roles of the pastor and staff is to over-communicate, to always be interpreting the vision and mission in word and deed.
9. The congregation needs to be focused on team ministry, the priesthood of all believers. The role of laity is not just to support the professionals and pay their dues, but to be involved in ministry. Everyone is a minister. The more the pastor(s) and leaders incarnate this biblical idea, the more people see the congregation as belonging to them, the ministry is theirs. Too often the people sense the only reason they are asked to give is to pay salaries for staff members.
10. The congregation needs to build strategic partnerships so it is seen as a part of a larger mission. It needs to partner with "centers of health and strength." Partnering with Tanzania, Lutheran World Relief, World Vision, Jamaica Project, Feed our Starving Children, etc. gives people motivation beyond the walls of the congregation. These partnerships need to be very carefully considered, articulated and monitored to see that funds are going where they can be best used.
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