How to Change the Conversation About Money

How Does the Staff/Church Change the Conversation About Money? The following are some key thoughts on how.

• Be like Jesus. Jesus talked more about money and finances than any other topic. If our Lord saw the importance of discussing this topic, why would we not follow Him and do the same? Jesus called us to make disciples, and a part of discipleship is being a good steward.
• Stop letting the desire to attract a crowd determine your agenda when discussing money and giving. I’ve heard the stories of churches asking the community what they don’t like about the church. The answer was that we always talk about money. I contend that it is not that churches ask for money that turns people off, but how we ask. We have made people feel guilty by telling them what they ought to do rather than giving reasons why they should give. Stop using guilt!
• Have a compelling vision and tell a compelling story. You must connect how a dollar given to your church impacts the world for good. I call that connecting the dots. People give to a compelling story! Make your story compelling, and people will give to it.
• It’s not about money. It’s about missions. The Church is in the business of bringing the Good News of Jesus to a lost and dying world. Missions start at the church’s parking lot and go around the world.
• It’s not about money. It’s about ministry. Who visits you when you are in the hospital? It is not your congressman! Who counsels you when you have a crisis? It is not Dr. Phil. Gifts to a church allow that church to do ministry. That ministry impacts people locally, but it also impacts me. My gifts are returned through meaningful ministry that I can get nowhere else. When I give to my church, I am giving to the ministry.
• It’s not about money. It’s about obedience. Who is it that complains most about churches talking about giving? Lost and carnal people complain. People who lack obedience to the call of Jesus complain about giving. True Christian disciples understand that giving is a part of being a believer. It is an obedience issue. When I give to my church, I am being obedient to the call of Jesus. And God blesses those obedient to His command!

Non-profits never apologize for asking for donations. Yet I have heard countless sermons on giving begin with the minister apologizing for talking on the topic. If we truly believe what we are doing is God’s work, why would we hesitate to ask Christians to support it generously? It is time we set the conversation about giving in a new light and context.