In this third post on giving and prayer, I have eight words of stewardship advice:

Pray

Say thank-you

Tell stories

Pay attention

Pray. (This is one worth repeating. We’ll talk about the Holy Spirit and pre-authorized giving!)

Clergy and Christian leaders can act on this simple counsel immediately.

How can a shrinking church increase generosity? Generosity is a spiritual discipline, part of following Jesus. Reducing expenses doesn’t increase generosity.

When we are scared, we hold on to what we have too tightly. Sort of a death grip, which is ironic because none of the things we are squeezing are ours to keep. As I’ve said before, dying with a big pile of money under the bed is the same as dying with a big pile of zucchini under the bed….Like an angel’s visit, gratitude interrupts our fear and reminds us of God’s faithfulness.

Encouraging ways to nurture generosity for churches who are worried about keeping the lights on

Regardless of your faith tradition, everyone dies in the end. Please remember with gratitude people who have left money to the church in their wills.

Generosity means caring for the people around us, and accepting care in return. Like other forms of caregiving, generosity is not a “once and done” deal. Generosity repeats.

To learn the spiritual discipline of giving, we’ll have to practice. Many of you will cook dinner today. Again. You’ll have opportunity to be generous in a variety of ways.

Do not grow weary, my friends! Anything worth doing is worth doing over.

If Matthew, a twenty-something male, makes an online donation to your church, what happens next? Generosity demonstrates trust. Matthew is telling you that he trusts your church enough to make a financial gift. There’s many, many voices calling for his money. He chose to give the church. That’s a big deal.

Churches everywhere are 100% comprised of humans, which gets messy. When I asked a friend if my book about church and money should have conflict, she asked me, “do you want anyone under 40 to read the book?” A shiny, polished view of the church won’t ring true.

If you can’t pass the plate, you can still celebrate the offering during a livestream or virtual worship service. Start with gratitude to God, the giver of every good thing.

While churches hope that donors like Stella carry on indefinitely, like the Queen, she is in fact mortal.  Have you asked Stella if she would like her legacy of caring to continue through a gift in her will?  She trusts the church.  Does the church trust Stella, believe that Stella is brave enough to have this conversation?  Remember that lots of charities ask Stella for money.  Will Stella know that the church would love to receive a bequest from her?  Ask.  Tell the story of what her gift will do.