Offerings Should Be Prepared Ahead Of Time

Skilled preachers who are passionate about teaching God’s Word spend time praying, reading, and studying their sermon. Musicians listen to songs, download chord charts, and rehearse on a weekly basis so they can lead the congregation in a way that honors God. Since sermons and worship music are vital parts of your service every weekend, participants spend a substantial chunk of time preparing.

But there’s another element that happens in most church services. It’s a critical component. But it rarely gets any advance thought or planning.

The offering.

That’s right.

You read correctly.

We’re talking about tithe collecting, people.

52 times a year, you have the opportunity to link your congregation to God’s heart for generosity and your church’s mission in the community. But effectively connecting the dots requires planning. You must think about the offering time in advance.

Too many churches tack this on with little consideration. The worship leader mumbles a few words after a song while ushers scramble to send buckets down the aisles. Or, the speaker transitions to a brief appeal after his sermon as deacons pass the plates.

Both of those scenarios are typical.

Both of those scenarios are bad.

Just like preachers should pray, read, and study. And just like musicians should rehearse. Someone needs to prep for the offering. As a pastor, you need to be all over this. You need to plan how you’re going to prime your congregation for generosity. You also need to think through what you want your audience to do.

We call them Giving Talks. A Giving Talk is a short explanation of how the offering works plus a call to action. It’s a one to two-minute talk from a pastor, staff member, or volunteer. It’s an intentional, planned moment in your church service. It connects the dots for your congregation and gets them ready to give.

And no, it’s not pushy or used car salesman-ish.

You need a person to emphasize the offering each week. And you need a plan for what they’re going to say. We have tons of resources that give you a step-by-step guide to implementing or improving your giving time.

One of the greatest benefits of being a Giving Rocket member is receiving a written, done-for-you Giving Talk each week. You can memorize it or simply pass it on to a staff member or volunteer. What you’ll discover is the huge difference it makes when you’re intentional with this crucial piece of your service.