The "Offering Moment"

By Chris Compton

After some quick figuring, I estimate I have experienced over 6,500 worship services in my lifetime. This means I also have been a part of 6,500 offering moments. Some offering moments have been memorable, encouraging, and worshipful. However, most were boring or even awkward. Sometimes, the offering moment feels more like a break to collect a toll rather than a moment set aside to worship and give back to God.

The offering moment doesn’t have to be this way. It is too important to be a “rest stop” in the service. It is too sacred to be used as a manipulation tool. It is too life changing to be viewed as payment for services rendered. The offering moment should be planned and coordinated like every other aspect of the worship service. This moment is important, sacred, and life changing because it is a stewardship moment for the church and provides the pastor an opportunity to teach the congregation about their heart of giving and the heart of God.

I think the goal of every church is (or should be) to move its members from passive observance to active participation in worship, and this includes the offering moment. We want our congregations to express a heart of worship like the widow who gave all as an act of worship and expression of trust in God. We want them to experience the blessings of giving back to God who gave so much to us. We want them to go deeper in their discipleship journey.

The question is: how can we move the offering moment from being an awkward break in the service to being an anticipated opportunity for believers to worship God and grow in their faith? It begins with church leadership and how the offering moment is communicated to the congregation.

Consider these simple suggestions:

• Be clear and transparent regarding how the money is used. Those new to the faith or your church (or even those who have attended for a while) may be skeptical about giving money to a church when they don’t know how it is spent. Sometimes, leaders can be too vague. One way to help with this is to take time during the offering moment to share specific causes to which the money will be directed. People want to know, and we ought to be transparent with them. The more the congregation knows about how the money they give is spent, the more they trust the church and its leadership, and the more likely they are to give. And, as people learn to give from a heart of worship, they grow in faith and draw closer to God.
  

• Communicate the impact giving has on people’s lives. The church should talk purposefully about how giving is changing lives and bringing people to God. Give real examples. Nothing moves people to give more than seeing the impact of their giving.
  

Remember, the offering moment is not about manipulating people to give. Nor is it about reaching budget goals. Ultimately, the offering moment is about bringing people closer to the Lord. It is about teaching people how we give and why. Let’s avoid making the offering moments dull and awkward. Plan them. Use them as stewardship and discipleship opportunities. Communicate how the money is spent and the impact it has.

The better the church plans the offering moment and communicates clearly, the more it will impact people’s lives.

About the Author: Chris Compton is accounting administrator for Free Will Baptist Board of Retirement. He graduated in 2007 with a M.A. in Bible exposition from Columbia International University. A 1998 graduate of East Tennessee State University, he has over 15 years of administrative/financial experience in varied fields, as well as seven years of pastoral ministry experience.