One old children's song proclaims, "God loves a cheerful giver." Those who practice extravagant generosity enjoy the act of giving, rejoicing in the meeting of the needs. Bishop Schnase oversees the Missouri Area of the United Methodist Church. Nearby, in the suburbs of Kansas City, is the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of which Adam Hamilton is pastor. Hamilton also writes about this joy found in generosity. He even tells the story of a young legally blind kid who has now raised thousands of dollars for charities by selling his paintings. This young man truly enjoys giving back to the community.

In looking at fruitful congregations, Schnase is challenging local churches to display extravagant generosity. Such congregations open their doors to the community. Here in Nashville we see many participating in Room in the Inn, hosting homeless men and women during the coldest nights of the year. Belmont and Hillcrest UMC host the Golden Triangle congregation, a ministry to refugees from Burma, Thailand and other neighboring nations. Extravagant generosity is very much tied to risk-taking mission and service.

Generosity is a spiritual matter. Fruitful congregations, according to Schnase, "speak in spiritual terms about the place of wealth, affluence, acquisition, materialism, selfishness, generosity, and giving." Schnase calls upon congregations to focus on generosity instead of the limits of one's budget or resources. Giving financial is important, but generosity is a calling from God.

Schnase closes his chapter on extravagant generosity by asking the reader about a time when giving was fun. Practicing extravagant generosity will change you, Schnase says, "the result of God's sanctifying grace that molds our hearts and changes our values and behaviors."

So I put the Donut up to my mouth and said with great animation, “Yuuum, yuuum…thank you, Autumn! This is soooo goood.” 

Then something beautiful happened. Her big brown eyes widened and her lips pushed a giant smile against her puffy cheeks. She stood up on her toes and let out a high-pitched squeal. 

After soaking in the experience for a few seconds, she ran back to her kitchen and brought me a little pink spoon. Again, I responded, showing her my approval. This cycle continued a few more times as I began to collect plastic pieces from her kitchen set.

For Autumn, this gift exercise kept bringing her back to Daddy. For me, it kept me looking for my child’s return. I was moved by the exchange. The interaction. The connection. I was so pleased.

The AHA Moment

At that moment the thought occurred to me, could this be how our giving feels from God’s perspective?  Are our gifts to Him like Plastic Donuts?

After all, God does not need our gifts or our money. But like a father moved by a gift from his child, perhaps our gifts really can get His attention.  Suddenly, I saw giving from a different perspective. This fresh, biblical perspective is now bringing churches together onto the same page.

Gifts of the Past

We learn that as early as Cain and Abel, God was quite interested in the gifts of His children.  When God “accepted Abel and his gift”, the original Hebrew text (sha'ah) suggests that God paid attention to and gazed at Abel’s gift in a special way. 

Throughout biblical history, God has shown great interest in certain gifts from His children.  Like Plastic Donuts to a little girl’s daddy, these gifts to the heavens prompted reactions from God. 

Gifts Today

Often when we give today, we don’t envision God sitting at His chair in heaven desiring to gaze at us and our gifts.  Because giving is a transactional exercise too, it’s easy to miss the relational experience that goes with it.

The offering plate passes. The appeals hit the mailbox.  Everywhere we turn around, needs and requests are there.  The need to respond can seem overwhelming at times.  Talking about giving can seem daunting, as well.

But we must not forget the primary recipient of our gifts…God.  Meeting needs is secondary.  Pleasing God is primary.  This should be comforting to us.  It’s a breath of fresh air for leaders and the congregations they serve.

…and Challenge, too

Of course, this perspective brings great challenge as well.  Approaching God is no small matter.  We learn from the gifts of Cain and Abel that not all gifts are the same to God.  Some gifts do not get His attention.  Sadly, Cain’s gift did not. 

King David knew that gifts mattered to God.  Someone offered him the materials for a burnt offering for free.  But David refused, saying, “I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)  David knew that when the amount of the gift matters to the giver, it can matter to God also. 

Remember the Perspective

As you continue giving, keep this new perspective in view.  Our gifts can do a lot of good.  They can feed the hungry, heal the sick, encourage the brokenhearted, and spread the good news. But most importantly, they can please God in heaven, connecting His children to Him.

Connecting you and Him.  Bringing a smile to His face.

Remember that.

Want to hear more about how the message of Plastic Donuts can change the culture of giving in your church?  Preview the book and its supporting materials, or order a 5-pack for your staff by clicking here.  

Jeff Anderson has worked with churches and non-profits for over two decades, as elder in his own church, as Vice President, Generosity Initiatives with Crown Financial Ministries, and currently as leader of AcceptableGift.org. Jeff continues to consult and speak, and is the author of Plastic Donuts, A Fresh Perspective on Gifts.  

Unfortunately, many pastors and teachers don’t understand the spiritual joy of teaching on money.  In fact, they feel the opposite.  When the idea of preaching or teaching on money is mentioned, they feel a rising surge of nausea.  Because of our personal secrecy regarding money and due to some church fund raising horror stories, many pastors have a fear of preaching on money.

So, how can you bridge this gap?  How can you get to the place where you effectively communicate on money in the same way that Jesus did?

For those of us who have experienced the UNcampaign, we can tell you one simple step to eliminate the fear;

Disconnect your preaching on money, stewardship and generosity from an ask.

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons your people fear sermons about money is that those sermons are tied to an annual stewardship campaign, capital campaign or financial crisis.  No one likes to be “sold”… especially in church.

And probably the biggest reason pastors fail to teach on money is because they don’t want to look like they are begging for budget increases.  Most pastors don’t want the reputation of a used car salesman.

But when you disconnect the preaching from an ask, people relax.  When you begin your sermon by telling them that you are not trying to get anything from them – and then genuinely preach that way – their guards are let down.  They become more willing to hear what you (and more importantly, Scripture) have to say on the issue.  Then, true growth begins to happen. 

The tone for UNcampaign preaching begins at the start of a sermon.  It is critical to release the “pressure valve” for your people up front.  Here’s an example: 

“Before we go into our series, I want to let you know that our church is doing fine financially.  In fact, we are 15% ahead of budget for the year.  And that’s because so many of you are faithful stewards and generous givers.  So the series we are about to kick off is not about raising money for our church…..it’s about the joy and freedom we will experience as we manage God’s resources God’s way.” 

This introduction also demonstrates that the best time to preach a series on money is when you don’t need it.  You should really consider preaching on money in the middle of a fiscal year…when your church is financially sound…when you are not building a building…when you have no motive to ask for money. 

That’s the underlying power of an UNcampaign.  And that’s the path to long-term spiritual growth instead of momentary budget growth.

For several free resources on changing the money conversation in your church, visit www.uncampaign.net.

So, what does that mean for pastors and church leaders?  First of all, it means that the way money is discussed in your church is vital to the spiritual health of your people.  Second, it means that as a pastor, you will never be able to shepherd your people’s hearts if you cannot shepherd their checkbooks. 

Since most Bible colleges and seminaries do not effectively teach us how to shepherd someone’s checkbook, many churches end up with members who feel guilty if they don’t give and feel burdened when they do.  They have no real understanding of God’s perspective on money.

At UNcampaign.net, we focus on one major question that can change that entire scenario for churches like yours;

“Do your people know what you want FOR them regarding their finances or do they just know what you want FROM them?” 

There is so much dysfunction in the church around money and giving that people are conditioned to think that any mention of money or possessions is simply a strategy to get more FROM them.  Yet in Scripture God consistently communicates what HE wants FOR the faithful steward and generous giver: 

• Freedom from materialism – In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”  One way to look at that statement is to realize that when your faith drives your money decisions (rather than the other way around), you will find freedom from materialism.
• Eternal rewards – In Luke 16:9, Jesus instructs us to use our worldly wealth for our eternal good.  He says, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
• Greater joy – 2 Corinthians 8 says that the Macedonian churches, in spite of the trials they were facing, gave generously out of “their overflowing joy.”  Additionally, Paul tells the Philippians about the reward of joy that comes from giving; “I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity” (Philippians 4:17 MSG).
• Deeper relationships – In Luke 6, Jesus gives us some instructions for deep, God-centered relationships.  Just before He states the “Golden Rule,” He says, “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.”  Jesus affirms that the way we handle money shows how much we really love our neighbor.  Then, He concludes those thoughts by saying, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:30-31).
• Life Purpose – As Paul talked to the Corinthians about their money, he told them that their management of money (along with talent and resource management) shows God’s plan for their lives.  He said, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9: 11).

Don’t you want these promises FOR your people as well?  Don’t you ultimately want to be able to shepherd their hearts?  If so, then you need to ask the right questions related to their money.

For more ideas and free resources on how to change the money conversation in your church, visit us at www.uncampaign.net.

That same year, a small group of believers formed a new church just outside of Boston – the United Church of Christ in Medfield.  Apparently, these people were just about as tough as their President.  They founded a church that would last through wars, economic depressions and even the curse of the Bambino.  And after 178 years of persistent ministry, UCC Medfield was still flourishing.  In 2006, they decided to refine their distinguishing marks of discipleship.  That year, they added a 6^th mark of discipleship to their strategy of growing believers.  They noted that in addition to things like daily Bible reading and weekly worship attendance, true disciples are marked by their willingness to give generously. 

What took them so long? 

Maybe it was their tough exterior.  In all seriousness, this church is passionate about generosity.  Pastor Phil Buaman, and this 500 member church understand that generosity is more than just a momentary pleasure... it is a spiritual growth opportunity.  

“Generosity is who God is.   It’s only natural that we should follow His example in our daily living and giving,” explains Phil.  

As many churches struggle to build excitement around their annual stewardship campaigns, UCC Medfield excels.  They have intentionally woven generosity into the fabric of their community life.  And in 2010, the church extended their message of generosity by utilizing Gordon MacDonald’s devotional book, Generosity.  This campaign encouraged the church to move toward “life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17).  These were their campaign elements: 

• They gave a Generosity book to every family in the church to read during their personal devotional times. 

• Phil developed a 4 week sermon series on generosity and used the “forward thinking points” in the book as his big ideas.  During the final weekend of the series, Gordon MacDonald visited the church and preached the sermon.  “I really built Gordon’s visit up,” said Phil.  “It was great having the author in the pulpit while our people were going deep into his book.” 

• They asked people to pledge to be generous during this campaign, but they disconnected the pledging from the church budget.  “We clearly communicate that this is a time of personal reflection and commitment before God that leads to spiritual growth.  It is far more than a push to meet the budget.” 

• To brand the series, they put up banners with the Generosity logo.  They also printed the “forward thinking points” and other Generosity quotations in their weekly bulletins.

The result?  They saw an extension of discipleship and an increase in their revenue.  Commitments on the pledge cards were up 30% from the previous year and the church has seen a growth in giving since that time.  “Dollars given are great,” explains Phil, “especially as we seek to move outside the walls of our church to impact the world.   But one of my greatest joys is to see our people acting like true disciples through lives poured out in generosity.” 

I think Old Hickory may have just cracked a smile. 

*Before you go out and Google it…Old Hickory was Andrew Jackson

“When it comes to your people’s finances do they know what you want FOR them or do they just know what you want FROM them?” 

That’s a powerful question for those of us in church leadership to consider.  It cuts to our heart motivation when it comes to generosity in our churches. 

I started GenerousChurch to help church leaders figure out that question.  And it’s in that spirit that I’d like to share with you 5 things I wish FOR your church in 2012 when it comes to generosity: 

 

1. I hope that your church leaders begin to live truly generous lives.  There is an overwhelming spirit of unity and humility among generous leaders.  I wish that for your church. 

 

2. I hope that your staff understands the connection between generosity and spiritual growth.   There is a deep connection between giving and becoming like Christ.  Because of that, your staff can’t shepherd people’s hearts unless they are able to shepherd their pocketbooks, too. 

 

3. I hope that your people grasp the connection between the grace of God and giving.  God is the first and most generous giver.  The more they understand this truth, the more their hearts respond in pure generosity that pleases God. 

 

4. I hope that your people would give first, save second and live third when it comes to their money.  By prioritizing our finances in this way, we are seeking first the Kingdom of God and are able to experience the joy and freedom of acting like Christ. 

 

5. I hope that the headlines in your local newspaper scream the generosity impact of your church.   Generosity is attractive.  And a group of generous people can change the world around them.  So, I hope that your church practices the type of generosity that causes the world to take notice of your Christlikeness. 

At GenerousChurch, these 5 wishes are central to our organization.  We wake up most days thinking about these things and how they can be used to better serve you.  We pray that 2012 will be a generous year for you and your church!

In 2006, Thom Rainer published that statistic to show us that our churches are not really engaging our communities.  In other words, we are basically throwing parties for ourselves.  We are working so hard to engage the people in our congregations that we have forgotten about the neighborhoods surrounding our churches.  We are immeasurably concerned about us.

In my elementary school, there was a kid named Dustin.  His family obviously did not have a lot of money.  They were poor enough that they could not afford to buy him new glasses…and he desperately needed new glasses.  He wore old Harry Caray-style glasses (square and way too big for his face).  And to top it off, since his prescription was so old, he would tilt his glasses up on his nose (with the ear pieces almost pointing toward the ceiling) to help him see better.  Don’t laugh…it works.

Other kids did not necessarily pick on Dustin, but they did not associate with him, either.  They just kind of looked at him funny.  I think deep down some of my classmates felt sorry for Dustin but they did not know how to help him.  Others were just too cool to be associated with a poor kid.  So, Dustin was left to fend for himself.

Many churches look at their communities like I used to look at Dustin.  They see problems, but they’re not sure they know how to help.  Or in their more honest moments, some churches look at their surrounding community and say “Thank you, God, that you did not make us like them.”  (I think Jesus noticed that from the religious leaders in His world, too.)

Generous churches walk into the sewage of suffering. 

Generous churches follow the lead of Jesus, who left the comforts of heaven and stepped into the poverty of humanity.  They understand that good deeds create good will, which opens the door to the good news.  They realize how deep God’s love is for:

• Mothers whose children are dying of hunger (the poor)
• Children who have been abandoned by their parents (orphans)
• The elderly who have given up on personal dignity and independence (widows)
• Young girls bound in human trafficking
• The families who lost everything to a natural disaster
• The socially inept adult who cannot hold a job

What do you think would happen in your community if your church started to address these issues?  Have you noticed how the world admires the champions of social justice and disaster relief?  Have you seen how the world pays attention to those who practice generosity?

Generous churches have one thing in common.  They are immeasurably concerned about others.  They love their neighbors as much as they love themselves.  And it shows.

Do you want to learn more about how generous churches operate?  Do you want to read more about the external focus of generous churches?  Check out the Seven Attributes of a Generous Church.  It’s free!  Just put on your Harry Carey glasses and read it (so it will actually help you).  And then comment below to tell us how your church has been generous toward your community.