When I think about generosity, my mind goes first to the grace of God at work in the churches of Macedonia. Paul holds them up to encourage Corinth to finish what they promised for the suffering believers in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8–9). That same pattern helps us: look at grace at work, then lead God’s people to join in it.

We are “labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Generosity is part of that shared labour. God supplies grace; we steward it.

The Gospel Shape of Generosity

Our culture preaches that life is found in possessions—bigger houses, newer cars, more vacations. Jesus teaches the opposite: deny self and follow Him. He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The gospel itself is generosity on display: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). When a church keeps the gospel at the center, giving becomes a joy, not a hardship. We don’t guilt people into giving; we preach truth, trust the Holy Spirit, and remove obstacles to obedience.

Key texts: 2 Corinthians 8:1–5; 2 Corinthians 9:2; Acts 20:35; John 3:16; Luke 6:38; Malachi 3:10; Colossians 3:5; Psalm 37:25; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 11:1.

A Pastor’s Own Journey (Why Example Matters)

Leaders should go first. I grew up watching my father prepare the tithe each week. As a teenager with my first job, I tried tipping God—until Leviticus 27:30 confronted me: “the tithe…is the LORD’s.” From that day, I began obeying. Early in ministry, my wife and I were challenged to trust God above the tithe, and we have increased our giving yearly ever since. For integrity’s sake, while no one’s giving is public, anyone in our church may review my giving. I want to live what I preach: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Preaching Stewardship Without Pressure

I’m a pastor, not a fundraiser. Yes, ministry requires resources, but lasting generosity isn’t born from guilt. It’s born from the Word and the Spirit. So we preach stewardship plainly and positively:

• God is Owner; we are managers. He entrusts resources as He wills. Our great enemy here is covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
• God’s promises are real. “Give, and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 6:38). “Bring ye all the tithes…prove me now herewith” (Malachi 3:10).
• God’s faithfulness holds. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken” (Psalm 37:25).

The aim is never, “Don’t disappoint the pastor,” but, “Obey the Lord with joy.”

A Simple Plan for Shepherding Generosity

These practices have helped us cultivate cheerful, durable giving:

1. Lead by example.
   Personal obedience gives moral authority to invite others into the journey (2 Corinthians 8:1–5).
2. Share your giving story.
   Appropriate testimony—yours and others’—connects doctrine to real life. We regularly capture short member testimonies (live or video) from people in different life stages: new believers, single parents, small business owners. Their stories are contagious.
3. Teach stewardship biblically and regularly.
   We devote a stewardship emphasis month each year: preaching through key texts, naming heart idols, and exalting God’s promises. We also place practical tools in people’s hands (budgeting helps, debt reduction resources). The focus is grace, not pressure.
4. Communicate all year.
   A brief weekly “giving moment” in services (a verse, a two-sentence illustration, and a reminder of ways to give) keeps Scripture before the church without turning worship into a finance report.
5. Practice financial transparency.
   In 2 Corinthians 8:16–24, multiple trusted men handled the Jerusalem gift. We follow that spirit with budgets, boards, reviews, and open answers to honest questions. Integrity builds trust; trust fuels participation.
6. Invite clear, prayerful commitments.
   On a set commitment day, we provide a simple, voluntary way to commit to tithing and to giving above the tithe. This is about discipleship, not pressure, and it helps people take the next step of obedience.
7. Make obedience simple.
   Offer secure, convenient channels (in-person receptacles, mail, church app, website, text, recurring options). The point isn’t technology; it’s removing friction from obedience.
8. Teach it at the front door.
   In our membership class, we explain how the work goes forward: not yard sales or bazaars, but God’s people tithing and giving to fund gospel ministry and missions.

A generous church says to its community, “We love and serve a generous God.” The early church was marked by generosity, and we should be too. When the gospel is central and stewardship is taught with clarity, God’s people find joy in giving—and the work advances at home and around the world.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…” (Luke 6:38)

This article was adapted from the session “Shepherding a Generous Church”, originally presented at the Spiritual Leadership Conference 2025 in Lancaster, California. To listen to the full message or download the session notes, click here to access the complete recording and resources.