20 Tithe And Offering Messages To Encourage Your Members
Offering time can easily get mechanical. It can be tough to come up with new, fresh, non-repetitive messages. So, I’ve gathered 20 great tithe and offering messages.
These aren’t your grandpa’s ole tithe and offering messages, my friend (no offense grandpa, we love you!) Rather, they’re Sunday morning talks that are:
- Creative
- Interesting
- Scriptural
- Inspiring
- …And short!
Let me ask you this: how solid is your grasp on your church finances? If the answer has you belting out Elsa’s hit Into the Unknown through tears and trepidation, that’s your cue to get some church giving software. Today’s church giving software is literally designed to make your life easier (and help you get a solid grasp on the finances):
- Goodbye manual data entry
- No more DIY spreadsheets
- Tools for budgeting and forecasting
- Secure online giving options
What Is An Offering Message?
What exactly is an offering message? (and… what is it not?)
Some churches call it ‘tithes and offerings’, some call it ‘giving’ or ‘offering time’ — whatever you call it, here are some common elements that these mini messages share across different denominations and congregations.
But first, let’s tackle what it isn’t.
An offering message is not:
- Guilting people into giving
- Misquoting scripture on money and finances
- Pressuring people into tithing 10% (remember, the 10% tithe was part of the Mosaic law, not the New Covenant)
- Sharing how terrible the finances are, and begging people to give…
Here’s what it is:
- An invitation for people to partner with the church
- A way for people to exercise generosity
- An opportunity for people to worship God with their resources
- A reminder of who we are called to trust for our provision (and together they all said, “Jesussssss!”)
Pop quiz: can you guess what the latest polls and research show on what percentage of christians tithe? Hint: it’s under 75% and over 25%, and can vary based on denomination and church attendance.
What Makes a Good Tithe or Offering Message?
A good offering message is:
- Biblically sound
- Inspirational
- Points the listener to Jesus
- Offers a practical way to respond
It should lead people towards willingly and joyfully donating to the church, missions, ministry, etc.
You may have noticed the theology — or at least the conversation — around tithing has shifted. This has nothing to do with throwing scripture out, but instead, paying closer attention to the New Testament and what Jesus actually said about giving.
There are two camps when it comes to tithing:
- team ‘mandatory 10%’ (i.e., give God your first fruits)
- team ‘give generously, as Jesus leads’
Which camp are you?
Either way, it’s important to know and understand what Scripture does and doesn’t say about giving in the bible so you can feel steadfast in your position.
Many scholars and pastors would explain that tithing a specific amount (i.e., 10%) is not scripturally mandated for Christians. Evidence:
- There’s a separation of the New Covenant and Old Covenant
- Believers are free from the Old Covenant rules, and live in freedom under the New Covenant
- The New Testament focuses more on generous, cheerful giving
- Emphasis on the believer’s heart, versus their compliance
Pastor Ross Gilbert of New Life Fellowship in Cambridge, Ontario explains that the Old Covenant’s instructions for tithing are obsolete for Christ followers:
What God’s done through Jesus is He’s come to set us free from that covenant, because the old covenant was all about you and your work and what you could pull off. If you’re good enough, you’d get blessings.
Pastor Ross Gilbert
In Hebrews 8, a New Covenant is laid out that replaces the Old Covenant.
In Deuteronomy, the blessings of the Mosaic covenant come from doing everything right — but if you fail in any way, there are also 50 verses of curses waiting for you. “The point of the old covenant was to show their failure, to show that they could never be good enough. It would prepare them for that desperate need for Jesus”, explains Ross.
Now if crafting your own offering messages is your jam, our How-To Guide on Creating Effective Messages is for you. Otherwise, read on for 20 messages you can save and use at your church.
20 Effective, Encouraging Tithe & Offering Messages
If you’ve ever wanted a shortlist of brief but inspiring offering messages — we’ve got you covered! We’ve compiled some of the top messages for you to share on a Sunday morning during your giving time. Save this article for future reference!
1. It’s all about Jesus
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’” John 14:6-11
It’s all about Jesus. Jesus is our life. Money is not.
In his book The Treasure Principle, author Randy Alcorn writes, “The act of giving is a vivid reminder that it’s all about God, not about us. It’s saying I’m not the point, He is the point…God’s money has a higher purpose than my affluence”.
Speaking points:
- Giving reminds us it’s all about God and His will
- Giving acts like an antidote to materialism
- Giving reminds us who we worship
2. Love Gives
John 3:16 illustrates this beautifully: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
When we give, we reflect the love that God has shown us, and the sacrifice He made for us of giving His only begotten Son.
God loves, and He gives extravagantly out of His love. Not because we are good or deserving, but because He is good.
This inspires us to give too, out of our love for God and others.
Speaking points:
- God gave His Son to us because He loves us
- God modeled radical love and sacrifice
- Our generosity is not an obligation (we get to give)
3. Blessed to Be a Blessing
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
It may be corny, but tell me what’s not true about this: “We are blessed to be a blessing!” Paul’s own words in Acts put the emphasis on the joy and blessing of giving.
Every time we give, we enable our church to reach out and support those in need. As we share our resources, we echo God’s grace in our lives. We get to give and see and experience the change and transformation in the people and community around us!
Speaking points:
- We are blessed as we give
- Giving isn’t about stuff, it’s about people
- It is more blessed to give than to receive
4. Trusting in His Provision
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Giving is an act of trust in God's provision. When we give generously, we're declaring our confidence that God will supply all our needs. This trust frees us from anxiety about our resources and allows us to experience God's faithfulness in new ways (think of the birds, and the flowers!).
Speaking points:
- Giving demonstrates trust in God's provision
- We declare confidence in God's supply
- Generosity frees us from anxiety about resources
5. The Joy of Giving
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
Giving should not be a burden, or obligation — but a joyful act of worship.
When we give with a cheerful heart, we align ourselves with God's nature. Our offerings become a celebration of His goodness and help us practically walk out the act of trusting Him, and trusting in His provision. We approach giving not as an obligation, but as an opportunity to experience joy.
Speaking points:
- God loves a cheerful giver
- Generosity brings joy, to others and ourselves
- We exercise trust in God our Provider as we give (even when it feels sacrificial)
6. Sowing Seeds of Impact
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6
Our tithes and offerings are like seeds we plant in God's kingdom. Just as a farmer sows seeds expecting a harvest, we give with the hope and expectation that God will use our gifts to produce a spiritual harvest. Every contribution, no matter how small, has the potential to grow into something beautiful, and impactful.
Speaking points:
- Giving is like sowing seeds
- Every contribution has the potential for growth
- Our gifts produce a spiritual harvest that impacts eternity
7. Partnering with God
"For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9
When we give, we partner with God. Our tithes and offerings are not just financial transactions; they're investments in people. We have the incredible privilege of collaborating with our heavenly Father to bring hope to the world.
We are co-workers in God’s work, and co-heirs with Christ in our spiritual inheritance.
Speaking points:
- Giving is one way we partner with God
- Our offerings invest in God's work (mission, outreach)
- One way we participate in God's mission is through giving
8. The Two-way Street
"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25
Generosity is a two-way street. When we give to bless others, we often find ourselves blessed in return. This doesn't necessarily translate to financial prosperity (and we are not preaching prosperity gospel), but it can include joy, peace, and a sense of purpose.
Our giving refreshes others, whether through supporting church ministries, helping those in need, or spreading the gospel.
Speaking points:
- Generosity leads to prosperity of the spirit
- Our giving blesses & refreshes others
- We are refreshed as we give in our spirit
9. Giving is an Act of Faith
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6
Giving is an act of faith that pleases God. When we give, we demonstrate our trust in God's provision and His promises. It's a tangible way of saying, "God, I believe You are who You say You are, and I trust You with my resources."
In Mere Christianity, CS Lewis writes:
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”
While Lewis’ statement is certainly not scripture, it’s this kind of faith-filled giving that opens the door for God to work in miraculous ways — not just in our lives but in the lives of those our gifts will touch.
Speaking points:
- Giving demonstrates faith in the Lord
- Our offerings please God — but they don’t earn His favor, because in Christ, we already have His favor!
- Faith-filled giving invites God's work in our lives
10. The Heart of Worship
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21
This one reminds me of an oldie, but a goodie: Matt Redman’s The Heart of Worship, a classic worship song written back in 2015. Anyone else got all the feels?
Our giving is a reflection of our hearts. When we give, we're declaring that He is our treasure, not our money. This act of worship aligns our hearts with His purposes and priorities. Giving is an opportunity to reaffirm and declare our love for God, and our commitment to His kingdom.
Our generosity becomes a beautiful expression of worship.
Speaking points:
- Giving reflects our hearts
- Our offerings declare God as our treasure
- Generosity is an act of worship
11. Empowering Ministry
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
Our giving empowers the ministries of our church, and beyond. Giving provides resources for outreach, discipleship, and service to our community (and the world). When we give, we're not just supporting an organization; we're enabling the spread of God's grace in tangible ways!
Sometimes we’re the hands and feet, sometimes we’re the wallet (but in a good way).
Speaking points:
- Our gifts empower church ministries
- Giving enables the spread of God's grace
- We support tangible expressions of God's love
12. Giving is a Privilege
"For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God." 2 Corinthians 9:12
Giving is a privilege that allows us to participate in God's work.
Our offerings meet practical needs and also inspire gratitude and praise to God. When we give, we become part of a beautiful cycle of blessing – our gifts meet needs, which leads to thanksgiving, which glorifies God.
Speaking points:
- Giving is a privilege, not an obligation
- Our offerings inspire thanksgiving to God
- We get to participate in a cycle of blessing
13. Cultivating Contentment
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5
Giving helps us cultivate contentment. When we release our resources generously, we're reminded that our true security lies not in our possessions, but in God's presence and promises. Plus, remember that Our stuff is God’s — He owns everything! We are stewards.
When we have this perspective, offerings become a declaration of trust in God's faithfulness. As we give today, let's embrace the freedom that comes from contentment and the assurance of God's unfailing presence in our lives.
Speaking points:
- Giving fosters contentment
- Our security is in God, not possessions
- We declare trust in God's faithfulness
14. Eternal Investments
"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20
What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? It comes down to prioritizing spiritual investments that have eternal value — that is, investing in people. Our tithes and offerings support ministries that have eternal significance – sharing the gospel, discipling believers, helping the brokenhearted, and showing God's love to the world!
Speaking points:
- Giving is an investment in eternity
- Our offerings have lasting impact
- We support ministries with eternal significance
Rachel Cruze, author and personal finance expert, says that “giving is the most fun you’ll ever have with money”. When we give to others, we get to see really cool, beautiful, amazing things happen.
15. The Power of Unity
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." Acts 4:32
Have you studied how the early church lived in Acts? Pretty radical, huh? While we may not be able to live in that kind of communal way today, our giving is a powerful expression of unity within the body of Christ. Our combined generosity allows us to accomplish more than we ever could individually — we’re better together.
Our combined generosity allows us to accomplish more than we ever could individually — we’re better together.
Joshua Gordon
Speaking points:
- Giving expresses unity in the church
- Our combined generosity increases impact for God’s kingdom
- We're part of something bigger than ourselves
16. The Ripple Effect
"You will be enriched 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
Have you ever thought about how our giving creates a ripple effect of blessing? When we give generously, we not only meet immediate needs, but also inspire others to give. This creates a cycle of generosity. This ripple effect extends far beyond our initial gift, touching lives we may never see, and bringing glory to God.
Speaking points:
- Giving creates a ripple effect of blessing
- Our generosity inspires others to give
- The impact extends beyond our initial gift
Professor, writer and former tv producer Matt Williams examines the ripple effect of helping others and the beauty of generosity.
17. Giving with Gratitude
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34
Giving is a powerful way to express our gratitude to God. We love, because He loved us first. We give, because He gave everything to us!
When we reflect on God's goodness and love, our hearts naturally overflow with thankfulness. Our tithes and offerings become a tangible thank you to our Father for His blessings in our lives.
Speaking points:
- Giving expresses gratitude to God
- Our offerings say "thank you!" to Him for His goodness and grace
- We give in response to God's goodness
A report from Berkeley University even shows that a grateful brain leads to more giving!
18. Stewarding God's Stuff
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
Our giving is an exercise in faithful, biblical stewardship. Everything we have is a gift from God, and we're called to manage these resources wisely for His purposes. The Dave Ramsey team explains it well. Simply put, “Stewardship is managing God’s blessings, God’s ways, for God’s glory”
When we give, we acknowledge that we're stewards of our possessions, not the owners. This perspective frees us to be generous, knowing that we're simply channeling God's blessings to bless others.
Speaking points:
- We are stewards of God’s blessings
- Giving acknowledges God's ownership
- Stewardship leads to generous living
19. Sacrifice: the Story of the Widow’s Mite
“Now He looked up and saw the wealthy putting their gifts into the temple treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two lepta coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all contributed to the offering from their surplus; but she, from her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4
There's a special joy in sacrificial giving, isn’t there? When we give beyond our comfort zone (or in the widow’s case, waaaaaaay outside of what seems reasonable) we experience a deeper connection with Christ, who gave everything for us. It also puts us into a position of radically trusting Him to come through and provide for us in a give-us-this-day-our-daily-bread kind of way.
Speaking points:
- Sacrificial giving brings special joy
- Trusting in God’s provision when it isn’t easy or doesn’t make sense (story of the widow’s mite)
- Giving beyond comfort stretches our faith
Pro tip: please don’t use this story to guilt trip your congregants…instead, encourage them to be generous and faithful to the Lord.
20. Cheerful Giving
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
What does cheerful mean? It isn’t forced positivity; instead, it’s being in good spirits, content, happy, joyful, willing.
God delights in a willing giver. When we give with joy, willingness, and enthusiasm, we reflect God's own nature. This kind of giving is not about the amount but about the attitude of our hearts. We honor and worship God when we give with a spirit of joyful generosity.
Speaking points:
- God loves cheerful, willing givers
- Joyful giving reflects God's nature and character
- The attitude of giving matters more than the amount
Sometimes giving comes with tears though, as an act of worship — remember when Mary who wiped Jesus’ feet with her tears, and poured scented ointment over his feet? In this way, she gave gifts and worshiped.
Heads up: Don’t Make These Mistakes…(and if you have previously, there’s grace)
Mistake #1: Pressuring people to give through guilt or shame
Nobody likes getting guilt-tripped. Whether in the schoolyard, at work, or with your spouse, it’s a hard no. Instead, let’s encourage the posture of willing and cheerful giving. Remember what Paul wrote?
“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7), not a guilty one.
We gain nothing by pressuring people into giving. If anything, we lose their trust and infringe upon the freedom they have as God’s kids to give, or not to give.
Remember, Jesus tells us, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7”
If anything, we lose their trust and infringe upon the freedom they have as God’s kids to give, or not to give.
Mistake #2: Focusing solely on financial needs
While it's important to be transparent about the church’s financial needs, constantly emphasizing lack can create a sense of burden, panic, or concern. It also takes the spotlight off of worshiping, obeying, and serving God in our giving.
In Romans 12:1, Paul exhorts his audience to present their bodies as living sacrifices:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship”.
This encouragement draws our attention to giving our lives over to the Lord, first and foremost, as worship. Our resources and finances are never first. God doesn’t need our money.
Jesus wants us, first and foremost: He wants our hearts.
Ross Gilbert
Mistake #3: Dragging out the message
Don’t get too wordy or preachy during your giving message. Save the preaching for your sermon!
The offering message should be faithful and biblical, but not take up too much time.
Keep in mind these four priorities:
- Keep it short and sweet
- Fresh, biblical insight or stories
- Use personal testimonials to inspire people
- Remind people of the ways to give (or where to get help with that)
DonorBox, a fundraising engine for nonprofits, says “Your tithes and offerings message is an opportunity to build meaningful long-lasting relationships with church donors to bring more value to your church” — emphasis on the long-lasting relationships, not offering messages!
Mistake #4: Ignoring transparency
When it comes to money, it’s human nature (and wise) to be curious about the financial accountability and transparency of the organization receiving the funds.
Is your church financially transparent? In the busyness of ministry and leadership, we may forget — but the givers do not.
Ask yourself these three questions as a financial transparency checkup:
- How often do we share a financial update with the church?
- Can people see our church’s yearly budget and/or financial records?
- Does our finance committee or board of directors offer regular reports? (eg: newsletters, or short Sunday morning updates)
If you want people to give with clarity and confidence, heed the advice of 2 Corinthians 8, and be diligent in proactively sharing how finances are handled at your church:
"We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man." 2 Corinthians 8:20-21
Mistake #5: Not offering multiple ways to give
A final mistake to watch out for is not having multiple ways for people to give, including online giving and in-person giving (i.e., a secure offering box somewhere for discrete giving).
The majority of your church members under 60 are likely giving via:
- direct deposit
- e-transfer
- automatic credit card payments
While giving envelopes with cash or checks may have been the way you’ve done things for decades, it’s time to get with the times, as they say. Please don’t get rid of in-person ways of collecting donations, but make sure your church has church giving software, which not only helps you keep track of donations but also helps facilitate ways for people to give online.
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