Let’s talk about money in a sermon?
Uh oh, did the mere mention of money + sermon have you breaking out in a cold sweat? You, my friend, are not alone.
Too many of us (and I include myself, even as a lay person who loves talking about money) have been silenced.
Why because Televangelists. Especially those from the days of old who talked incessantly about their need for money, loaded up their messages with guilt for good measure, all while they appeared to live the high life. The Lone Voice in Your Congregation. That’s the person who saddles up and snidely remarks, “All the church ever talks about is money” when literally, you’ve only mentioned money in your one annual stewardship sermon. But nonetheless, it’s a criticism that you (understandably) take to heart.
Fear sets in. You’re sure people will be upset. They’ll assume you’re only trying to raise money for your salary. Your own relationship to money is fraught. Maybe you’re the major roadblock.
Perhaps it’s time to reframe how you think about talking about money in a sermon.
- Don’t wait for a Special Sunday. Think of ways to slip in the concept of generosity far more frequently than you do now. When you mention a ministry in action, talk about the generosity of the people who made it happen. Is there a sermon illustration that shows what faithful tithing can produce? When you talk about gratitude, be sure to throw in a good word for people who share their time, talent, and financial resources.
- Give your testimony. And no, you will not be equated with a televangelist because you talk about how Jesus changed your life. This of course, does not need to be the sole focus of your sermon. But if people occasionally hear how you struggled to understand the concept of tithing and generosity, it will make their struggle seem not so out of the norm.
- Follow the scripture. Since Jesus spoke about wealth, possessions, consumerism nearly more than any other subject, much of what is written about in the Gospels relates to money. When the Gospel (or the lectionary) naturally leads to one of these topics – wealth, possessions, consumerism – take the Spirit’s leading and preach about it.
Once again, no one is saying that talking about money is easy. But it doesn’t have to be nearly as scary or hard as it seems. Money, and how we use it, is a discipleship issue. I’m sure you want nothing more than to have faithful disciples.
That’s why it’s imperative that you preach about it throughout the year.
You Can Establish Your Own Scholarship Campaign
Your financial contribution can start a scholarship to help students at empower students at Africa University. By doing so they will be able to use their gifts across the continent of Africa and give back to their individual countries on their return home.
excerpt from a story Cesie Delve Scheuermann, Stewardship Consultant, Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.
United Methodist Church Giving is about people working together to accomplish something bigger than themselves. In so doing, we effect change around the world, all in the name of Jesus Christ.
