Why Your Voice Matters More Than You Think

There’s no greater accelerant to generosity in your church than the authenticity of your own journey.

Programs can teach generosity.

Sermons can inspire it.

But stories—especially yours—model it.

If your congregation doesn’t know how you think about giving, how you wrestle with stewardship, how you and your family navigate generosity… then they’re missing the most powerful example they have.

You are not just the spiritual leader of the church. You are the generosity thermostat.

What you celebrate, people emulate.

What you model, people remember.

What you share, people absorb.

Why?

That’s the question we unpacked in a recent episode of the Next Sunday podcast.

The answer may surprise you—or maybe it won’t if you’ve planted a church yourself.

The #1 reason church plants fail isn’t theological drift or moral failure. It’s not even poor leadership.

The most common reason church plants fail is simple: they run out of money.

Generosity Begins in the Mirror

Let’s clear something up.

You don’t need to be the wealthiest person in your church.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

But you do need to be intentional.

The most catalytic leaders I know do three things:

1. They Give First

They tithe. Often more. Not just from abundance, but from trust.

They prioritize giving—even before the building project, the new staff hire, the tech upgrade.

Because generosity isn’t about capacity. It’s about conviction.

2. They Talk About It Openly

They let people into their world.

Not to boast—but to build bridges.

To say, “Here’s what we’ve learned. Here’s where we’ve struggled. Here’s what God’s taught us along the way.”

When a senior pastor shares their generosity testimony, walls come down.

Fear breaks. Excuses dissolve.

Because suddenly generosity isn’t a demand—it’s a discipleship journey.

3. They Call People to More

Not from guilt. From growth.

They challenge people to experience the joy, freedom, and transformation that generosity brings.

What’s Your Generosity Testimony?

You’ve shared your salvation story.

You’ve shared your call to ministry.

But have you shared your generosity story?

Have you let people into:

• The moment you first gave in a way that scared you?
• A time when God provided unexpectedly after a sacrificial gift?
• How you and your spouse set giving goals every year—and what that’s taught you about trust?

When you lead with your story, others find courage to start theirs.

3 Ways to Start Leading with Generosity This Month

1. Tell Your Giving Story in a Sermon (or Staff Meeting)
   
    Just five minutes. Let it be raw, real, and redemptive.
   
    Start with: “I want to let you in on how my perspective on giving has changed…”
   
   
2. Reframe the Offering Moment
   
    Don’t outsource it. Own it.
   
    Just 60 seconds each week can shape a culture.
   
    Highlight a story. Share a vision. Connect giving to life change.
   
   
3. Invite Trusted Givers to Hear Your Vision First
   
   Generosity isn’t just about money—it’s about mission.
   

        Pull together your core givers and say: “Here’s what I’m believing God for. Would you          pray with me and lead with me?”

What You Celebrate, You Cultivate

You don’t need more pressure.

But you do need to know this:

You set the tone.

If you lead with scarcity, your church will follow.

If you lead with silence, they’ll stay stuck in fear.

But if you lead with bold, open-handed faith…

You’ll help build a church that doesn’t just meet budget—but changes lives through radical generosity.