It’s been my experience that pastors are about as uncomfortable having the “money talk” with their congregation as parents are having the “sex talk” with their children. My guess is that most pastors are generally more at home teaching about the biblical view of sex than they are teaching on the biblical view of money.
This uneasiness with the topic is conveyed in various ways to the congregation.
First of all, it is transmitted through the infrequency of addressing the topic. Most pastors address the topic of money only on rare occasions such as the “Sermon on the Amount” (i.e. the annual stewardship sermon); or when the church is considerably under budget and needs an infusion of cash to balance the operating budget.
It is also communicated by the tone of the message. It is not uncommon to detect a palpable nervousness both verbally and nonverbally in pastors as they broach the subject of money. In fact, if you listen to as many sermons and even offerings as I do, you will hear everything from disclaimers to apologies.
Just as parents need to be more conversant with their children regarding human sexuality, it is past time that pastors learn how to normalize the conversation with their congregation regarding faith and finance. After all, it is a critical aspect of discipleship, the prevailing idol of western civilization, and strategic in fueling Kingdom impact and expansion.
Here are 2 tips to help you begin normalizing the “money” conversation.
1) Relax!
a) Churches where their pastor and church leaders talk about money in a relaxed manner are more comfortable than those who don’t.
b) Approach the “money talk” from the standpoint of what you wantfor them rather than what you want from them.
c) Remember, that Jesus talked about money and related topics as much or more than any other topic in Scripture.
2) Thread!
a) Teach and encourage your people to be generous throughout the year, apart from “an ask.”
b) Weave the “generosity theme” throughout your teaching by addressing generosity, stewardship and related issues on an on going basis in classes, sermons, and in the weekly offering.
Isn’t it time that you had “the talk” with you congregation?
