Elements Of A Healthy Church Financial System Pt. 1-2

Well, good evening is good to see everyone. We're glad that you are here tonight and we're going to continue on our financial system. The financial system of the church and this is what we're doing the series, and you see here, managing and all and tonight is elements of a healthy Financial system. So we going to continue where we left off last time which is been I guess, two weeks ago, I didn't put this on your hand out but you want to put just right lesson 2 on it because the first one was lesson one. That way we can keep up with it, I forgot to put that. So, we're doing lesson 2. Tonight.

And so,

let me get this out here and I've got this handout is front and back and we'll, we'll try to fill in these Blanks on the front and back tonight and so it shouldn't take too long. Well, if you remember, the last time we were here, I want to show you the two points that we looked at a couple of weeks ago, the financial system. We but we broke it down into an offense and a defense. And of course the offense, the way you take money into a church weekly offerings online, giving special offerings and then of course, missionary support. And if we have any building projects and things like that, like we want to we're discussing now to paint the church. Well that would be in the area of building projects and so we going to be look at that looking at that in the coming weeks. And so that's the financial system on defense. What we're talkin about is collecting money, counting money accounting, budgeting and monitoring. And so we kind of talked about that last time, what I want to

talk about tonight and I think you have it in your hand out there is I want to talk about some motivations and it's important that we remember at least from leaders of the church and pastors That you just don't want money from people, you want. You want folks to give but you want them to grow in Grace and maturity and blessing in their life, by giving back to God and see, a lot of people don't want to talk about money in church a lot because that's just such a personal puppet. You know, we don't go around most of us, don't go around telling everybody how much money we have or how much money we make. We, we just don't do that and so it's kind of a personal topic. But it needs to be talked about because Jesus talked about money so much. He was constantly talking about money, and I hope that you seen so far on Sunday morning that God use this money in our life. The test and prove us the see how faithful that we're going to be in. So I want to give you five reasons here and this is the first point five reasons that people give when they go to church and, and start, you know, maybe a member or maybe a regular tender five reasons that people give well, the first one is because of relationships, sometimes people give money to an organization because they have a relationship with the people there. Well, that would make sense. As far as a church, we all have a relationship. We go to church together, And so some people just simply give because they feel like that they have a portion in that organization or in that church, because they're remember. And they know, they may have family going. They know people. They're so sometimes people give because of relationships, but then there's a second reason, sometimes people give because of vision. You say, well, what do you mean by that? I'm talking about the pastor has to lay out A vision for the church, you know, sometimes I can eat, someone can give you something in writing on paper and you can look at it, but if somebody will stand up and give you a word picture of what we're trying to do that sometimes can just grit your emotions. You know you know some you know some people learn differently of course but we need we need a vision of our financial system. Look what scripture here. Look what Proverbs 29:18 says. Says, where there is no vision, the people perish. now, plow that To our nation right now, just apply that. Look at if you can look at the vision or the lack thereof coming out of Washington, d.c. right now, Where the Bible says, where there is no vision, the people perish. So it's important that we have a vision. Well, the third reason that some people give Some people give because of need, you can see that an outpouring of donations, after a hurricane, or some natural disaster, even we, when when the tornadoes went through Kentucky, remember last year, we gave quite a bit of money to the disaster relief of the Southern Baptists many times when people seeing need, they're willing to give and of course you can look and sometimes a church may need up. They may need something for the Youth. They may need a van. That may need a bus or whatever it is. And quite often people will give to that because they see a need. So relationships, a good vision. And then I need that comes up. Well there's some people number for that, gives out of obedience, many people give out of obedience because they understand what God says in his word. And I remember this verse we going to put it up here. Malachi 3 verse 10, remember this? We priest on this a couple of weeks. Look what it says bring all the tithes into the storehouse or to the temple that there may be food in my house and try me now on this God the only time in the Bible. Did God ever said, you can try me prove me. Prove me, wrong, or right by doing this says, the Lord of hosts. If I will not open for you, the windows of heaven and pour out for you. Such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. That's the promise right there. If we'll bring our tithes, Into the church or the storehouse. He says here. He says you wait and see if you don't give it to me. If I just won't pour out blessing after blessing upon you. Well, we we need to try the Lord on that. Some of us needs to, to try on that. So some people give out of events and look at Luke 6:38. I just don't want to show you Old Testament, scriptures. Look what Jesus said, give and it will be given to you in good measure pressed down shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom for, with the same measure that you used. It will be measured back to you. So he saying the same thing that Malachi says he says you give, and I'm going to pour it out on you. I'll give you more to give. It's what I will do. So many people give out of Abby dance because they understand what the Bible says and then fifthly Some people give because they're educated and what I mean by that is they've been taught what God God's word says about money. Now, you say, well, that's just so simple to do because Jesus talks about money, or the Bible talks about money or when's the last time you heard a sermon on money? You go to many churches and never hear about finances. Never at all. And so is we try to instruct on giving I know to some people on a Sunday morning that comes, maybe some things will make more sense to some than others. Some people respond and a different way to a different drum if you will. But when were teaching stewardship, We have to understand that people are in different places. And what I mean by that, is some people come to church and they don't give anything, not because they're just tight. but they don't know that they've been commanded to give Some people just don't give anything some people, just throw a dollar to him, you know, kind of tempting. God. some people give regularly they may not give a tithe but they give every week that that they'll give regularly other people give a top, they'll give 10% and then you have some people who does the tithe Plus Those are the excellent givers and did you know that giving is a spiritual gift? It is what's a spiritual gift. It's a supernatural gift that you were given and you were given one or more at the time that you were saved. At the time that you were saved. God has given you a supernatural gift. And one of those gifts of the Spirit is giving You ever notice some people just give that they just get and I'm not necessarily talking about money, they give themselves, they give the time they, they give serviced, they just give and they give money where other people that maybe not, they don't have the gift of spiritual gift of giving like that, their more reserved in their generosity. So there's people in different areas and in different ways. And so that's why it's kind of difficult to teach on this because a lot of people may be in different areas in their life as far as their generosity and giving. So you have to cover kind of everything when you talked about this. But I would say this about the vast majority of people who go to church, I would say this, most people want to give They do most people want to give now son. Don't get it because they don't know that they should others. Don't give because they've never been taught what the Bible says about giving many people make assumptions of how the church Works, without understanding the financial system of a church.

And there's some people who just their kind of scared to give because they don't know how the people that church don't handle that money and they don't want to, they just don't want to give their kind of wary of giving. And so different people must be led and talked, and encouraged, and inspired celebrated and helped with their personal money management in order to be faithful and generous stewards. And that's what we all want to be because that's what the Bible calls us to be, but we're all probably in different places in our life in that and the pastor in the leaders of the church need to understand that.

I'm going to say something about Craig, he's not here. So I'm going to say something about it. He a couple of weeks ago, he started giving to our church money and he gave he gives I think $20 a week and it's drafted, you know, out I guess he he did it online now, $20 a week would be $80 a month. And that's probably not 10% of what he makes. But I'm not going to jump on. You say, crack. What are you? What are you doing? He's a regular Giver now that ought to be celebrated if it's not 10%, we can work on that but if he sees the need to give and he's going to do it and it's not like he has to reach in his pocket, he's put it in automated given where that's coming out whether he even thinks about it or not. That's a start. It's a start. Yeah. So so that's a good thing. I was so happy to see him do that. He's going to he's now a regular giver and and then if he needs to go up or whatever, you know, we can work on that but people are in different places. Some people come to church and if they have some money in their back pocket, they'll put it in the plate, if they don't, well, I'll make up for it next week or something like that. Which you know is just not a good way to go about it when you understand the teaching on stewardship in the Bible. Well, let's look at the next one, motivate. So motivate five reasons, people get we covered that. Now, we're going to talk about motivate through vision casting, that's a And that's up to the pastor to cast the vision of what the church. What the pastor believes that God is calling the church to do and cast that Vision in a way. That it can compel and speak to other people's hearts on their generosity. And then B is motivate through making ass. And what I mean by that is, sometimes something comes up in a church. Just like, we want to paint the church, sometimes you just have to ask, okay? We're going to take up a special offering and if you can give, we would appreciate you would give to the beautification of the church. You just have to ask sometimes for that doesn't mean that you go and look, see how much everybody gave, but you just put it out and you have to ask sometimes for those for those gifts. So, Next Point, let's look at the five types or five levels of givers in this is in every Church. Not talkin about just new Grace. I'm talking about every church right now to look at number one. Nan givers. You say you mean there's non givers in the church. I've seen studies that say 40 to 70% of the people in churches, do not give a penny. Now, just think about that.

40 to 70% of people do not give any money whatsoever to the church. Now, if you're talkin about individual churches, and you say, 60% of the people that go to this church, don't give your talkin about a lot of church members, not just regular tenders, but you're talkin about church members and church leaders in some instances.

Nan givers. There's nine givers in every Church, Number two. number two is what we call first-time, givers, the second group may have given once some of these people, meeting how many times these people are new Believers, and like I said before, when someone is saved, And they come to church on average unless someone helps them with stewardship. It take the average person to years before they start giving Two years they'll come to church for two years before they'll start giving. That's why in our church here. If somebody wants to join the church and we have a new like a new members class to let him know. What I church is about what we're trying to do. One of the things that we have to say in there is we have to talk about giving and we have to talk about tithing and why churches expect that you just have to let people know? Because most people have been taught and they don't know. It's not that they don't want to give, they just don't know how well, they don't know why they should. And so that's why we were going to have to have. When I when I make this class and come up with it, the new member class to talk about our Doctrine in our Theology and things like that, Outreach and things like that prayer and things like that, there's going to be a section on their own giving and money and tithing and things like that because we all need to understand that. So our first time, give her their new to the church and sometimes a lot of people would give if they get a tax refund. If they have something like an insurance settlement or something like that and inheritance, or maybe at the end of the year, they get a bonus at work and they may give a little extra money but those are what are called first-time givers. And then number 3, you have your regular givers. Now these people give regularly probably every week or every month ever how they want to set it up but they they sent a dollar amount and they'll give it weekly or monthly. Now this can vary, it can be $5, it could be $10. I've heard of some churches that had very wealthy people that one family gave $10,000 every month Every month $10,000 while they were, you know, Filthy Rich and they gave ten thousand but they were regular givers now. Let me give you this other stack. The average Christian household. The average person that is saved and is a member of a church gives 2.7% of their income to the top. Right now let me ask you how much is a tithe what percent 10 The average Christian give 2.7% to the church. And then when you factory in the next category which is the toddler's chances are the regular givers averaged less than 1% of that income in giving it. So that's why I said when somebody becomes when somebody is a non giver and then all of a sudden they give for the first time then you won't the first time givers to become regular givers. But most of the time when somebody becomes a regular Giver they're not going to give regularly 10% they're just going to give just you know 10-15 $20 something like that. Well you see if you're trying to teach tithing and a 10th to someone who's the regular Giver, you teach differently than if you're trying to reach a non Giver, someone that's never given before in their life info regular givers most of time they'll give about 2.7% or 2% or something like that. So that's not a tie. Then what is it? Well it's a tip. Just like if you go to a restaurant and you leave a tip for the waitress you may give 10:15 20% but that's a tip. 2.7% is a tip, it's not a type. All right. Number for then you come to your Fathers now, toddlers are the backbone of any church. They're giving over most of the time in most churches over 50% of the revenue that you received. Some of them may be new at this, but then there's some that are long-term faithful members. Now, here's something that a lot of preachers get ass is well, when I tithe do I tithe on the net or do I tithe on the gross? What do I tie Vaughn? Well, most time, the way I answer that is, well, do you want to be blessed on the net? Or do you want to be blessed on the Groves? Which one do you want to be blessed now? Now, see, you only modern pastors have to answer this question now, why is that? That's because That question was never asked before 1947. Well, why wouldn't it ask you say because 1947 was the year, the IRS begin withholding taxes for my paychecks. Before that all wages, went directly to the worker. But in 1947 the IRS started withholding taxes. And so in the Bible talks about giving a first fruit offering, People tithe on the gross money that they received, and then they would send their taxes in by April 15th. And so, so you have your toddlers. In every church and then number five, you have what I want to call. Excellent, givers. Paul in 2nd Corinthians chapter 8, I believe it was, he told the Corinthians See that you excel in the grace of giving. He said see that you excel in the grace of giving his goal was that the people in Corinth would become excellent givers. And that's our goal as well. Excellent giving is giving sacrificially beyond the tithe. So Many church members are at various levels. One size, doesn't fit all each type of Giver. Probably needs to be recycled in a different way. Someone who is that. Either that you want to move to an excellent Giver is entirely different than on. Give her that you want to move to a first-time Giver. So that the teaching is, the discipleship is just totally different. So Let me just give you some highlights. These are not going to be on the screen, but let me just give you some highlights. So here's was true about our giving The Tide is a good place to start, but it's a poor place to stop. the top now, the tide is how much use that use that as a guy think of it as training wheels, use that as a guide for your own giving Every member of the church is asked to time no matter how little you make or how much you make. A lot of people say 10 the tithe is just an Old Testament vain. If not we're not commanded to tithes in the New Testament, know the tide was not from the law. It predates, the wall Abraham tied, 400 years before the law was given. So the tithe started way back before the law was ever given. So the tithes in the New Testament is called the first fruits. And the Bible says that the first fruits belong to the Lord, That's right off the pop, whatever we make will give him. Our tithe are 10% right off the top because that's our first fruits. He wants the first fruits, not the leftover in something else in the Bible. We are never asked to give the Thai. We're always ask to bring the top. Never never commanded to give a tithe but we're commanded to bring the tire. Why why would it be like that? Because it already belongs to hook God, it already just like me freestyle this past Sunday, Everything All Souls are mine, what the Bible said, so he owns it all. He owns our bodies are souls or money, whatever it is. So we're always ask to bring the tithe not to give the tide. Go back to Old Testament, Moses talked to tithe Malachi, we already read called it. Jesus assumed it. We we read the scripture there, Paul, and 1st Corinthians talked about proportionate giving or Grace giving

And I Think Jesus said to whom much is given much is demanded. So we see that the tithe is an important aspect of The church.

And think about this, probably in every church about 10% of the people possess. The spiritual gift of giving about 10%. when we get to heaven pastures or Shepherds, Will be accessed if you want to put it that way more. Rigorously on, they're shepherding teachers will have a greater Demand on there teaching gift. but those with the gift of giving, God is going to hold them accountable, more on their giving. I'm a preacher and I'm a teacher. I want to be held accountable for my preaching and teaching you can be assured of that when I get to heaven. But those who have the gift of giving will be held accountable for their giving and everyone should teach others in those with the gift of teaching should excel at it. And everyone should give to the Lord. And those with the gift of giving, they will excel at giving, that's just the way that it is. Alright, let's see. The last on the bottom of the first page motivate through sharing results and we're going to go through this one quickly here and we will be finished motivate through sharing results. Not what I mean by that. Number one. Just before the offering. If if we have asked for something in the church is trying to raise money to do this, and and we've come up and we cast a vision. We've asked to give the church to give to Something in the church. And the church gives enough money. Exactly what we need or or over. Then you ought to share the results and you ought to celebrate that, and a good time to do. That, is just before the offering when you're taking up money. Now, all these will not apply to our church. We are a small church, but you have to understand the information here that I've gotten comes from, mainly large churches, people that I've talked to in books that I've read. So all this moment you do go for us in your quarterly and annual giving letters. Well, we don't have any dipping letters. I've, I've not written any giving letters, but some of the larger churches will write letters to the congregation about the giving and they'll share results. And Celebrate that and all your annual celebrations. At the end of the year. Many times, they'll have a Christmas celebration or Thanksgiving. And many churches will celebrate, how they have been blessed financially, and, and show what they have done with the money that the people have gift. Another time is number for at your business. Meetings course, I'd be a good time to talk about finances because that's what you normally do it. And then number five, you can put something on your Facebook page. You could.

I know some churches that had members that had started tithing and they have seen how the Lord has blessed them and you want the pastor to he'll get them to come up and give a testimony about What the Lord Has Done in their life when they decided to give. What when you hear someone's testimony, that just moves you as well. So all things like that can be used d. Motiv8, by sending a first-time Giver, thank you note. Well, you would have to know if you know when people give and things like that, but if someone starts giving and that's the first time they've ever been given will thank them for that motivate by making large gift. Thank you call. Some people are able to give large gifts to a church and if someone gives a large gift, there's nothing wrong with thanking them for that. And some of the bigger churches are motivated by making annual donor, call Mini big churches. They have certain people that give to their Church, a lot of money and they'll call those people every year and they'll give them, you know, this is what the Lord is doing and all And that don't apply to every church, but some of the bigger ones it does. All right, and then the process, let's talk about the process. So what do you want to do? You want to teach nine givers to become what givers? You want to teach non givers to become givers? Number to, you want to encourage one time, givers to become what regular givers, you see the systematic steps that you're taken. Then you want your regular give her to become w tithers. You want them to become the 10 percenters? And then Inspire toddlers to watch excel in the grace of giving. That's that's where you want everyone to be. Now, the last one on here, I put multiple methods of giving and I think, I said this couple weeks ago, not many people bring their checkbook to church anymore. And so if you want to help people give you going to have to give them multiple ways to give if it's because some people just go online and they just don't bring money to church like they just don't do that. Some people don't even have a checkbook anymore, they don't even write checks, they do everything online. I don't use near as many chances. I used to know, so I can get a box of checks. In Alaska is 23 years. Just don't write checks hardly anymore. So, how how can you watch them up? Multiple methods. Number one, the offering just at the end of every service when we have the plates here, take it up the offer, at some Churches have something they call the offering envelope, where you can get these envelopes, where there's no postage necessary and you can give it to him. If they forget to bring their money to church, they can go home and they can put money in there or whatever, write a check and they can send it back. Don't have to pay for stamp. Some Churches do that online. Giving, we, we have online giving here. There's a small fee associated with it, but if you want to give online you can and then automated given, which would be something like a bank draft, you can set it up to where the church can draft out of your bank account course, you need the account number and routing number and things like that but they can draft a certain amount out of your account that way, you're never going to be caught saying all, I forgot to bring it. I'll make it up next week, know you're just give what you normally give next week but you won't make it up most of the time this way, the money's always going to be there whether you think about it or not. And there some Churches who have put in a lock box in the vestibule or somewhere around the church and for people who forgot, they can stop by there sometime during the day or whatever and out the door and go in and put it in the lock box there. Drop the money in, in their course, not many churches. Do that. Some of the bigger churches do that, but you have to offer a multiple methods of giving. But the most important thing that we can do concerning our giving is, this is to understand, What God expects, amen, just what he expects of us and what's the right thing to do. If I have any questions or comments tonight, Alright well let's pray. Father, we thank you and praise you. Love you tonight, Lord for your word and Lord, the financial system of any church. Lord help us as we continue to study this. Number one that we would become good stewards Also, Lord help us. If there's nine givers in every church, that means that there's nine givers in our church, so help us to move non givers. To be in givers and from givers to regular givers to Tyler's and then to excel in giving we know that this is what you want from all of us, you already told us that we can test you and prove you and Lord help us to do that. And most of all help us to understand that everything that we have belongs to you. And you've only asked for a small portion back and you have promised to bless us immeasurably, if we would be obedient with our finances more. We just thank you for what you've done for. Thank you for salvation, for Jesus. For calvary's cross force in his name, I pray. Amen. Alright. Well, thank you all for being here tonight. What do you think about it?