Top 10 most popular posts over last 30 days
I’m always curious what people are reading the most on the blog. I did a quick search on the top 10 posts over the last 30 days. That doesn’t mean all of these were originally posted in the last 30 days, but these were the most popular.
1. One of the funniest church music videos I’ve ever seen
2. Morning Star Church pastor talks about recent giving letter to congregation
3. 3 reasons NOT to increase your church budget in 2011
4. Tithing tricks you don’t want your members to know about
5. Individual charitable giving predictions for 2010
6. 8 ways to turn contribution statements into dollars
7. First-time givers: your game-changing funding strategy for 2010
8. Five ways to DECREASE giving in your church
9. 5 FREE technology tools for pastors
10. How important are the 30 seconds before you take an offering?
One of the funniest church music videos I’ve ever seen
David Landrith is preaching through a sermon series based on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) called Uncool. This is the latest trailer for the series.
Enjoy!
Is your church worth my generosity?
When the people leave your church campus, are they…
- clear about what your church is on mission to do?
- invited to participate in the solution?
- filled with a sense of urgency to join the work…immediately?
If not, it’s time to rethink you’re communication strategy. This video represents your competition. Will the compelling case for support you prepared for Sunday morning capture the hearts or waste the time of your membership? Is it all about you, or is it all about them?
I’m looking to fund Kingdom impact, and I’m not the only one. What does that look like in your church? If you can’t answer that, then you’re going to have a tough time competing with organizations like the one represented in this video.
Church leaders: watch and learn.
Excellent “thank you” video from World Vision to donors
This video accomplishes three things:
- Offers a “thank you” to the donor
- Reminds donors of the need and exhibits the impact of World Vision’s intervention
- Acknowledges that World Vision couldn’t have done it without donors and won’t be able to continue without donors
The focus of this video was not World Vision, but “the work” its donors have accomplished through World Vision.
I wonder what impact this strategy would have on local church funding if staff leadership adopted the same posture.
Ignite generosity through song: “What a wonderful world” by Louis Armstrong
Ghandi said, “We must be the change we want to see in the world.”
Jesus said, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
The Body of Christ has the capacity to eliminate world hunger, orphans, poverty, and a slew of other plights facing much of the world’s population. The only barrier is the ability to see beyond ourselves and realize God’s intention is for us to be a catalyst to bring about the kingdom of God in this life.
What act of generosity can you perform today to make this world a wonderful place by being the Christ you claim to follow?
Ignite generosity through song: “Meant to live” by Switchfoot
“20 percent of all American Christians give literally nothing to the church.”
–Passing the Plate
Before I became a generous Christian…I was just a Christian. I lived protecting what God had given me, thinking that it was meant for me to possess and own. I feared that giving away the gifts God had given me would mean I couldn’t enjoy them.
Since I became a generous Christian, none of what I feared would happen has ever happened. In fact, I live with a greater sense of purpose and meaning than ever before. The pleasure of giving the gifts God has given me is so much greater than the gifts themselves. It sounds crazy, but the more I give away, the more I have to give away.
God intended his children to give as freely as he did when he gave us his son on the cross.
Ignite generosity through song: “Don’t give up” by Alicia Keys and Bono
We must never give up.
We must never be satisfied with what we have given today.
We must never forget that we are all God’s creation, and God desires a relationship with everyone.
We must never forget what it feels like to live in the tension of what we can do today and what God is calling us to do tomorrow.
We must never believe that there are limits to what we can give, for that would mean God is limited.
We must never give up.
Ignite generosity through song: “Give me your eyes” Brandon Heath
Have you ever wondered what the face of God looks like?
I’ve always wanted to make a book of pictures that captured the face of God. But where would I find it? And what would it look like?
The face of God is in the kindness of strangers, the sacrifice of a distant acquaintance, the generosity of God’s people.
There is nothing more exciting than to hear the story of a child of God, a follower of Christ, who experiences a “second conversation” where he or she realizes that generosity is the only appropriate response to the grace of God.
Did you recognize the face of God when you saw it today?
Ignite generosity through song: “Follow you” by Lealand
I really…REALLY…like this song.
The whole idea of finding the intersection between Gospel and Social Justice seems very authentic to me. This is what I love most about what I do. It’s not about money, volunteers, or programs. It’s about unleashing what God has entrusted to his people so that others might find the same hope, strength, and peace.
It’s easy to forget while we’re “doing” church that it’s essential we “be” the church.
