20 Short and Powerful Messages to Encourage Tithing

If you lead a church, then you know how important it is to be able to give a tithe and offering message. 

Teaching your church members on the importance of generosity, however, is easier said than done. When you give short encouraging sermons week after week, you can start to feel like a squeaky wheel–especially when the message is the same. 

As a result, many church leaders may not give a tithing message at all. And the results are that only 1.5 million out of 247 million identifying Christians in the U.S. tithe. 

Here's the good news: Tithing is not a static topic in the Bible. There's an abundance of Scripture that describes the abundant blessings that come with making financial gifts.

In the following article, we'll look at 20 creative offering messages from the Bible. These are messages that can be shortened or expanded according to the length of your church service or the need for a special offering.  

Finally, we'll explain the best way to receive financial gifts and tithes from your church family–a convenient online solution that makes giving simple.

Introduction

One of the most famous tithe messages is the story of the poor widow. This tithing story is important to reflect on.

In Mark 12, Jesus Christ observes a widow in deep poverty. She makes the ultimate financial sacrifice by giving all that she has to what would today be called "the offering box." Though it wasn't much, her offering was commended by Jesus as an excellent sacrifice. 

Why? Because her heart was in the right place. 

This is certainly a powerful message. But many of your church members have heard it many times. To open their hearts to the power of generosity, some of them need to hear a message they've never heard before.  

Here are 20 short tithing messages you can give on any Sunday morning:

1. Love gives

Generosity is an expression of love. God is the ultimate picture of generosity, as He gave His very Son for our salvation (John 3:16). 

Giving doesn't earn you eternal life, but it is a powerful response to love for God. Why give back to God? Because He gave to us. 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1)

2. Jesus endorses radical generosity

Jesus knew that to give radically, we need transformed hearts. That's why he told the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21 to sell all that he had. His possessions weren't the problem, but his unwillingness to part with financial blessings indicated that his heart was still tied to earthly things. 

3. Seek First the Kingdom

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

This verse may fall into your collection of life quotes, and with good reason. One of the greatest hurdles to generosity is the fear that we won't have enough. How well do we trust God to provide for us?

Christ Jesus says that if we seek first His Kingdom, we can trust that God will give us everything we need. 

4. The only investment that lasts forever

While we might invest our finances into the stock market, real estate, or other assets to see growth, an investment into the Kingdom is the only one that has eternal significance. 

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Matthew 6:19-21 shows us that by giving to God, we store up eternal rewards. 

5. Abraham gave a tenth

The concept of tithing actually pre-dates the 10 commandments. In Genesis 14, Abraham gave Melchizedek one-tenth of all that he had. This was a faith response that went beyond a law, obligation, or commandment. 

8. We are all called to be stewards

Generosity is not just for the wealthy. The amazing thing about Christianity is that it levels the playing field for how we are called to live and give. We are all stewards that can make an impact for Jesus. Even small gifts can move the heart of Jesus. 

9. Generosity brings freedom 

Giving away your money brings freedom. Why? Because it loosens the grip we have on earthly possessions. It helps bring us into a greater level of faith and trust, and redirects the focus from "what we have" to "what we can give."

10. Generosity brings blessing

Tithing brings Luke 6:38 to life–Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Sharing testimonies of God's radical responses to our own generosity is a great way to bring this verse to life. Remind your church that when they give, they can expect to be blessed in return. (Luke 6:38).

11. The "abundant life" is not about having a bunch of stuff

Part of your task as a church leader is to help your church members understand the true meaning of life–not everlasting life, but life on this side of heaven. 

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

While most would agree that life isn't about having a bunch of stuff, it's all-too-easy to have "blind spots" of greed that limit us from generosity. Christ Jesus warned us to be on guard from greed.

12. True rest and comfort exist only in Jesus

It's easy to believe that true rest and comfort come with having possessions and money–especially if you're facing financial stress. With that in mind, it can feel extremely difficult to tithe. 

But Jesus said that He is the source of true comfort. 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Remind your church community that Jesus gives us rest–not a larger bank account. Matthew 11:28 reminds us of this beautiful reality. 

13. We give because we're blessed

Authentic generosity comes out of a place of gratitude. Helping your church community to acknowledge how they are blessed by God is a great start to authentic gratitude. 

James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

14. We give because we trust God

Generosity also stems from trust. It can be tempting to worry, but Scripture tells us that God knows our needs and will meet them. 

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:25, Matthew 6:26)

Matthew 6:26 gives us assurance that God will provide for us, even when we give from what feels like deep poverty.

15. Giving is not an outward act

In the midst of teaching on tithing, it's important to remind your church family that giving is not just an outward act. 

Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. (Luke 11:42)

Luke 11:42 shows us the danger of giving away a tenth of what you have, but neglecting to love others (and God) well. Authentic generosity is not just an obligation; it's a heart response. 

16. Tithing is not an exemption from paying taxes

Some churchgoers may want to ask, is tithing the same as paying taxes?

Mark 12:15-17 gives us some insight on this point. In Mark 12:15, the disciples as Jesus a question about paying taxes. 

"Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 

Jesus then responds.

They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

Much to the disappointment of His disciples, Jesus doesn't advocate for tax evasion. 

16. Generosity is an act of obedience

If the Bible tells us to be generous, then we're meant to obey with action. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

James 1:22 makes it clear: Obey Scripture when you hear it. 

17. Giving is a result of seeing Jesus

In Matthew 2:1-11, we see the birth of Jesus and the Magi's response: a fragrant offering of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Though these aren't men in extreme poverty–like the poor widow who gave two mites–their offering is still significant, because it's in response to a promise fulfilled.  

18. Tithing is to the church

Nearly one in five churchgoers believes that giving towards a secular charity constitutes tithing. But unfortunately, that's not how Malachi 3:10 defines tithing. 

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)

The storehouse represents the house of the Lord–"my house." 

19. Tithing is not just giving away your extra money

Tithing is the first tenth of your income, not just giving away fun money or extra money. An excellent sacrifice is a financial sacrifice that represents real surrender and trust for provision. 

20. Tithing can open the floodgates of heaven

Making a financial sacrifice to the Lord can open the floodgates of heaven (Malachi 3:10). When you give to God, you can expect more than bread for food; you can expect a feast. 

Over to you

John Wesley described money as "an excellent gift of God, answering the noblest ends." When you give a tithing sermon and teach on financial blessings, you help your church members to participate in the Kingdom, grow in faith, and respond to the Word. 

Using an online donation platform will help give your church members a chance to respond to creative offering messages. Stats show that churches that use online donation platforms see a 32% increase in generosity. 

Tithe.ly makes it super convenient for church members to give with text to give capabilities, recurring giving, a mobile app, and more. It's also free for churches. To learn more about Tithe.ly, click here.