By Brent Lacy
# Stewardship for Small Churches: Beyond the Annual Fundraising Letter
Rethinking Stewardship for Small Churches
Let’s be honest: the word “stewardship” makes most small church pastors cringe. It conjures images of awkward annual campaigns, guilt-inducing sermons, and that one deacon who stands up every year to say, “If everyone just gave $10 more per week…”
But biblical stewardship isn’t about guilt. It’s about helping people understand that everything they have belongs to God , and that generous giving is one of the most joyful things a believer can do.
According to Giving USA (2025), religious giving has stabilized after years of decline. Millennial giving per household increased 22% in 2024, surpassing Gen X giving for the first time. But only 51% of evangelical Protestants financially support a church they attend (Baptist Press, 2025). And according to Grey Matter Research, almost nobody is tithing.
The opportunity for small churches to teach biblical stewardship has never been greater.
What Stewardship Is (and Isn’t)
Stewardship IS:
- Teaching biblical principles of generosity
- Helping people connect their giving to God’s work
- Building a culture of gratitude and trust
- Planning wisely for the church’s financial needs
- Encouraging cheerful, sacrificial giving
Stewardship ISN’T:
- Guilt-tripping people into giving
- Focusing only on the church’s budget needs
- A once-a-year fundraising campaign
- About the church getting more money
- A substitute for good financial management
The Biblical Foundation
Before you plan a single stewardship event, make sure your congregation understands the biblical basis for giving.
Old Testament Principles
- **The Tithe (Leviticus 27:30-32):** The first 10% of income belongs to God
- **The Gleaning Laws (Leviticus 19:9-10):** Leave some for those in need
- **The Celebration Tithe (Deuteronomy 14:22-27):** Use some for celebration and fellowship
- **The Poor Tithe (Deuteronomy 14:28-29):** Every third year, set aside for the vulnerable
New Testament Principles
- **Cheerful Giving (2 Corinthians 9:7):** “God loves a cheerful giver”
- **Generosity as Worship (Philippians 4:18):** Paul calls the Philippians’ gift “a fragrant offering”
- **Sacrificial Giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-5):** The Macedonian churches gave beyond their ability
- **Proportional Giving (1 Corinthians 16:2):** “In proportion to your income”
- **Jesus’ Teaching (Luke 12:33-34):** “Sell your possessions and give to the poor”
Building a Year-Round Stewardship Culture
The most effective stewardship isn’t a once-a-year campaign. It’s a year-round culture of generosity. Here’s how to build it:
Monthly: Teach Biblical Stewardship
Don’t wait for the annual campaign. Every month, find ways to weave stewardship into your preaching, teaching, and conversations. This could be:
- A sermon series on money and possessions
- A Sunday school curriculum on biblical stewardship
- A small group study on generosity
- A devotional in the church newsletter
Quarterly: Share Impact Stories
People give when they see the impact. Every quarter, share specific stories of how the church’s giving is making a difference:
- A family helped through the benevolence fund
- A community member reached through an outreach event
- A missionary supported by the church’s missions giving
- A building improvement that enables better ministry
Annually: Run a Stewardship Campaign
Once a year, run a focused stewardship campaign to encourage commitment and plan for the coming year. This is where the Annual Stewardship Campaign Guide comes in (see below).
The Annual Stewardship Campaign: A Step-by-Step Guide
8 Weeks Before: Planning
- Set your campaign goal (financial and spiritual)
- Form a stewardship committee (3-5 people)
- Plan the sermon series (4 weeks)
- Prepare commitment cards
- Plan communication (announcements, letters, social media)
4 Weeks Before: Kickoff
- Week 1 Sermon: “The Generous God” , God’s generosity toward us
- Announce the campaign
- Distribute commitment cards
3 Weeks Before: Education
- Week 2 Sermon: “The Generous Life” , What generosity looks like
- Share impact stories
- Host a Q&A about church finances
2 Weeks Before: Commitment
- Week 3 Sermon: “The Generous Church” , Where our giving goes
- Collect commitment cards
- Follow up with those who haven’t committed
1 Week Before: Celebration
- Week 4 Sermon: “The Generous Response” , Making a commitment
- Celebrate the commitments received
- Thank the congregation for their generosity
After the Campaign: Follow-Up
- Send thank-you letters to all who committed
- Provide quarterly giving statements
- Share progress toward the goal
- Celebrate milestones
Practical Stewardship Ideas for Small Churches
1. The “First Fruits” Challenge
Challenge members to give the first 10% of every paycheck to the church before paying any other bills. Teach that this isn’t about legalism , it’s about trust.
2. The “Gratitude Jar”
Place a jar in the sanctuary. Each week, members write down one thing they’re grateful for and put it in the jar. At the end of the quarter, read them aloud during a service.
3. The “Impact Report”
Create a simple one-page report each quarter showing how the church’s giving was used. Include specific stories and numbers.
4. The “Generosity Wall”
Create a wall in the church where members can post notes about how God has blessed them through giving.
5. The “Stewardship Sunday School”
Teach a 4-week Sunday school class on biblical stewardship. Use real-world examples and practical exercises.
6. The “Budget Transparency Meeting”
Once a year, hold an open meeting where the treasurer walks through the entire church budget line by line. Answer every question. Build trust through transparency.
Common Stewardship Mistakes
Mistake 1: Only talking about money when you need it.
If the only time you mention giving is when the budget is tight, people will associate giving with desperation.
Mistake 2: Using guilt instead of grace.
Guilt-based giving produces resentment, not generosity. Teach the joy of giving, not the obligation.
Mistake 3: Not being transparent about finances.
If people don’t know where their money is going, they won’t give generously. Be open about the budget.
Mistake 4: Ignoring the “why” behind giving.
People don’t give to budgets. They give to missions, to community impact, to changed lives. Connect giving to impact.
Mistake 5: Not providing easy ways to give.
If the only way to give is by cash or check on Sunday morning, you’re leaving money on the table. Offer online giving, text giving, and recurring gifts.
The Bottom Line
Stewardship in a small church isn’t about raising more money. It’s about helping people become more like Jesus , generous, trusting, and joyful in their giving. When you build a culture of generosity, the money follows. But more importantly, your congregation grows spiritually.
Start teaching stewardship today. Not because the church needs money, but because your people need to experience the joy of generosity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this mean for my small church?
Most small churches are already using AI tools without realizing it. The key is to be intentional about understanding the biases these tools carry and to use them as supplements, not replacements, for pastoral wisdom and biblical teaching.
Should we stop using AI tools altogether?
No. AI offers genuine benefits for church administration, research, and communication. The goal is informed use, not avoidance. Understand what AI is good at and what it is not, and never use it as a substitute for prayer, Scripture, or the counsel of mature believers.
How do we address this with our congregation?
Start with education. Share the research findings openly and help your members understand both the benefits and limitations of AI. Encourage critical thinking about AI-generated content.