Financial giving can be a sensitive subject for churches, but the Bible has a lot to say about money. Talking about tithes and offerings is essential for the church’s growth and for the individuals who give.

You may have heard this, but the Bible has 2,350 scriptures on finances, giving, and our attitude toward money and wealth. Giving is about much more than simply supporting the church’s budget!

So, when and how you discuss tithes and offerings in your church service can make a tremendous difference. Let’s dive in and cover everything you need to know about tithes and offerings. And what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to that part of your services.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

Table of contents

• Why Are Tithes and Offerings Important?
  • Tithing in the Bible
  • Offerings
• When Should You Talk About Tithes and Offerings?
  • Beginning of Service
  • Middle of Service
  • End of Service
• How Should You Talk About Tithes and Offerings in Church Service?
• Practicals on Tithes and Offerings in Church Service
  • Traditional Collection Methods
  • Online Giving
  • Culture of Generosity
• Do’s and Don’ts of Tithes and Offerings
  • Tithes and Offerings Do’s
  • Tithes and Offerings Don’ts
• Church Tithes and Offerings
• More Resources on Church Giving

Money is a touchy subject. Although it’s bad form to talk about finances at a dinner party, we’re called to preach the whole Bible. Therefore, we’d be remiss not to teach on giving and how to manage money. Jesus wasn’t afraid to talk about money or people’s attitude toward wealth, and we shouldn’t be either.

This subject touches on deeply rooted beliefs and values such as our sense of security, our attitude towards work, and ultimately our trust in God to provide for us. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

God is concerned with our financial well-being. Tithes and offerings are one way that we can honor Him with our resources. When we give, we acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God. We are simply returning what He has generously given to us.

We are also committing to using our resources in a way that will please Him, help others, and impact the world around us to advance the kingdom. And when we give generously and cheerfully, it is an act of worship that brings joy to God’s heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).

In the Bible, tithing refers to giving one-tenth of one’s income or possessions as an offering to God. This practice dates back to ancient times and is mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Leviticus.

The Israelites were instructed to give tithes to support the priests and the maintenance of the tabernacle. All the tithes were meant to support those who were devoted to ministering to the Lord rather than regular work. This act of giving was considered a sign of obedience and gratitude to God for His provision.

Offerings, on the other hand, go beyond the obligatory tithe and represent voluntary gifts given out of a cheerful heart. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself praised the act of giving generously and sacrificially. He taught that God loves a cheerful giver, emphasizing the importance of giving with joy and gratitude rather than compulsion.

The Apostle Paul also encouraged believers to give offerings according to their means, highlighting the spiritual benefits of giving and the blessings that come from supporting the work of God’s kingdom.

While tithes are a prescribed practice in the Bible, offerings demonstrate a deeper level of commitment and devotion to God. Both reflect the principle that God loves a cheerful giver, and they serve as acts of worship and obedience to Him.

The timing for tithes and offerings primarily impacts your newer guests. Veteran church members know you’ll have a time for giving at some point in the service, and usually don’t think too much about it. 

On the other hand, new guests might be taken aback or caught off guard by an ill-timed or poorly presented call for tithes and offerings.

We can’t give you an undisputed best time for doing your offering, but here are some general thoughts.

From the church’s perspective, it might be nice to talk about tithes and offerings at the beginning of service to get it over and done. However, you don’t want that to be your new guest’s first impression. Talking about the offering right out of the gate will confirm one of the worst stereotypes about churches that skeptics have: “churches just want your money.”

Giving is a form of worship, so many churches mention tithes and offerings following the worship (singing) service, perhaps along with prayer and church announcements. However, without the right timing and tone, shifting to the topic of giving can feel like a bait-and-switch or simply abrupt and jarring.

Other churches choose to end their service with tithes and offering. Although you may lose some people who are checking out physically or mentally, waiting until the end of service to bring up the subject feels right for many churches.

Whatever moment you choose, it’s good form to discuss giving as an act of worship and pray over people’s offerings. Ultimately, only you can decide the best moment for tithes and offerings for your church and service flow!