Church planting is a journey of faith, vision, and strategy. As a church planter, you are not just starting a new ministry—you are building a community of believers committed to advancing God’s kingdom. One of the most critical aspects of this mission is cultivating generosity. Without it, a church plant may struggle to move beyond survival mode.
At this year’s Exponential Church Multiplication Conference, the theme, “Good, Great, Greater”, calls us to reflect on how our churches can move from functionality to flourishing. When it comes to generosity, this theme is a perfect framework for guiding church plants on the journey from meeting basic needs to fostering a culture of discipleship-driven abundance.
Here’s how your church plant can embrace each stage—good, great, greater—and build a generosity culture that transforms your church and community.
Good: Starting with a Strong Foundation
In the early days of a church plant, generosity often focuses on meeting basic needs. This is the “good” stage. At this level, your primary goal is to establish a functional foundation for giving.
A “good” approach to generosity ensures that your church has the resources to cover essentials—renting a meeting space, purchasing equipment, and supporting the work of ministry. But cultivating even this initial level of giving requires intentionality.
Key Steps for a Strong Foundation
- Establish a Theology of Giving
Before you can teach generosity, you must understand it biblically. A clear theology of giving rooted in Scripture is essential. Generosity is not just about meeting financial needs; it’s an act of worship and obedience to God. - Share the Pastor’s Giving Journey
Generosity begins with you. As the church planter, your transparency about your own giving journey will inspire others. Share stories of how giving has shaped your faith, and challenge your core team to model generosity as well. - Cast Vision Early and Often
People give to vision, not just need. From the very beginning, communicate a compelling vision of what God is calling your church to accomplish. Help people see how their giving aligns with God’s mission.
When you’ve laid this groundwork, your church plant can move beyond the good stage to something greater.
Great: Developing Consistent Generosity
Once your church has established a foundation, it’s time to focus on consistency. This is the “great” stage, where you transition from survival to sustainability. At this level, generosity becomes more than meeting immediate needs—it becomes a shared practice that fuels your mission.
Building Consistency in Generosity:
- Create Compelling Giving Moments:
Weekly giving moments during worship services are powerful opportunities to inspire generosity. Use these moments to tell stories of impact, celebrate what God is doing, and connect giving to life change. Avoid simply “taking an offering.” Instead, craft moments that encourage joyful participation. - Communicate Intentionally with Givers:
People need to know their giving makes a difference. Develop a rhythm of communication that thanks and informs your givers. Share stories, updates, and testimonies that demonstrate how their generosity is advancing the mission. - Teach Generosity Through Discipleship:
Generosity is a spiritual discipline that grows through teaching and practice. Preach sermon series on biblical stewardship, host financial discipleship classes, and equip your people to see giving as part of their faith journey.
As you focus on these strategies, your church will begin to see generosity as a consistent part of its DNA. But why stop at great? God has even more in store.
Greater: Building a Culture of Abundance
The “greater” stage is where generosity moves from being a practice to becoming a culture. At this level, your church plant embraces generosity as a way of life. Giving becomes transformational, not just transactional.
Shifting to a Culture of Abundance
- Foster Discipleship-Driven Generosity
True generosity flows from discipleship. When people grow in their faith, their giving naturally follows. Create systems that integrate generosity into your discipleship pathway, teaching people how their financial faithfulness aligns with their spiritual growth. - Celebrate Generosity as Worship
At this stage, generosity is not just about funding the church; it’s an act of worship that transforms lives. Celebrate generosity in every form—time, talent, and treasure—and show how it reflects God’s abundant nature. - Leverage Advanced Strategies
As your church plant matures, you can implement more advanced giving strategies. Use giver segmentation to tailor communication and engagement. Develop a scalable system for managing gifts and relationships with givers. Equip leaders within the church to model and multiply generosity.
Impact Beyond the Church
A culture of abundance doesn’t stop at the walls of your church. As generosity grows, it will ripple out into your community and beyond. Your church can become a conduit for God’s blessings, meeting needs, funding missions, and transforming lives both locally and globally.
Practical Applications for Church Planters
No matter where your church plant is on the journey—good, great, or greater—there are practical steps you can take to cultivate generosity:
- Good: Start with a giving-focused vision night for your core team. Share your church’s mission and invite them to invest in it financially.
- Great: Develop a system for thanking givers personally, whether through handwritten notes, emails, or video messages.
- Greater: Launch an annual generosity campaign tied to a specific project or mission, challenging your church to go above and beyond in their giving.
Remember, moving from good to greater is not an overnight process. It’s a journey of faith, patience, and intentionality.
A Final Word
Cultivating generosity in a church plant is one of the most significant investments you can make. It’s about more than meeting financial needs—it’s about helping people grow in their faith and seeing God’s provision multiply.
At this year’s Exponential Conference, the theme “Good, Great, Greater” reminds us that God calls us to continual growth. In the same way, generosity must evolve from functional to consistent to transformational.
As you plant and grow your church, embrace the journey of generosity. Build a foundation, nurture consistency, and strive for a culture of abundance that reflects God’s heart. When generosity becomes a way of life, your church will not only thrive but also have an impact far beyond what you can imagine.
Let’s move from good to greater—together.
Jim Sheppard
Generis
