Don’t Give an Offering, Receive an Offering

Sometimes we need what Winston Churchill called “The genius for recognizing the obvious.” We overlook some of the simplest and most natural ways to make an appeal to lost people. For example, it can be done the way one takes up the morning offering.

One time a pastor said, “In a moment we are going to take up the offering. If you are visiting with us this morning, we request that as the offering plate is passed that you not place anything in it. Instead of giving a gift to the church, we would like you to receive a gift Christ has for you. Jesus Christ paid for our sins on a cross by dying as our substitute, taking our punishment and rising again the third day. Therefore, through personal trust in Christ we can receive His free gift of eternal life. Instead of giving, just sit there and meditate upon what God would like to give you. Right here this morning you could receive that free gift. Would the ushers please come to take up the offering?” Be creative. Try this approach. Try your own.