Turning Gratitude Into Generosity: How Churches Can Foster a Culture of Giving

Generosity is a complex topic for pastors to address. In seasons of financial pressure when many people feel stretched thin, it can be hard to inspire open-handedness without adding to people’s stress. Yet, Barna’s research shows that cultivating generosity is not merely about giving—it’s also about expressing gratitude for the generosity people have experienced from others in their own life.

According to Barna data, just over half of U.S. adults who had made charitable donations in the previous year (54%) said they had also received extraordinary generosity from others—compared to 36 percent of nongivers. This suggests a “virtuous cycle” of generosity: when people experience kindness, they’re more likely to pass it on.

Faith communities are uniquely positioned to nurture this cycle. Practicing Christians report higher rates (65%) of both experiencing and practicing generosity than the general population (46%), showing that church can be a natural environment where generosity is modeled, learned and multiplied.

Cultivating Generosity

So how can pastors cultivate this rhythm in their congregations? Here are a few research-informed takeaways for preaching and leading on generosity:

• Show how generosity spreads. Share stories that highlight how receiving kindness or help led someone to extend generosity to others.
• Frame generosity as learnable. Teach that giving is a practice that grows over time, modeled by Jesus and reinforced in community.
• Position your church as a generosity hub. Create spaces where people can both give and receive—whether through service, hospitality, or care ministries.
• Expand the definition. Encourage generosity with time, attention, forgiveness, and compassion, not only finances.

Ultimately, generosity is a form of discipleship. It shapes hearts as much as it meets needs. When churches model and teach generosity—not as obligation but as overflow—they cultivate communities marked by gratitude, compassion, and trust. In a culture often defined by scarcity and self-preservation, the local church has the opportunity to stand out as a living example of abundance. As leaders invite people to both give and receive, they help the entire body experience the transforming grace that fuels a truly generous life.