This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) we continued the Lenten Challenges series.
Sermon
My message, “Livingly Richly” is based on the narrative lectionary passage: Luke 16:19-31.
You can watch below or read the manuscript.
Excerpt
Ushers, please close the doors to the sanctuary. In fact, go ahead and secure all of the exits. I need you to stand guard for a few minutes.
Siblings in Christ, now that I have your full attention, I’d like to invite you to give. More specifically, it is time for everyone to take out $20. Please have your money ready to give when the offering plates are passed.
Except for the folks in leadership. You all can put your $20 bills away. I need you to step up and give $100 each.
Does this sound ridiculous? Are you wondering if your pastor has lost his mind?
Actually, I’m sharing a story from the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Convention that took place in Baltimore. While the event occurred in 2024, it went viral this week.
The video clip features Pastor and Grammy-nominated Gospel artist Marvin Sapp instructing the ushers to do as I instructed ours to do before telling 1,000 in person attendees and 1,000 people participating online to each give $20. And only after doing so does he instruct leaders to give $100.[1]
Confused? Angry? Perplexed? Or are you simply saddened that this is how the topic of money was handled in a gathering of people who follow the Way of Jesus?
Or maybe you are hoping this is a one-of-a-kind oddity or an isolated incident that we can easily dismiss. Unfortunately, it is not.
Paula White-Cain, a Florida Pastor and Senior Advisor to the newly created White House Faith Office, was also in the news this week. Instead of requesting $20 or even $100, she called upon her listeners to consider a donation of $1,000.
Last Sunday, she invited people to give a special gift as part of a Passover – Easter – Resurrection campaign. Larger gifts receive larger rewards. Those giving gifts of $1,000 or more were promised seven supernatural blessings and some religious swag, including a Waterford crystal cross.[2]
This has been quite a week – and that is just my commentary on church fundraising.
Pastor Marvin and Pastor Paula are very different people. They both, however, happen to be 58 years of age. And, their recent activities invite us to think about money.
Many of you came to church this morning with money on your mind knowing that following worship we will gather for a town hall style meeting focused on Advent’s finances. And, I heard from a few of you that you find such frank talk about money to be downright uncomfortable.
I wonder then what you think of this morning’s Gospel lesson. It is certainly a challenging passage. And, we likely resonate with the rich man – not because of what happens to him but because of his economic position. The reality is that by global standards, nearly all of us gathered here are rich. So why is Jesus picking on us today?
[1] See Demicia Inman. “Marvin Sapp Instructs Ushers To Close Church Doors Until Congregation Ponies Up $40K,” March 27, 2025 – www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/marvin-sapp-closes-church-congregation-gives-40k-1235057187/ and Charmaine Patterson. “Marvin Sapp Denies ‘Holding People Hostage,” March 28, 2025 – https://people.com/marvin-sapp-denies-holding-people-hostage-when-telling-ushers-to-close-the-doors-while-collecting-church-offering-11705502
[2] See Jim Burklo. “Buy Seven Blessings Now!,” March 26, 2025 – https://um-insight.net/perspectives/buy-seven-blessings-now/ and Jordan King. “Donald Trump’s Spiritual Advisor Faces Christian Backlash,” March 25, 2025 – https://www.newsweek.com/paula-white-cain-christians-donald-trump-2050102